Following the recent election cycle, I have assured many of you—our physician colleagues—that the AMA will remain true to our mission. Looking ahead, news cycles and distractions will come and go, but the challenge for us—physicians, scientists and leaders in medicine—is to remain grounded in our principles.
The Principles of Medical Ethics are our bedrock; they call upon physicians to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge to improve care and to always maintain the highest standards of professionalism so that our patients and the public trust our judgment, even when decisions are difficult. Especially when decisions are difficult.
For those who are chosen to lead our nation’s public health agencies, science and trust are fundamental. We can never allow these to be usurped or undermined. Politics or ideology, from either side of the political divide, cannot lead the way when they diverge from where science and evidence lead us. With post-pandemic trust in institutions waning and mis- and disinformation rampant, restoring the preeminence of science and evidence is vital.
The challenges facing our health system are immense: a broken Medicare payment system that threatens the viability of physician practices and patient access to care; physician burnout, prior authorization run amok; and a strained public health infrastructure.
Since AMA’s founding in 1847, we have stood firmly on the side of science, scientific advancement and scientific discovery to help people live longer, healthier lives. The AMA’s role, as an ally to patients and physicians and a steward of public health, is as critical today as it was in the 19th century. Perhaps more so.
Despite deep political divisions, there is true bipartisan work underway to reform our unsustainable Medicare payment system, to relieve physicians from some of the most burdensome prior authorization requirements, to expand telehealth in a way that meets the needs of patients and physicians, and to address flaws in our health system that drive burnout, dissatisfaction and early retirements.
The AMA has a comprehensive vision for health care in America that is decades in the making: A system that supports the delivery of high-quality care, where physicians aren’t burdened by excessive administrative demands, where health technology improves the patient experience and leads to better outcomes, where everyone has access to health coverage and timely medical care, and with a goal where everyone can achieve their optimal health. This vision is our north star.
The AMA will continue to work with the Administration and Congress on bipartisan solutions to what ails our health system. We are committed to working with state and federal policymakers on both sides of the aisle to make this vision a reality. We will always remain true to our mission and to the lofty principles that must forever guide our profession and how we serve our patients.
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