CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) launched a new website today aimed at encouraging physicians and patients to join the AMA’s fight to increase access to affordable, meaningful coverage for everyone in our nation.

Patientsbeforepolitics.org is an interactive site that provides physicians and patients with the latest information on health care reform legislation moving through Congress, as well as the AMA’s current efforts to help shape the future of U.S. health care. The site features an easy way for supporters to contact members of Congress—urging them to protect patients currently insured, enable low and moderate income people to secure meaningful coverage, and maintain Medicaid and other safety net programs. The site will also feature curated videos and testimonials and will give supporters the ability to easily share content within their social networks.

“Putting patients first is at the heart of everything we do as physicians. That’s why we are committed to working with leadership in both parties to improve health insurance coverage and health care access so that patients receive timely, high-quality care, preventive services, medications and other necessary treatments,” said AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, M.D. “This new website will equip physicians and patients around the country with the information and tools they need so they can join us in urging Congress to put patients before politics and ensure every American has access to affordable, meaningful coverage and high-quality health care.”

Over the course of the campaign, the AMA will continually update the site with the latest developments on health care reform and offer additional ways for physicians and patients to take action. The site will soon feature additional interactive educational resources, including the ability for users to build their own health care reform proposal.

The AMA will continue its ongoing efforts to ensure that any reform to the nation’s health care system provides all patients with access to affordable, quality coverage. Physicians and patients should visit www.patientsbeforepolitics.org to join the AMA’s efforts to help shape the future of American health care.

In a letter to congressional leaders last week, the AMA outlined provisions of the American Health Care Act that would have an adverse impact on patients and the health of the nation. Largely due to the decline in health insurance coverage the bill would likely cause, the AMA is unable to support the AHCA as drafted. In January, the AMA released its health system reform objectives — primary among them that people who currently have insurance should not become uninsured — and these were shared at the time with all Members of Congress.