The AMA has just backed the House bill.

This is a hugely important endorsement and momentum, at a time when the Senate is still searching for consensus on how to pay for health reform. Anyone who has paid any attention to failed health reform attempts in the past knows the AMA was, shall we say, not helpful.

Now, in a letter to Ways and Means chairman Charlie Rangel, the AMA cited 11 things it likes about the bill that will provide affordable coverage to all Americans.  And although it did say it wanted "further constructive dialogue" it didn't draw any [public] lines in the sand about what it didn't like.

(We got this news in an email from friends in the know but hat tip to HCAN for posting the full text of the letter)