Physicians in the United States Congress

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Physicians in the United States Congress have been a small minority, but substantially overrepresent the number of practicing physicians in the United States.[1] The number of physicians serving and running for Congress has risen over the last 50 years from 5 in 1960, down to a nadir of 2 in 1990, to a maximum of 21 in 2013 and a small decrease to 15 in 2017. Possible explanations for this development have been increasing health care spending, increased health care reform debate in the United States, leading up to the Healthcare Reform Act.

In public opinion research by the American Medical Association (AMA) from 2013, voters rated physicians expertise in health care, "understanding of the problems facing our healthcare industry, including the bureaucratic red tape that is strangling health care providers and driving up the cost of health care for most Americans" as most convincing statement of a physician candidate for Congress. Physicians in Congress have received large campaign contributions from health care trade associations and from peers through physician associations, like the AMA.

History

In 1776, 11 percent of signers of the Declaration of Independence were physicians.[2] Likewise two (5 percent) of the 39 individuals crafting the US Constitution in 1787 were physicians.[3] During the first 100 years of Congress (1789–1889) 252 (or 4.6 percent) of 5405 members were physicians. At the beginning of each of the last five decades there were five (1960), three (1970), four (1980), two (1990), and 10 (2000) physicians in Congress,[4]

According to the American Medical Association (AMA) as of 2013 there were 21 physicians, including one female physician, in Congress,[5] as of 2015, there were 18, and as of 2017 15 physicians.[6]

Three quarters of physicians in Congress 2013 were Republican,[5] 80% as of 2017.[6] As a possible reason Jim McDermott offered, "politically conservative physicians were more likely to chafe at the direction of changes in health care, with greater oversight by the government and a more regulated role for the private sector. It’s a fundamental debate about what is in the public good."[7] The AMA political action committee spent $2 million in the 2016 cycle with "direct contributions to 348 physician-friendly [Congressional] candidates (58% Republican and 46% Democratic)".[8]

Motivations

Tom Coburn said, "physicians have watched the profession undergo tremendous realignments that are shifting doctors’ responsibilities away from patient care, changes they attribute to the government’s inefficacy".[7] Jim McDermott was quoted as saying "They want to have their hands right there on the handle so they can pull it one way or another."[7] Physicians "balked at the idea of lawmakers with no medical experience making decisions that could upend the profession", per Andy Harris.[7]

Kelley Paul, wife of Rand Paul said in 2015 when he made his 2016 White House bid, "Being a physician gives Rand a unique perspective in Washington, simply because he’s trained to diagnose a problem and find a solution." [9]

In 2013, the AMA funded 3 focus groups of voters across the country and an online survey to research public opinion on physicians as Congressional candidates. The top scoring potential message for a physician was to link back to health care expertise "Because physicians work in health care on a daily basis, they bring a clear understanding of the problems facing our healthcare industry, including the bureaucratic red tape that is strangling health care providers and driving up the cost of health care for most Americans."[10]

Candidates, 2014

Senate candidates in 2014 included "an obstetrician in North Carolina, Milton R. Wolf, a radiologist in Kansas, a liver disease specialist in Louisiana, and Representatives Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey in Georgia, all of them Republicans. At least 26 more physicians were running for the House, some for re-election." per a New York Times article from March 2014.[7]

113th Congress (2013 - 2015)

From 2013-2015 there were 21 physicians in U.S.Congress, 20 of whom were male and 17 were members of the Republican party.

† 2009/2012 cycle ††2013 - 2014 cycle

114th Congress (2015 - 2017)

From 2015-2017, there were 18 physicians in U.S. Congress. All were male and 15 were members of the Republican party.

