ASHINGTON - Saying health care is the number one concern of Americans, the American Medical Association urged the presidential candidates yesterday to take positions on such issues as Medicare reform and patients' rights legislation.
''If you look at the polls, the number one issue in the polls is health care,'' said Dr. Thomas Reardon, president of the AMA.
The AMA said it would become actively involved in the 2000 presidential campaign to force candidates to address the issues, and to urge voters to consider each candidate's stand on health care.
''We think we need to bring this to the attention of voters,'' Reardon said.
''The need is urgent. The time is now,'' added Dr. Randolph Smoak, president-elect of the AMA. ''The health of our nation quite simply demands it.''
The organization, which represents more than 290,000 doctors, said it would not endorse any candidate.
The AMA said voters should ask candidates whether they support ''meaningful'' patients' rights legislation, believe doctors - not insurers - should make decisions about coverage, support allowing patients to sue HMOs for harmful treatment decisions, support universal health care coverage, and have a plan to overhaul Medicare.
The AMA said it would send representatives to town hall meetings, debates, and other campaign events to raise health issues.
Reardon said people are fed up with health care decisions being made by ''bureaucrats'' and accountants working for health maintenance organizations and health insurance companies, rather than by doctors.
He said voters support legislation that would let patients sue their HMOs or insurers for medical decisions that cause harm. ''The insurance companies should be afraid because polls show that at least 70 percent of Americans ... support the right to sue their health plans,'' he said.
Another big issue is making sure all people have health care coverage. About 44 million Americans are uninsured.
Dr. Nancy Dickey, a former AMA presdent, said universal health care coverage would, in the end, save taxpayers money. She said the uninsured often do not seek care until their condition is critical, which results in expensive treatment. ''Every American pays for that care,'' she said. ''We pay for it through higher taxes and insurance premiums.''
The AMA has long campaigned to change Medicare, suggesting that incentives such as competition be used to make it more cost-effective. It also supports tax credits to help people to buy their own health insurance.
The doctors said they believe most voters share their concerns.
Convincing women voters in particular is key, Smoak said. ''Women make the key decisions with regard to health care, '' he said.
