#NotMyAMA: Physicians lash out at association support for Trump’s HHS pick

Major medical associations largely praised the choice of U.S. Rep. Tom Price, MD, R-Georgia, for HHS Secretary, but those endorsements didn't sit well with some doctors.

The backlash is mostly aimed at the American Medical Association (AMA), which said it “strongly supports” the selection of Price, an orthopedic surgeon, for the Trump administration’s top healthcare post, calling him “a leader” in developing “market-based solutions” and reducing regulations.

Using the hashtag #NotMyAMA, physicians tweeted their frustrations towards the association’s quick thumbs-up for Price, pointing out his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and support for turning Medicaid into a state-run block grant program.

More than 2,000 physicians signed an online letter titled “The AMA Does Not Speak for Us,” started by liberal-leaning advocacy group the Clinician Action Network.

“We see firsthand the difficulties that Americans face daily in accessing affordable, quality healthcare. We believe that in issuing this statement of support for Dr. Price, the AMA has reneged on a fundamental pledge that we as physicians have taken — to protect and advance care for our patients,” the letter said.

Price himself is an AMA member, but he also belongs to a more controversial group called the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). The group’s medical journal has published articles promoting discredited claims like HIV doesn’t cause AIDS or abortions can be linked to breast cancer. During the presidential campaign, it went against the practices of other medical associations by openly questioning Hillary Clinton’s health.

Other groups offered similar comments supporting Price for HHS Secretary, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American College of Radiology, all largely focused on his medical experience.

“ACR is pleased that an experienced, board-certified physician who also served as a state legislator and prominent member of the U.S. House of Representatives will be guiding this important government agency that has direct jurisdiction over federal health care policy,” the group’s statement said.

One alternative group to the AMA, the 10,000-member National Physicians Alliance, openly condemned the pick and other associations’ support of it, saying Price’s goals will include repealing the ACA, privatizing Medicare and restricting access to birth control.

“We are dismayed that other large physician organizations have endorsed Dr. Price without consideration of the harm his policies would inflict on our collective patients,” the NPA’s statement said.

After being criticized for the endorsement, even by some of its own delegates, the AMA clarified why its supporting the pick in a blog post from board chair Patrice Harris, MD, MA, while acknowledging separation on some policy issues with Price.

“There have been important policy issues on which we agreed (medical liability reform) and others on which we disagreed (passage of the Affordable Care Act),” Harris wrote. “Two things that have been consistent are his understanding of the many challenges facing patients and physicians today, and his willingness to listen directly to concerns expressed by the AMA and other physician organizations.”

In a less public defense of endorsing Price, a senior association aide told POLITICO that supporting Trump’s selection for HHS was a practical decision.

"What should we have done?" the official asked. "Fight Price and wait for Trump to nominate Ben Carson?"

While major medical associations are supporting the nomination, some Democrats in the U.S. Senate, where Price will have to be confirmed, are pledging to against him being put in charge of HHS.

“Tom Price has led the charge to privatize Medicare, and for this reason, I cannot support his nomination,” said U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana.