After the Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 3200, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act" (see DM 9801) President Obama praised the passage of the bill, stating in a press release: "I'm pleased that the third and final House committee working on health reform legislation has successfully passed a bill that would provide quality, affordable health insurance for all Americans. This historic step by the House Energy and Commerce Committee moves us closer to health insurance reform than we have ever been before. The bill that they have passed will strengthen consumer protections and choice, while lowering costs and improving care, underscoring the broad consensus among all of the bills that have emerged in Congress."

The American Medical Association (AMA) has also announced its support of the revised legislation. J. James Rohack, M.D., President of the AMA released a statement saying: "The House Energy and Commerce committee passed important AMA-supported revisions to the House bill that will allow physicians to negotiate payment rates in the public plan option and guarantee voluntary physician participation. We applaud members of the committee for recognizing that the ability to negotiate payment rates will help ensure physician participation. The committee also passed medical liability reform.

"The House bill expands coverage through a choice in plans, eliminates denials based on pre-existing conditions and repeals the flawed Medicare physician payment formula."

Meanwhile, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently released the results of a survey that indicated a majority of Americans have support for health care reform. However, negative campaigns against measures of reform have had some effect.

The KFF says the poll reveals that 56 percent of Americans people "continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever despite the country's economic problems" and also that the nation will be better off with health reform. Americans also believe their families will be better off. About 21 percent believe that their families will be worse off.

However, the criticisms made in the national debate on reform have had some effect. More of the public fears that a health reform bill will be passed that is bad for their family (54 percent). Thirty-nine percent of the public are worried health care reform will not actually happen this year.

The survey lists the concepts that make the public feel more and less favorable. The more favorable messages include that people can keep their own doctor and health plan, that the plans will cover pre-existing conditions and won't increase the budget deficit. Less favorable messages include that premium or out of pocket costs will increase, cuts in Medicare causing fewer doctors to participate, and increase in taxes.

Adapted from press releases by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the White House and the AMA.

Ed Note--The New England Journal of Medicine has a new website devoted to reform issues. Go to http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?ssource=rthome

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