AMA deeply concerned about Trump policies and cuts to healthcare spending
American Medical Association (AMA) President Bruce Scott, MD, an otolaryngologist from Louisville, Kentucky, expressed serious concerns about the Trump administration’s significant cuts to healthcare spending—including proposed reductions to Medicaid, NIH funding, and staffing at federal agencies, along with broad policy changes. However, he remains hopeful there will be opportunities to collaborate with the administration on its reform agenda, beginning with Medicare reimbursement reform.
"We're deeply concerned about some of the proposed Medicaid cuts, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. These are all literal lifelines for patients, and we know that when you do things to challenge a patient's ability to get access to a physician, that the long-term cost in dollars and cents, but more importantly in terms of human suffering and wellness is significant. If a person can't get care early in their condition, they'll wind up in an emergency room late in the condition. And we know very well that that just drives up cost, Scott explained to Health Exec in an interview at the AMA House of Delegates meeting in June.
With every new administration comes new challenges, but also new opportunities, he added. He said the AMA is really trying to work with the new administration and Congress to educate them and correct misunderstandings and misstatements they have about healthcare issues. "We try to respond with education for things that are misleading that have been said, and we're working with them as best as we can," Scott said.
The AMA has expressed concerns not only about cuts to federal healthcare agencies, but also about broader efforts by the administration to undermine established science and discredit medical experts. These concerns include the recent dismissal of the national panel of vaccine experts—who were replaced by individuals who question the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The administration has also removed clinical studies and statistical data from government websites, particularly content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This includes information on differences in health outcomes and disease presentations among women and minorities, as well as data highlighting health disparities across patient communities.
Scott noted that several factors—declining Medicare reimbursements, burdensome insurance requirements like prior authorizations, rising hostility toward healthcare workers, and widespread misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic—contributed significantly to the wave of resignations in healthcare following the pandemic. He emphasized that these pressures have accelerated the growing physician shortage nationwide, particularly in rural areas. According to Scott, policies introduced by the Trump administration since the beginning of the year have only deepened these concerns and could prompt even more physicians to leave clinical practice.
"There are some actions that are going on right now, some of the questioning of science in our society as a whole, but from the administration as well, that is causing physicians to become frustrated. And as that frustration goes deeper and deeper, some of them who have the option are saying, I'm done," Scott said.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]