Obama to lobby doctors on reforms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8100605.stm

"In his speech to the AMA, President Obama will make his case for "a health insurance exchange where private plans compete with a public option that drives down costs and expands choice," a senior administration official was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

But many groups - including the AMA - have expressed concern that a public plan would have competitive advantages that would ultimately drive private insurers out of the market.

An AMA board member told a Senate panel hearing last week that the group "strongly opposes" a public, government-run insurance plan that pays physicians at the rates of the Medicare programme for the elderly.

Dr Samantha Rosman said the AMA is in favour "of a new option that is market-based and not run by the government".