The evolution of American Medical Association policies concerning health care of veterans

Relationships between the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been reviewed from the perspective of evolving AMA policies regarding the care of veterans, including educational and research policies. During the first two decades of VA hospital development between 1925 and 1945, the AMA opposed government participation in the care of veterans. During the next three decades there was a reluctant acknowledgement by the AMA of the need for federally housed care of veterans with service-connected illnesses. At the same time, the AMA recognized the value of the mission of the VA in training specialists through postgraduate medical education. More recently the AMA has been especially supportive of VA-medical school affiliations and VA activities in education and research. The reluctance of the AMA to support veterans' health care was paralleled by reluctance of VA staff physicians to join the AMA. In recent years the AMA has recognized the need to diversify its membership as increasing numbers of physicians have been trained in part in VA medical centers. It appears to be a time of enhanced opportunity for the AMA to work more closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs.