It's not picking a specific version of Medicare for All, but the American College of Physicians has given the nod to a transformation of the American health care system that would provide universal coverage.

ABC News reports that while the ACP might not be as well known as the American Medical Association, nevertheless it is a force to be reckoned with in American medicine—and its 141,000 members are supporting "sweeping government action to guarantee coverage for all, reduce costs and improve the basic well-being of Americans."

The ACP published a 43-page position paper this past Monday in the Annals of internal Medicine. Its endorsement of either of two broad approaches being proposed—a single-payer system run by the government and covering everyone or a public option, again run by the government, but offering comprehensive coverage that would compete with private insurance—characterized the current system as "ill and need[ing] a bold new prescription."

According to Dr. Robert McLean, president of the group, "We think there is a realistic chance that either of these two approaches could get us to a much, much better place. It is not looking to be partisan, but I would say it is unavoidably political because policy is political."

The group joins the large portion of the U.S. population that supports a transformation of the health care system; according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, about half of U.S. adults are in favor of a national Medicare for All plan, with even more—two thirds—hoping for a public option.

Naturally enough, health insurers and other industry groups are opposed to such an idea.

The ACP came up with its recommendation after analysis of the problems with the current system—high cost, coverage gaps, variable quality and overwhelming complexity—to see what solutions might best solve those problems. The end result will have to deal with all of them, and according to McLean, a piecemeal approach just won't work.

McLean he was critical of Republican efforts to encourage patients to be better consumers of health care can't solve the problem because they fail to address coverage gaps and do not guarantee comprehensive benefits.

Members of the ACP are internal medicine specialists who focus on adult patients ranging in age from workers covered by employer plans to Medicare recipients.

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Medicare for All gets nod from major doctors' group

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