Doctors for America Press Center

For press inquiries, please contact Megan Smith, Communications Director.


Press Releases and Summaries

  • Doctors: Health Reform Fixes Begin Healing Broken System
  • March 25, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Doctors for America today praised the final passage of a series of fixes to improve the health reform law signed by the President earlier this week. The additional fixes address specific concerns of physicians fighting for meaningful reform including improving access to primary care physicians in the Medicaid program, targeting the skyrocketing costs of care and tackling the challenges that have deterred students from pursuing primary care as a specialty. [More]
  • Health Professionals March for Healthcare Reform
  • March 22, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today, on the heels of a historic vote on health care reform, physicians, nurses, medical students, other health professionals, and reform activists from across the country marched to Capitol Hill to praise reform efforts for our nation's broken health care system. A total of 19 health provider groups sent representatives of their membership to send a clear message - reform can't wait. [More]
  • Doctors Applaud Health Reform Milestone
  • March 21, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today the members of Doctors for America praised the landmark vote by the House of Representatives passing health care reform that will improve access to affordable care for millions of patients across the country. The grassroots group of physicians mobilized intensely during the final push for reform and will march in Washington to Capitol Hill on Monday to praise this milestone. [More]
  • Doctors For America Praises Health Reform Fixes Unveiled Today, “Good For Patients And Doctors”
  • March 18, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today Doctors for America expressed support for the new health reform legislation unveiled today and praised the inclusion of a new provision to improve access to primary care physicians in the Medicaid program - one of the organization's top priorities. Coupled with technical fixes expected to be accepted by the Senate, the bill represents a positive move toward meaningful improvements for the health care system physicians' work in everyday. [More]
  • Doctors Join President Obama To Urge Health Reform Forward
  • March 3, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Doctors for America members attended the President's announcement laying out the way forward on health care reform. Physician members expressed their frustration with the slow pace of reform moving forward to this point but retained optimism that the health care summit at Blair House coupled with today's announcement will push patient-centered reform efforts across the finish line. [More]
  • Doctors for America's new ad
  • February 24, 2010

  • In print just 1 day before the President's health care summit, doctors chose to pay for this message to their elected officials. [More]
  • Doctors Encouraged By Meaningful Reform in White House Plan
  • February 22, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Doctors for America was very encouraged by the plan unveiled by President Obama as a jumping-off point for Thursday's bipartisan health care reform summit. Among the improvements are tax credits and subsidies to make health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans, a new health insurance rate authority that would work to prevent the massive increases in premium rates that we're seeing today, and a proposal to close the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole for our nation's seniors. [More]
  • Ask A Doctor about Health Care Reform
  • February 19, 2010

  • WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Doctors for America launched a new online tool – where anyone, anywhere in the nation, can ask a doctor about health care reform. Located at http://www.askadr.org, the new web tool sends questions asked online about health care reform to real doctors who will answer your questions quickly and accurately. [More]
  • Doctors for America, Nearly 100 Groups Urge Increase in Medicaid Reimbursement in Health Care Reform Bill
  • January 13, 2010

  • Today, Doctors for America and a broad coalition of provider groups, labor unions, and community activists wrote to Congress to urge them, and the President, to prioritize parity between Medicaid reimbursement rates and existing Medicare reimbursement. In a letter delivered today, the groups endorsed the policy proposal in the House version of the health care reform bill as the best solution to include in the final reform bill in order to make sure patients most in need can get access to care. [More]
  • Virginia Doctors Praise Sens. Webb, Warner For Health Reform Efforts That Will Control Costs And Increase Access For Families
  • December 22, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Doctors for America's members in Virginia praised the work of Senator Webb and Senator Warner in addressing the needs of families in the health reform bill and the cost concerns surrounding the reform effort. "Virginians should be proud of their Senators' leadership in advancing a health reform bill that not only expands affordable coverage for children and families across the Commonwealth, it also reduces the deficit and controls costs for future generations," said Dr. Chris Lillis of Fredericksburg. As a physician, I know this bill will not fix everything, but it is an important step to help my patients get access to the quality care they need. [More]
  • Doctors for America Supports Senate Passage of Health Reform Bill
  • December 19, 2009

