Op-Ed: South L.A. deserves better healthcare access. Fair Medi-Cal payments can help.
As President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party’s leadership in Congress try to enact legislation to address the country’s healthcare woes, we must remember that the American Medical Association believes “Fair and affordable health care is one of the greatest American assets.”
The AMA, its members and many politicians, however, are not being entirely candid about the obstacles they will face in achieving their goal of fair healthcare for all Americans.
To be sure, the AMA acknowledges that “in the United States, health insurance costs have spiraled out of control for the majority of working and middle-class families.” (Source: http://www.amama.org/resources/documents/medicaid.pdf)
On the other hand, the AMA is quick to point out that “Health insurance is one of the most important sources for obtaining or retaining a health-care provider.” (Source: http://www.americanmedicalassociation.org/policy/health-insurance-and-care/.)
Here we are dealing with an organization that is not only willing to speak the truth, but one that has the political will as well.
The AMA, when asked by Fox News, “When you say we’re not going to be able to make a difference in healthcare this election, what are you talking about?” said, “There’s not one single election that people care about this.”
“We’re talking about a number of elections where we can make a difference,” said AMA Medical Director Dr. James Mahoney. “We’re talking about a number of elections where every one of the three main political parties are offering different things.”
Despite the AMA’s recognition that the country