Legislature Name Party-State-District Year elected Medical specialty 2012 campaign money raised
House Dan Benishek (R-MI-01) 2010 General surgery, retired $2,255,260[11]
House Ami Bera (D-CA-07) 2012 General practice $1,373,106[12]
House Charles Boustany (R-LA-03) 2004 Cardiothoracic surgery, retired $4,879,644[13]
House Paul Broun (R-GA-10) 2007 General practice $1,410,625[14]
House Larry Bucshon (R-IN-08) 2010 Thoracic surgery $608,721[15]
House Michael C. Burgess (R-TX-26) 2010 OB/GYN $613,280[16]
House Bill Cassidy (R-LA-06) 2008 Gastroenterology $5,121,030[17]
House Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands-AL) 1996 Emergency Medicine $330,274[18]
House Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) 2010 Family Medicine $283,549[19]
House John Fleming (R-LA-04) 2008 Family Medicine $698,596[20]
House Phil Gingrey (R-GA-11) 2002 OB/GYN $1,530,373[21]
House Andrew P. Harris (R-MD-01) 2010 Anesthesiology $1,689,833 [22]
House Joe Heck (R-NV-03) 2010 Emergency Medicine $1,117,768[23]
House Jim McDermott (D-WA-07) 1988 Psychiatry $223,469[24]
House Tom Price (R-GA-06) 2004 Orthopedic Surgery $1,375,428[25]
House David "Phil" Roe (R-TN-01) 2008 OB/GYN $348,673 [26]
House Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36) 2008 Emergency Medicine $1,504,150[27]
Senate John Barrasso (R-WY) 2007 Orthopedic Surgery $8,081,603[28]
Senate Tom Coburn (R-OK) 2004 Family Medicine $2,100,328 †[29]
Senate Rand Paul (R-KY) 2010 Ophthalmology $9,942,744†[30]
† 2009/2014 cycle

115th Congress (2017 - 2019)

From 2017-2019 there were 15 physicians in U.S. Congress, all were male and 13 were members of the Republican party.[6]

Legislature Name Party-State-District Year elected Medical specialty 2014 campaign money raised
House Ralph Abraham (R-LA-05) 2014 Family Medicine, Veterinarian $824,819[31]
Senate John Barrasso (R-WY) 2007 Orthopedic Surgery $7,045,286 [32]
House Dan Benishek (R-MI-01) 2010 General surgery, retired $2,152,648[33]
House Ami Bera (D-CA-07) 2012 General practice $4,410,225[34]
House Charles Boustany (R-LA-03) 2004 Cardiothoracic surgery, retired $2,711,231[35]
House Larry Bucshon (R-IN-08) 2010 Thoracic surgery $608,721[15]
House Michael C. Burgess (R-TX-26) 2010 OB/GYN $613,280 [16]
Senate Bill Cassidy (R-LA) 2014 Gastroenterology $15,548,343[17]
House Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) 2010 Family Medicine $283,549 [19]
House John Fleming (R-LA-04) 2008 Family Medicine $698,596 [20]
House Andrew P. Harris (R-MD-01) 2010 Anesthesiology $1,422,625[36]
House Joe Heck (R-NV-03) 2010 Emergency Medicine $1,117,768[23]
House Jim McDermott (D-WA-07) 1988 Psychiatry $223,469 [24]
House Tom Price (R-GA-06) 2004 Orthopedic Surgery $2,784,268[37]
House David "Phil" Roe (R-TN-01) 2008 OB/GYN $933,431[38]
House Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36) 2012 Emergency Medicine $3,439,977[39]
Senate Rand Paul (R-KY) 2010 Ophthalmology $19,613,645[40]
Legislature Name Party-State-District Year elected Medical specialty 2016, campaign money raised
House Ralph Abraham (R-LA-05) 2014 Family Medicine, Veterinarian $577,493 [41]
Senate John Barrasso (R-WY) 2007 Orthopedic Surgery $6,677,705[42]
House Ami Bera (D-CA-07) 2012 General practice $4,128,996[43]
House Larry Bucshon (R-IN-08) 2010 Thoracic surgery $1,045,223[44]
House Michael C. Burgess (R-TX-26) 2010 OB/GYN $1,857,590[45]
Senate Bill Cassidy (R-LA) 2014 Gastroenterology $17,269,420[46]
House Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) 2010 Family Medicine $637,783[47]
House Neal Dunn (R-FL-02) 2016 Urology $$1,968,334[48]
House Andrew P. Harris (R-MD-01) 2010 Anesthesiology $1,402,664[49]
House Roger Marshall (politician) (R-KS-01) 2016 Obstetrician $$1,506,821[50]
House Tom Price (R-GA-06) 2004 Orthopedic Surgery $2,769,758[51]
House David "Phil" Roe (R-TN-01) 2008 OB/GYN $952,677[52]
House Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36) 2012 Emergency Medicine $3,225,291 [53]
House Mike Simpson (R-Idaho-2nd) 1999 Dental Medicine
Senate Rand Paul (R-KY) 2010 Ophthalmology $12,105,270[54]

