For the Media
News Releases
Statements
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | June 23, 1999 |
AMA Physicians Vote to Form National Negotiating Organization
CHICAGO - Members of the American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to develop an affiliated national labor organization to represent employed physicians and where allowed by law, residents.
The move will enable eligible physicians to advocate more effectively on behalf of their patients, according to Randolph D. Smoak, Jr., MD, Chair, AMA Board of Trustees.
"This is not for all physicians. This will not be a traditional labor union," Dr. Smoak said."Doctors will not strike or endanger patient care. We will follow the principles of medical ethics every step of the way. No other organization can make that promise to the patients of America - and keep it.
"Our objective here is to give America's physicians the leverage they now lack to guarantee that patient care is not compromised or neglected for the sake of profits," Dr. Smoak said.
After extensive discussion this week at its annual meeting, a majority of the AMA's 494-member House of Delegates voted to support a series of recommendations aimed at increasing the advocacy tools physicians have available to improve patient care in today's increasingly competitive health care market place.
Highlights of the AMA House's actions include:
- A directive that all AMA activities regarding physician negotiation maintain the highest levels of professionalism and be consistent with the AMA's Principles of Medical Ethics and the Current Opinions of its Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs.
- Approval for the immediate creation of a national labor organization, under the National Labor Relations Act, as an option for (a) employed physicians, and (b) residents and fellow physicians who are authorized under current law to collectively bargain.
- Continued support for the development of independent housestaff organizations for residents and fellow physicians. And the additional directive that the AMA be prepared to move ahead with a national labor organization in the event the National Labor Relations Board gives residents and fellows approval to collectively bargain under the National Labor Relations Act.
- Support and reinforcement of mechanisms for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to address and resolve resident issues at the program and institutional levels.
- Continued vigorous support for antitrust relief for physicians and medical groups and the creation of a national organization to support development and operation of local negotiating units. These units would provide an option for self-employed physicians and medical groups consistent with the provisions of the Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 1999 (H.R. 1304) introduced by Tom Campbell (R-Calif.), or similar federal legislation, when enacted.
- A call for the AMA to work aggressively for antitrust relief with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and for the AMA to help state medical associations achieve their own "state-action doctrine" legislation.
- Approved expansion of the AMA's private sector advocacy programs, including initiating litigation, stopping egregious health plan practices and helping physicians level the playing field with health care payors.
- Authorized programs to educate members and non-members of the possible limit on benefits and the risks to the formation of a national labor organization, concurrent to its creation.
"We will waste no time in turning the delegates' mandate into reality," Dr. Smoak said. "Our Board will meet before the week is over to take the first steps. We'll report a full action plan within the next 30 days on how we will add this powerful new option to an already impressive array of tools that AMA physicians are using all across the country to fight for their patients' best interests."
"Throughout our 152-year history, AMA physicians have been able to make tremendous advancements in medical care and physician practice by joining together. We expect nothing less in this new endeavor," AMA President Nancy W. Dickey, MD said. "The AMA Board looks forward to creating a labor organization for the profession that addresses the concerns of America's physicians and empowers them to act on behalf of our beleaguered patients and consequently, improves the health and well being of the citizens of America."
# # #
| For more information, please contact: | Mike Lynch Public Information Officer American
Medical Association (312) 464-4584 |
