Government
Doctors stump for the uninsured
■ The first phase of the effort aims to draw attention to the issue in states with early primaries.
By Geri Aston — Posted Sept. 3, 2007
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Physicians got an early start on a three-year, multimillion-dollar campaign to spur action to cover America's 45 million uninsured by participating in an Iowa State Fair voter education event on Aug. 16.
The American Medical Association's Voice for the Uninsured campaign, officially launched Aug. 23, is timed in conjunction with the 2008 election cycle. Its first phase focuses on getting voters in the early primary states involved in the issue and teaching them how to share their positions with presidential candidates. That was the goal of the Iowa event.
"The people of Iowa will be the first to cast their votes in the presidential primaries, and the AMA wants voters to show the candidates how important the uninsured crisis is to them," said Samantha Rosman, MD, AMA board trustee and head of the Association's health care reform task force.
In 2008, the campaign will expand nationally and will encourage all Americans to vote with the issue of the uninsured in mind. In 2009, the effort will shift to urging Congress to pass legislation to solve the problem.
The AMA has a comprehensive health system reform plan that involves tax credits, greater patient choice and health insurance market reform. More information is available online (link).
