<Li> The AMA has given high priority to supporting changes in medical malpractice law to limit damage awards, which, it contends, makes it difficult for patients to find appropriate medical care . In many states, high - risk specialists have moved to other states with such limits . For example, in 2004, not a single neurosurgeon remained in the entire southern half of Illinois . The main legislative emphasis in multiple states has been to effect caps on the amount that patients can receive for pain and suffering . These costs for pain and suffering are only those that exceed the actual costs of health care and lost income . Multiple states found that limiting pain and suffering costs has dramatically slowed increases in the cost of medical malpractice insurance . The state of Texas enacted such reforms in 2003 and subsequently reported in 2005 that all major malpractice insurers were able to offer either no increase or a decrease in premiums to physicians . </Li> <Li> Another top priority of the AMA is to lobby for change to the federal tax codes to allow the current health insurance system (based on employment) to be purchased by individuals . Such changes could possibly allow millions of currently uninsured Americans to be able to afford insurance through a series of refundable tax credits based on income (for example, the lower one's income, the greater your credit). </Li> <Li> The AMA has made efforts to respond to health care disparities . <Ul> <Li> As such, the AMA created an advisory committee to assess the nature of disparities within different racial and ethnic groups . One such committee focuses on the health of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community . In 2005, the AMA president Edward Hill gave a keynote address to the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association at its annual conference . Since that time, the AMA has worked closely with GLMA to develop AMA policy towards better health care access for LGBT patients and better working environments for LGBT physicians and medical students . </Li> <Li> The AMA responded to the government estimate that more than 35 million Americans live in underserved areas by stating it would take 16,000 doctors to immediately fill that need, and the gap is expected to widen due to rising population and aging work force . "And that will mostly be felt in rural America," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N. D., adding, "We're facing a real crisis ." Fueling the shortage are the restrictions on allowing foreign physicians to work in the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and may become more restrictive after the attempted terrorist bombings June 2005 in Britain, still under investigation, linked to foreign doctors . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Ul> <Li> As such, the AMA created an advisory committee to assess the nature of disparities within different racial and ethnic groups . One such committee focuses on the health of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community . In 2005, the AMA president Edward Hill gave a keynote address to the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association at its annual conference . Since that time, the AMA has worked closely with GLMA to develop AMA policy towards better health care access for LGBT patients and better working environments for LGBT physicians and medical students . </Li> <Li> The AMA responded to the government estimate that more than 35 million Americans live in underserved areas by stating it would take 16,000 doctors to immediately fill that need, and the gap is expected to widen due to rising population and aging work force . "And that will mostly be felt in rural America," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N. D., adding, "We're facing a real crisis ." Fueling the shortage are the restrictions on allowing foreign physicians to work in the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and may become more restrictive after the attempted terrorist bombings June 2005 in Britain, still under investigation, linked to foreign doctors . </Li> </Ul>

How much money does the american medical association have