Last week, I had the opportunity to hear a brief talk by Cecil Wilson, who is the incoming AMA president. Now, I don't expect the AMA or any other of our professional organizations to aid us in getting any help for primary care docs in the so-called reform that is coming; they serve too many masters. But some of his comments were interesting.
After being involved in Washington lobbying for almost a decade, he estimated less than a dozen administration officials and legislators had any understanding of the issues that need to be addressed in healthcare. The average senator doesn't even know about his own health care delivery and reimbursement, even less about his constituents' needs. The majority will just read the executive summaries provided by their favorite lobbyists and party blocks, and act accordingly. All the impassioned speeches on C-NET are scripted.
We are all watching a puppet show every night on the 11:00 news.
