Washington, D.C., December 17, 2003 - Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., president of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), issued the following statement today:

"Teaching hospitals are committed to treating each and every patient with dignity and respect. As an important part of the health care safety net for the uninsured and underinsured, teaching hospitals and medical school faculty physicians serve all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. Although they constitute only six percent of the nation's hospitals, major teaching hospitals provide nearly half of all hospital charity care to the uninsured and financially disadvantaged. Teaching hospitals and clinical faculty also operate critical charity care programs and services, such as free community clinics, pediatric immunization programs, and mobile care vans.

The complexities and flaws of the current healthcare system make it difficult for hospitals to provide free or reduced-cost care. Some federal regulations hamper hospitals' efforts to assist patients with limited financial means. That said, the AAMC opposes extreme or abusive hospital collections practices and today endorses the American Hospital Association's principles and guidelines to help hospitals better assist their patients. We encourage all hospitals to review their policies and practices, as well as those of their hired contractors, to ensure that billing and collection abuses are not occurring.

Important as they are, reforms in hospital billing and collection practices will only solve part of the problem. A more comprehensive and lasting solution requires that our nation find a way to provide health coverage to the 43 million uninsured Americans and the 30 million who do not have adequate coverage. The AAMC will continue to serve as an active and vigorous proponent of much needed changes to our health care system."

For information about the nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals and their efforts to provide care for the uninsured, go to www.aamc.org/uninsured.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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