  • Today, Doctors for America wrote to Majority Leader Reid to express their support for Senate passage of the health reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "As doctors and medical students, we see the urgent need to fix our broken health care system first hand every day – which is why a majority of physicians support health reform this year," said Dr. Vivek Murthy, Doctors for America's President, in the letter. While we know that this legislation will not fix all the problems of our broken health care system, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act represents a historic step toward improving the health care system for us and our patients. [More]
  • Arkansas's Doctors for America praise Pryor, Lincoln
  • December 10, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Doctors for America's members, including state director Dr. Hershey Garner, expressed their pride that Arkansas's Senators led the charge for a compromise on the public option to keep health reform moving forward. Senators Lincoln and Pryor's work resulted in a proposal that continues to gain support from their colleagues and will be fully unveiled after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office releases its analysis of the plan. Just days ago, the Senate seemed to be at an impasse on moving forward with health reform. Senator Lincoln and Senator Pryor's leadership is why health reform is still a real possibility this year. I am proud of the Arkansas voices that helped guide a constructive alternative, said Dr. Hershey Garner of Fayetteville. I look forward to seeing the final proposal and measuring how well it increases access to quality care for the Arkansans who so desperately need it. [More]
  • Doctors for America members join Senate leaders for real reform this year
  • November 19, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Doctors for America stood with members of the Senate to applaud the historic step closer to real health reform that the Senate bill represents, and urge Congress to move forward towards passing real reform. [More]
  • Testimony of Dr. Alex Blum
  • October 27, 2009

  • I am honored to join you today to discuss why I think a public option is an important component of comprehensive health care reform. My name is Dr. Alex Blum. I am a Pediatrician and Health and Evidence Policy Fellow at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Both physicians and our patients need health insurance reform now. [More]
  • Testimony of Dr.Vivek Murthy
  • October 27, 2009

  • My name is Vivek Murthy, and I am a practicing internal medicine physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. I am also the co-founder and President of Doctors for America, a grassroots organization of over 15,000 physicians in all 50 states who are working for meaningful health reform. [More]
  • Physicians Testify About the Need for a Public Option
  • October 27, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC. At the request of Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), physicians from Doctors for America testified today on the importance of the public option as part of comprehensive health reform. Dr. Vivek Murthy, and Dr. Alex Blum joined the panel to share stories and solutions aimed at fixing our nation's broken health care system. [More]
  • Doctors for America Takes Message to the White House; Doctors from every state make the case for health reform now
  • October 5, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC Because actions speak louder than words, Doctors for America took their message directly to the White House today - sending physicians from each of the fifty states to advocate for meaningful health reform this year. In the Rose Garden with President Obama this morning, the doctors stood together representing the voices of their fellow physicians and patients in their home state who desperately need health care reform. [More]
  • Nation's Doctors Join Together, Unveil New Print Ad Urging Action on Health Care Reform; 500,000 doctors from the country's largest physicians' organizations emphasize the need for reform to better care for patients
  • September 21, 2009

  • Washington, D.C.- Today doctors' groups representing more than 500,000 physicians nationwide announced they have come together in a new effort urging Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform. In the unprecedented joint endeavor, an array of prominent doctors' organizations has signed on to a print ad that will run in Roll Call's print and online editions this week. A copy of the ad can be seen at http://www.doctors-support-reform.org. [More]
  • Physicians Discuss Medicare Pilots with White House
  • September 16, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC - "Fifty Doctors for America members were a part of the White House announcement today regarding an expansion of state-based initiatives to improve "Advanced Primary Care" (APC) models" also known as medical homes. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle, and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas were a part of the group gathered today for this health reform statement. [More]
  • Physicians Weigh In For Reform; Letter to the President Reaffirms Doctors Want Reform
  • September 10, 2009

  • WASHINGTON, DC Thirteen physician groups today signed on to a letter to President Obama as a unified voice in support of health reform. The groups collectively represent nearly a half million doctors nationwide urging the President to continue efforts to improve our nation's health care system. [More]
  • The Doctor is In: Blog Revamped, Raising Debate
  • August 5, 2009

  • Despite the organized protests in rallies and town hall meetings trying to stifle pro-reform messages, doctors continue to find ways to speak out for reform. Doctors for America has revamped the Doctors for America blog to speak out against the misconceptions and falsehoods surrounding the health care policy debate. [More]
  • Doctors: Our Patents Can Not Wait for Health Reform
  • July 30, 2009

  • This week, nearly half a million physicians and medical students sent their second letter in as many months to Congress regarding the urgent need for health reform this year. Doctors for America, an advocacy group created by doctors, joined several other physicians' groups to highlight the cost of inaction for patients and physicians. [More]
  • Doctors for America Joins Call-In Day
  • July 22, 2009

  • Today, Doctors for America joined a coalition of physician groups and pro-health reform organizations by urging its members to raise their voices for reform. The various coalitions who are pushing for reform bills to move forward in Congress, including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, American Medical Student Association the National Physicians Alliance, and the Committee of Interns and Residents. [More]
  • Doctors for America Applauds Senate Bill
  • July 14, 2009

  • Doctors for America applauded the bill announced today by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee as a prescription for real reform for America's health care system. The provisions that address insurance disparity, wellness and prevention, and payment reform are some of the health system components doctors have described as most in need of improvement. [More]
  • Doctors for America Applauds House Reform Efforts
  • July 13, 2009

  • Doctors for America applauded the bill announced today by the House as progress toward health care reform that will help patients and the doctors who treat them. The content of the bill, which provides increased access to affordable, high quality health care for all Americans while controlling the cost of health care for our patients and our nation, resonated with the group. [More]
  • The Diagnosis is Clear: Our Healthcare System is Broken
  • July 8, 2009

  • Today, Doctors for America diagnosed our nation's health care system as broken. The doctors delivered that message and an X-ray to Senators in person today [More]
  • ADVISORY: The Diagnosis is Clear: Doctors Want Health Reform
  • July 6, 2009

  • Doctors for America will gather in the Hart Senate Building before delivering messages printed on X-ray film to Senators stating doctors position on health reform. The message will reflect input and ideas submitted by over 13,000 doctors in 50 states, and it will be made public this Wednesday, July 8th, at 10:00 am Eastern.

