Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama gave a major speech to members of the American Medical Association on Monday concerning health care. However, his speech lacked any details on the paramount issue for pro-life advocates -- whether his plan will fund or promote abortions with taxpayer dollars.

Obama described the current health care system as a “ticking time bomb” in need of significant overhaul.

“Make no mistake: the cost of our health care is a threat to our economy,” Obama said. “It is an escalating burden on our families and businesses. It is a ticking time-bomb for the federal budget. And it is unsustainable for the United States of America.”

Obama defended the public insurance option, but that concerns pro-life advocates because it could result in paying for abortions with tax dollars.

Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, outlined those fears.

"Can Uncle Sam's helping hand really avoid becoming a heavy hand? Will that heavy hand force taxpayers to directly subsidize abortion for the first time in over 30 years?" he asked.

Perkins described the kind of health care plan he would prefer to see -- one that emphases pro-life values.

"Any health care reform must address a number of factors, including affordability, accessibility, portability and transparency. Families, not government, should control how health care dollars are spent," he said in an email to LifeNews.com.

"No health care reform should force us to perform or be complicit in actions we find offensive. A right of conscience protects physicians and other health providers from being compelled to do things that violate religious or moral briefs," he said.

"Of highest importance, under no circumstances should taxpayers be forced to give up what they have now, which is a firewall between their tax dollars and abortion. Because of the many ways health policy can be crafted to finesse this issue, as happened under the health insurance connector in Massachusetts, our position must be explicit," Perkins concluded.

"If the legislation that is put to a vote in Congress does not explicitly exclude abortion, it will unquestionably include it and we will oppose it," he promised.

Perkins is concerned that the Democratic leadership released a timeline for action on a health care reform plan it is crafting that leaves little time to read the 615-page bill.

According to sources on the Hill, the President is pushing for the bill's passage before Congress adjourns in August for their summer break.

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