Physicians in political positions outside Congress

Civilian:

Uniformed service, United States Armed Forces:

References

  1. ^ "Total Professionally Active Physicians". The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  2. ^ Gifford GE (1976). Physician Signers of the Declaration of Independence. New York, NY: Science History Publications.
  3. ^ Jameson, MG (1983). "Physicians and American political leadership". JAMA. 249: 929–930. doi:10.1001/jama.249.7.929.
  4. ^ Kraus, Chad K; Thomas A. Suarez (November 3, 2004). "Is There a Doctor in the House?... Or the Senate? Physicians in US Congress, 1960-2004". JAMA. 292 (17): 2125–2129. doi:10.1001/jama.292.17.2125. PMID 15523073.
  5. ^ a b "Physicians of the 113th Congress". Patient Action network. American Medical Association. January 8, 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Laura Dyrda (9 January 2017). "Meet the 15 physician members of the 115th US Congress(". Becker's Healthcare.
  7. ^ a b c d e Jeremy W. Peters (7 March 2013). "Is There a Doctor in the House? Yes, 17. And 3 in the Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  8. ^ "The 2016 Cycle AMPAC Election Report". n.d. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  9. ^ Jordyn Phelps (7 April 2015). "Rand Paul Makes 2016 White House Bid Official: 'We Have Come To Take Our Country Back'". ABC news. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Physicians as Candidates Program- Key findings of research conducted in April & May 2013 on behalf of AMPAC's Physicians as Candidates Research Program" (powerpointpresentation). AMPAC. AMA. September 2014. page27.
  11. ^ "Rep. Dan Benishek: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2011 - 2012". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Rep. Ami Bera: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Rep. Charles Boustany: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2011 - 2012". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Rep. Paul Broun: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2011 - 2012". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Rep. Larry Bucshon: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Rep.Michael Burgess: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Rep.Bill Cassidy: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  18. ^ "Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen: Campaign Cmte Fundraising, 2011 - 2012, no Leadership PAC money for 2014 cycle". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Rep.Scott DesJarlais: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Rep.John Fleming: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  21. ^ "Rep.Phil Gingrey : Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  22. ^ "Rep.Andy Harris:Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2011 - 2012". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Rep.Joe Heck : Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Rep.Jim McDermott : Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  25. ^ "Rep. Tom Price: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  26. ^ "Rep. Phil Roe: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  27. ^ "Rep. Raul Ruiz: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  28. ^ "John A. Barrasso Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2007 - 2012". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Sen Tom Coburn: Summary Data". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  30. ^ "Sen Rand Paul: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2009 - 2012". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  31. ^ "Rep.Ralph Abraham : Summary Data 2014 Race: Louisiana District 05". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  32. ^ "John A. Barrasso Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2009 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  33. ^ "Rep. Dan Benishek: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  34. ^ "Rep. Ami Bera: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  35. ^ "Rep. Charles Boustany: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  36. ^ "Rep.Andy Harris: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Rep. Tom Price: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  38. ^ "Rep. Phil Roe: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  39. ^ "Rep. Raul Ruiz: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  40. ^ "Sen Rand Paul: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2009 - 2014". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  41. ^ "Rep.Ralph Abraham : Summary Data 2015-2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  42. ^ "John A. Barrasso: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2011 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  43. ^ "Rep. Ami Bera: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  44. ^ "Rep. Larry Bucshon: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  45. ^ "Rep.Michael Burgess: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  46. ^ "Rep.Bill Cassidy: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2013 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  47. ^ "Rep.Scott DesJarlais: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  48. ^ "Neal Dunn Cycle Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016.
  49. ^ "Rep.Andy Harris: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  50. ^ "Roger Marshall Cycle Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016.
  51. ^ "Rep. Tom Price: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  52. ^ "Rep. Phil Roe:Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  53. ^ "Rep. Raul Ruiz: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2015 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  54. ^ "Sen Rand Paul: Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC Fundraising, 2011 - 2016". The Center for Responsive Politics. December 31, 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Physicians_in_the_United_States_Congress&oldid=774574104"