    Visit the Xray Campaign Photo Page. [More]
  • Health Reform Needs More than Soundbytes and Scare Tactics:
    Doctors for America denounces misleading, false ad campaign
  • June 25, 2009

  • Doctors for America today denounced the false and misleading ads released in 11 states by the Conservatives for Patients Rights that claim the health reform proposals currently being considered by Congress will put a bureaucrat between you and your doctor.

    "Misleading ads like the one we saw today are unfortunate attempts to scare the American people. These scare tactics have worked to defeat health reform in the past, and they have allowed our healthcare crisis to get worse and worse. But we cannot and must not let these tactics delay health reform this time." said Dr. Vivek Murthy, President of Doctors for America. [More]
  • Doctors: We DO Want Health Reform
    Nearly half million physicians support Congressional action now
  • June 24, 2009

  • This week, nearly half a million physicians and medical students inked a letter to Congress to go on the record that they want health reform, and they want it now. Doctors for America, a reform-minded advocacy group formed by doctors, mobilized to join the physicians groups urgently pushing for changes to America's health care system.

    The letter, sent on behalf of the members of American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians and American Osteopathic Association, American Medical Student Association, Doctors for America and the National Physicians Alliance, detailed the major changes physicians want to transform the nation's health care system. [More]
  • Doctors for America Report on Recent Activities
  • June 17, 2009

  • In the last few weeks, Doctors for America has made substantial progress in building support for health reform legislation in 2009. The organization's efforts have focused on several areas: physician engagement, building support in the non-physician community, media outreach, and partnerships with Congress and the administration. [More]
  • Coalition of Doctor Organizations: Our Patients Deserve the Choice of a Public Health Insurance Option
  • June 15, 2009

  • Doctors from several national organizations issued a statement this morning in support of achieving health care reform this year, including the creation of a robust, high-quality public health insurance option.

    The statement by these organizations, which combined represent 215,000 physicians and physicians-in-training, reads: "As doctors we see patients every day who are more afraid of their medical bills than their illnesses. It frustrates and saddens us to care for patients with what began as a simple and inexpensive medical problem, but has developed into a life-threatening condition. It makes us angry to see children suffering from treatable illnesses, like asthma, in the Emergency Room because they literally have nowhere else to go." [More]
  • Physicians in Support of President Obama: Give Our Patients a Choice Between Private Insurance and a Public Health Insurance Option
  • June 15, 2009

  • As doctors who work on the front lines of our fractured healthcare system, we are convinced by firsthand experience that our patients desperately need health care reform that protects them from falling through the cracks. This means reform that creates the freedom of choice to keep their current plan, choose another private plan, or have the choice of a carefully designed quality, affordable public health insurance plan. [More]
  • When asked directly, doctors support a public insurance option
  • June 15, 2009

  • In a 48-hour survey this past weekend, 97% of physicians supported a well-crafted public insurance option.

    Following last week's statements by the AMA about a public insurance option, the public was left questioning whether physicians would support such a measure in a health reform bill. Doctors for America asked physicians directly whether they believed a well crafted public insurance option could be a part of health reform solution. Within 48 hours, over 1,500 responded from 48 states - with an overwhelming 97% of respondents voting "Yes." [More]
  • Doctors Across America Support Public Health Insurance Option
  • June 11, 2009

  • In a joint teleconference with Doctors for America and the Center for American Progress Action Fund, President of Doctors for America Dr. Vivek Murthy, Executive Director of Doctors for America Dr. Alice Chen, and CAP Action Senior Fellow Judy Feder highlighted the strong support from doctors across the country for the inclusion of a public plan in health care reform legislation. On the call, Dr. Murthy said the following:

    "We've spent the last year or more speaking to physicians across the country and bringing doctors from all 50 states together, and what they're telling us is that they urgently need health reform and that a wellcrafted public option is an important part of a health reform solution."
    [More]
  • DOCTORS FOR AMERICA ENDORSES HOUSE HEALTH REFORM
  • November 30, -0001

  • WASHINGTON, DC - On the eve of a critical health reform vote, Doctors for America announced that they endorsed Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) in a letter sent to Speaker of the House Pelosi earlier this week. This is the first time Doctors for America has ever endorsed legislation. [More]

For media-related inquiries, please contact our Communications Director, Megan Scott Smith.