The AMA has historically been against single-payer healthcare, but an increase in support for the policy among medical students may mean it will have to change its stance before too long, The New Yorker reported Feb. 22.
The AMA was founded to control the chaotic and unregulated environment of American medicine that allowed physicians without medical school degrees to practice. After gaining control of medical education and licensure by implementing strict requirements to practice, the group gained clout and members.
In 1917, the AMA endorsed compulsory health insurance but quickly reversed its decision after members revolted, citing fears of lowered wages. In 1949, 59 percent of Americans supported President Harry Truman's plan for a tax-financed, government run insurance system, however the AMA put up a fight, greatly reducing the cost to lobby against the policy, thus it was defeated.
In the mid-2000s during the Obama administration, the AMA backed many of its healthcare policies, including individual mandates for health insurance. A group of conservative physicians revolted and managed to rescind AMA's support for the individual mandate. Since 1998, the AMA has spent $462 million on lobbying efforts. Many physicians discovered too, given past events, that they have the power to move the needle within the AMA if they come together.
More recently in 2019, a group of medical students rallied together to try to end the AMA's opposition to single-payer healthcare. Although the policy was shot down at the AMA delegation meeting, it only failed by 38 votes. The slim loss and the organization of the medical students may be a sign that support for single-payer healthcare may be riding on the next generation of physicians.