AMA or MCH
Compare AMA vs. MCH physician data. MCH offers cost-effective, flexible solutions, while AMA data is costly and restrictive. Find the best fit for your needs.
AMA vs. MCH Physician Data:
Which is Right for Your Healthcare Marketing?
Healthcare marketers often wonder whether they should license data from the American Medical Association (AMA) or use a compiled file from a provider like MCH Strategic Data. Below are some key points to consider as you compare your options.
AMA Membership Decline
AMA physician membership has dropped significantly over recent decades. In 2024, estimates suggest that only 11% to 18% of American physicians belong to the AMA. Despite the perception that AMA data is uniquely self-reported, most of the AMA’s file is compiled similar to the way MCH gathers data.
Heightened Privacy Scrutiny
The AMA faces greater scrutiny from its members compared to typical data compilers. Members do not like paying dues and then seeing their information sold for profit. As a result, the AMA enforces strict privacy measures to keep members satisfied. This can limit the breadth of data available, making it more restrictive and more expensive than other physician data sources.
High Prices Due to Limited Focus
The AMA is not a data compilation business. Its primary mission is member services and advocacy, so selling data is a “nice to have,” not a necessity. To avoid upsetting current and potential members, the AMA charges higher fees for its data, especially for crucial elements like email addresses. This pricing structure helps limit how often and how broadly the data is used. But it means you will be paying more for data than you need to pay.
Broad Inclusion of Physicians
The AMA targets all physicians, including those who are retired or maintaining a medical license for personal reasons. Many product and service companies prefer reaching out to only actively practicing physicians to achieve stronger ROI. With the AMA file, you may be paying for data that doesn’t align with your specific marketing goals.
Limited Licensing Partners
Only a few data firms can directly license the AMA file to resell. If a data provider advertises having the AMA file but is not on the official AMA list of providers, then they are brokering it indirectly - just as MCH Strategic Data can do on your behalf. MCH has strong relationships and brokerage agreements with several authorized AMA resellers – like Redi-Mail Direct Marketing, IQVIA Inc., and Medical Marketing Service, Inc. (MMS). These are all good companies and working with MCH will help ensure transparent pricing and reliable access to the AMA data if that is the data you want and need.
Comparing Costs and Convenience
The AMA offers a quality compiled physician file, but its heightened scrutiny, narrower usage terms, and steeper prices make it a solution that requires careful consideration. If you choose not to license AMA data, options from MCH can deliver flexibility and lower costs without sacrificing quality. If you decide the AMA is still the best data for your strategy, MCH Strategic Data can broker the file for you or introduce you to the trusted providers licensed to sell it.
Evaluating all of these factors will help you determine the most suitable solution for your healthcare marketing campaign, whether that means leveraging the AMA’s database or using a compiled file from MCH Strategic Data.
Contact an MCH Healthcare Data Expert
Connect with our team to explore how our trusted healthcare data solutions can support your marketing and outreach goals. We’re here to help! Contact us by phone at 800-776-6373 or email us at info@mchdata.com.