Obama urges doctors to back his health care plans

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama continues to promote his health care proposals, urging doctors gathered in Chicago to support wider insurance coverage and targeted federal spending cuts.

Obama planned to tell the American Medical Association's annual meeting in his hometown that overhaul cannot wait and that bringing down costs is the most important thing he can do to ensure the country's long-term fiscal health, a senior administration official said.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the president's remarks before they were delivered.

America's doctors, like many other groups, are divided over the president's proposals to reshape the health care delivery system.

About 50 million Americans are without health insurance. The government provides coverage for the poor and elderly, but most Americans rely on private insurance, usually received through their employers. However, not all employers provide insurance and not everyone can afford to buy coverage for themselves or pay medical bills out of pocket.

The White House anticipates heavy spending to cover uninsured Americans and has taken steps in recent days to outline just where that money could be found.

For instance, Obama wants to cut federal payments to hospitals by about $200 billion and cut $313 billion from Medicare and Medicaid, the government health programs for the elderly and poor. He also is proposing a $635 billion ``down payment'' in tax increases and spending cuts in the health care system.

To an audience of doctors Obama plans to say the United States spends too much on health care and gets too little in return.