The American Medical Assn., after 60 years of opposing any government overhaul of healthcare, is now lobbying and advertising to win public support for President Obama's sweeping plan -- a proposal that promises hundreds of billions of dollars for America's doctors.
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The AMA, which many still regard as the country's premier lobbying force, is providing money and grass-roots backing for these and other reforms.

Critics charge that, although doctors will be among those with the most to gain financially, the AMA -- unlike the pharmaceutical and insurance industries -- made relatively few concessions in return. The drug industry, for example, pledged $80 billion in cost reductions. Health insurers agreed to give up restrictions on preexisting conditions.

"To our knowledge, this deal is better than those negotiated so far by drug companies, hospitals or health insurers," said Dr. Henry Simmons, founder of National Coalition on Health Care, which represents labor, business and medical provider interests. "The question is why."

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