CQ Weekly Examines ‘Next Major Challenge’ for New AMA President
CQ Weekly in its July 21 issue profiled Nancy Nielsen, the new president of the American Medical Association, and examined "her toughest case ahead: the health care overhaul debate."Nielsen's "eclectic resume" likely will shape her opinions on AMA's next major challenge: "positioning itself in a fresh round of discussions" regarding an overhaul of the U.S. health care system, CQ Weekly reports. According to CQ Weekly, Nielsen "looks to defy traditional expectations" by guiding the AMA -- typically known as the "most fierce opponent" of universal health care -- toward a "more accommodating policy" intended to expand insurance coverage. At her inauguration speech, Nielsen urged AMA to seek new ways to expand access to health care to uninsured U.S. residents.
Nielsen's "tough-but-diplomatic approach" and "policy of open engagement" have been welcomed by other key officials in the debate on health care, CQ Weekly reports. Such an approach offers "optimists some additional hope" that AMA will be willing to work together with other groups on proposals to improve the health care system, which "will face major challenges to becoming law no matter who is president" in 2009, according to CQ Weekly.
Some of her industry colleagues note that Nielsen's prior experiences as an internist and an executive in the health insurance industry have helped her in "achieving a workable consensus while also advocating for the interests of patients whose voices may not get heard in boardrooms and lobbying confabs," according to CQ Weekly. AARP Policy Director John Rother said, "Her style is warm and personal, which is different than some of the leadership in the past," adding that Nielsen "takes a more reasonable view of some of the issues and seems willing to engage where there's not agreement, and the engagement is usually productive with her." Rother added, "She's a breath of fresh air for the AMA" (Adams, CQ Weekly, 7/21).
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