My buddy always said the AMA was a far more powerful “union” than the UAW or Teamsters.
But the fundamental problem in the US was health “insurance” that divorced the payer from the costs via the employer assuming the burden. A huge mistake.
The three BIG things that could have been done to lower health care costs were:
Get rid of the monopolies the separate insurance companies had in each state. Make them compete for business.
Allow insurance to follow the person.
TORT REFORM. Get rid of the frivolous lawsuits against doctors. Malpractice used to mean intentional harm inflicted from incompetence. Not every little or big thing that might go wrong in medical care.
The Pols never wanted Obamacare to work. They ALWAYS wanted single payer. When there is single payer, the Government decides who gets care and how much care you get. The Government really just wanted control. Control over every person in the country and control over ALL THE HEALTH CARE DOLLARS.
And PS-the AMA is comprised mostly of doctors who are no longer practicing........the doctors in the AMA are nothing but medical bureaucrats.