-Caveat Lector- 6/27/99 FYI, see last graph of the AP piece below. From a PR perspective, the FL plastic surgeon quote below may turn out to be bad for docs everywhere. This quote could be used as part of a larger message that goes something like, "Patients are being used as pawns by the AMA and other doctors who say they want to unionize. Unionizing may not do what doctors say they want to accomplish either. Instead, some doctors may end up using patient information as a bargaining tool when challenging an HMO's decision. Is that the kind of medical care you want? Even Dr. Jana Rasmussen, a West Palm Beach, Fla. plastic surgeon, says that doctors are 'at wits end.' The solution to America's health care ought not be doctors grasping for straws because they want bigger paychecks......" And then maybe go into managed care's proven track record, etc.. Some consumers may not be too happy when doctors like this FL plastic surgeon say they have to resort to unionizing b/c they are at their wits end! That may signal to some that docs are thinking more with their wallets and not with their heads. By the way, this evening, appearing on the McLaughlin Hour, Karen Ignagni, AAHP, squared off with Rep. Ganske on this exact issue and she seemed to be using a samilar argument. To boot, I wasn't too convinced with Ganske's horror story examples. I think she did quite a good job and held up well [especially when she kept referring to him as Greg and not Rep. Ganske or Dr. Ganske etc..]. -A > **Patients likely to get little > benefit from doctor unions, > experts say > > By Phil Galewitz, Associated Press, 06/26/99 01:02 > > NEW YORK (AP) Consumer groups, employers and federal > regulators are warning that a drive by doctors to form unions > won't deliver on promises for better health care. Even worse, > they say, powerful doctor unions could bring higher costs. > <snip> > On the other side are those who feel the doctors are more > concerned about restoring lucrative fees they've lost due to > HMO curbs on care. > > To some, the fight is similar to sports team owners and their > millionaire athletes. > > ''This is a debate between those earning six figures (doctors) > and those earning seven figures (health insurance > executives),'' said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families > USA, a Washington D.C. consumer health group. ''If doctors' > salaries escalate, consumers will end up paying a price for > that.'' > > Pollack said unions may help restore some balance between > doctors and HMOs in making patient care decisions. But he > said patient protection legislation now pending in Congress > would do more. > <snip> > > Employer groups who pay most health insurance premiums > and often side with insurers worry the HMOs would have to > increase their premiums if they must give doctors more > money. > > ''Doctors are clearly frustrated, but we don't see this as a > solution,'' said Sally Coberly, director of public policy at the > Washington Business Group on Health. > <snip> > > Still, the number of unionized doctors is growing. Of the > 600,000 doctors nationally, roughly 40,000 belong to unions, > up from only about 25,000 two years ago. Experts predict the > numbers will continue to grow because of the AMA vote. > > In addition, Congress and several states are considering > legislation giving independent doctors the right to collectively > bargain. Texas this week became the first to pass a law to > give doctors that leverage. > > The Federal Trade Commission opposes such laws, saying > they could hurt consumers. Indeed, the FTC has fined doctors > in central Virginia for banding together to block a new health > plan from entering their market because they objected to its > lower fees. > > Uwe Reinhardt, a health economist at Princeton University, > said unions have one main goal. ''Unions enhance the quality > of life for the union member,'' he said. > > Dr. Barry Liebowitz, president of the National Doctors Alliance, > a union representing 15,000 physicians, said unions will > ensure that doctors get enough time to treat patients and > provide appropriate treatment. > > In addition, unionized doctors can be more assertive in fighting > for coverage on behalf of patients without fearing retribution > from the HMO, he said. > > ''The driving force here has not been the loss of income but the > loss of being able to practice their profession,'' he said. > > However, some doctors aren't sure unions are the solution. > > ----------->>''Doctors are at wits end because they can't get the message > across that quality care costs money and we are grasping for > anything,'' said Dr. Jana Rasmussen, a West Palm Beach, > Fla., plastic surgeon. ''The union has been the bright shining > star that might turn things around so doctors can be paid > appropriately.'' > ** FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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