Chicago Tribune Inside Health Care Column.

By Bruce Japsen, Chicago Tribune Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jun. 19--MEMBERS DOWN, BUT AMA AGAIN IN BLACK: Despite a continued exodus of member doctors, the American Medical Association made money for the third year in a row last year.

Thanks to reductions in operating expenses and improved operations in non-dues business, the AMA said its three-year stretch of profitability is its best since the late 1980s.

"Since 1999, we've completely turned around our financial results," the AMA's chief executive, Dr. Michael Maves, told members at their annual meeting in Chicago this week. "How? Through overall financial discipline and improved …