FP Report -- August 1999
AMA delegates vote to create labor organizations
Contrary to advice from the AMA Board of Trustees, the AMA House of Delegates voted June 23 to have the AMA immediately develop national labor organizations for employed physicians, and for resident and fellow physicians where allowed by state law.
Later, if and when the law allows, the AMA will develop similar organizations for self-employed physicians and medical groups. Physicians who join the organizations would not strike or endanger patient care.
The house considered a report from the AMA board -- which recommended that the AMA not form or sponsor any labor organization -- and 17 resolutions, many of which favored collective bargaining.
The AAFP Board of Directors had voted earlier to support the AMA board report, preferring the expansion of AMA's private sector advocacy effort, which is only a few years old, as a next step. But physician frustration with the status quo pushed delegates to approve a substitute version of one of the resolutions instead.
The substitute resolution also directs the AMA to continue vigorous support for antitrust relief for physicians and medical groups, including continued support for federal legislation consistent with the Quality Health Care Coalition Act, H.R. 1304 (see "Call to Action" above). If this or a similar bill passed, then the AMA would develop the national labor organizations for self-employed physicians and medical groups.
The resolution also states that the AMA should continue advancing its private sector advocacy programs and other innovative strategies, including litigation, to "stop egregious health plan practices and to help physicians level the playing field with health care payors," and that all AMA activities in this area should "maintain the highest level of professionalism."
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1999 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
FP Report | Headlines |AAFP Home | Search