As doctors and nurses rally outside the AMA’s annual meeting, critics say the nation’s top medical lobby is using public funds to block reforms and entrench inequality.
At a Glance
- Protests erupt over AMA’s stance on private insurance
- AMA accused of opposing Medicare for All despite member support
- Rising internal pressure from doctors, nurses, and med students
- Lobbying priorities clash with growing public demand for reform
Growing Backlash at the AMA
At its annual meeting in Chicago, the American Medical Association is facing more than just policy discussions—it’s bracing for protests. Medical professionals and students are rallying against the organization’s long-standing opposition to universal healthcare reforms. Critics argue the AMA’s support for the private insurance model is driving inequality and unaffordable care.
As The Guardian notes, this isn’t a new fight. The AMA has historically been one of the most powerful lobbying groups blocking Medicare for All. It Co-Founded the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, an industry coalition that actively campaigns against single-payer proposals. Meanwhile, polls show a majority of Americans—and many healthcare workers—support such reforms.
Watch coverage of the protests outside AMA’s headquarters at Doctors Demand Medicare for All.
Tensions Boil Inside the AMA
Internally, the pressure is mounting. In 2019, a vote to end the AMA’s official opposition to Medicare for All failed by a narrow margin—just 53% to 47%. According to The New Yorker, the debate left delegates “visibly shaken.” “I kid you not, there was an audible gasp in the room,” recalled delegate Sophia Spadafore, reflecting the generational and ideological shifts brewing within the organization.
The AMA’s political clout—once unmatched—has weakened as more diverse, progressive voices enter the medical field. Some argue its priorities now reflect a dated, business-first approach, out of sync with many frontline providers who see healthcare as a right, not a commodity.
Where Does the Money Go?
The AMA has spent tens of millions lobbying Congress, often aligning with insurance and pharmaceutical interests. Critics say its stance no longer reflects the will of its members or the needs of patients—and taxpayers may be subsidizing the problem. According to Conservative Review, public funds have supported programs and partnerships linked to AMA-backed initiatives, raising transparency concerns.
The AMA has also shifted its lobbying focus to broader cultural and political issues, including gun violence and LGBTQ+ healthcare. While these moves align with public health imperatives, detractors argue they come at the expense of tackling the core crisis in U.S. healthcare: affordability and access.
Doctors vs. the Lobby
More and more healthcare professionals are publicly challenging the AMA’s influence. Many are now affiliated with organizations like Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), which openly advocates for a single-payer model. “At the end of the day,” said one protester, “you can’t represent doctors while siding with the insurance companies profiting off our patients’ suffering.”
AMA delegate Donald Palmisano once said the organization “ought to put a stake in the heart of single-payer.” But with doctors, nurses, and med students increasingly pushing back, that sentiment may be losing its grip on the future of healthcare reform.
Whether or not the AMA will bend under this mounting internal and external pressure remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: America’s healthcare debate is no longer confined to Capitol Hill. It’s now on the AMA’s doorstep.
