AMA Backs House Health Bill

The American Medical Association has given the all-clear to the health care reform bill making it way through the House, the Hill reports. The endorsement from the nation's biggest doctors' group, which helped sink President Clinton's efforts at reforming health care, gave the Democrats a boost following the Congressional Budget Office's announcement that the bill would raise health care costs.

The bill "includes a broad range of provisions that are key to effective, comprehensive health system reform," AMA's vice president wrote in his endorsement.  Winning the backing of the traditionally conservative group is "a tremendous coup" for the Democrats, says one analyst, who predicts that other major groups like the AARP may now get behind President Obama's reforms. (More American Medical Association stories.)