ANTITRUST COALITION FOR CONSUMER CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE
1150 17^th St., N.W.
Suite 601
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 721-0363
http://www.healthantitrust.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jim Edwards 202-452-8300, ext. 415

(May 22, 2000) - Sounding the warning on pending legislation that threatens to unleash dangerous doctor cartels, the Antitrust Coalition for Consumer Choice in Health Care today began a radio advertising campaign against H.R. 1304, the Quality Health Care Coalition Act, which the House of Representatives will consider this week.

The 60-second radio ad will air throughout the week on Washington-area news-talk radio stations during morning drive time, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The spot makes the connection between oil cartels and doctor cartels by pointing to the current high gasoline prices. It uses a conversation at the gas pump to illustrate that, just as the OPEC cartel causes higher gas prices, so too will the "OPEC for Doctors" bill result in higher health costs, less consumer choice and anticonsumer, anticompetitive conduct by doctor cartels.

"These ads will raise awareness of this dangerous legislation," said Doug Badger, the coalition's director. "Congress is poised to give doctors virtually absolute immunity from the antitrust laws that prohibit price-fixing, market allocation schemes, group boycotts, and other unfair methods of competition.

"Without a doubt, H.R. 1304 would give one special interest the ability to price-fix and boycott - legally - with impunity and no oversight," Badger said. "That's a nice little arrangement for the special interest that gets the benefit, but it comes at a huge cost - in dollars, choice and quality - to consumers and patients. Hopefully, these ads will help break through the political fog surrounding this awful bill."

A decision is still pending on whether to run the ad in targeted House members' districts. "We reserve the right to tell the people back home that their congressman is establishing the medical equivalent of OPEC," Badger said.

The coalition supports competition in health care fostered through the antitrust laws. It opposes H.R. 1304, which would grant special antitrust immunity for cartels of certain health professionals. This immunity would allow anticompetitive behavior that is illegal under antitrust and labor laws, including price-fixing and boycotts. Such conduct would reduce consumer choice, diminish competition, lead to higher health costs and inhibit health care quality improvement.

The coalition includes employers, business groups, nonphysician providers, insurers and others dedicated to ensuring that consumers have broad health care options fostered by competition.