The Massachusetts Medical Society is on record as supporting universal access, incremental reform and a pleuralistic system. We have not, at this time, endorsed single payer and, I believe, the ACP has endorsed single payer as “one approach” not their exclusive approach.

Physicians are frustrated with the high number of citizens who lack insurance or who have high deductibles and, functionally, are underinsured and as a result do not access the health care system efficiently. They are also frustrated with the multitude of programs being implemented by various plans to try to control health care delivery and adding to the complexity of delivering care in an already complex system.

Issues that have come up at MMS when single payer has been discussed in the past include the fact that this would move the delivery of health care further into the political area as well as the fact that Medicare, already one of the largest single payers in the world, has not found a way to control health care costs or improve health care quality. Historically, Americans have felt that choice is necessary to preserve the rights of the individual as well as to improve value.

Although physicians understand the health care system and can offer an expert opinion, the ultimate decision for the United States will be made by the voters and doctors will, as always, do their best to work within the system and serve their patients to the best of their ability.

Dr. Dale Magee
President, Massachusetts Medical Society

10 years ago the American Nurses Association endorsed National Health Insurance with Single Payer Financing. The American Medical Students Association endorses it and has made working for it a priority for years and years.

Another national nurses organization, the CNA/NNOC, for years has made single payer health system reform (also referred to as improved Medicare-for-all, or social insurance) one of its highest priorities — as it ought to be for any organization that places people’s health care needs before corporate profit.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association has a vigorous commitment to working for this most cost effective and humane approach to health system reform, as do many other state nursing associations and countless community groups.

The position that’s taken on this issue says A LOT about any organization and its leadership and its active members. To better understand Mass. Medical Society’s wishy-washy position on single payer/improved Medicare-for -all it might be useful to follow the money trail…

Governor Deval Patrick and Barack Obama seem poised to work with supporters of single payer to make guaranteed affordable quality health care for all. What a wonderful legacy that would be.

A recent Op-Ed in the Berkshire Eagle quoted Governor Deval Patrick as saying: “…there’s a view out there that as long as private insurance is a part of health-care reform, we’re never really going to break the back of the pattern.” He called for serious consideration of a single-payer universal health care solution by the next administration in Washington.”

for info on health reform that puts people before profits visit
http://www.MassCare.org/about
http://www.HealthCare-Now.org
and
http://www.PNHP.org
http://www.AMSA.org/uhc

This study is 100% Bunk! The doctors who did this study also conducted one in 2002 and found that the majority of doctors did not want national health care, the problem with this is that the 2 question surveys drastically differ in there 2nd question. I found this article, 60% of Physicians Surveyed Oppose Switching to a National Health Care Plan, It’s worth a read.

“59% of doctors support national health insurance”. thats a good number.