Labor organization is a boon for physicians
Labor organization is a boon for physicians
By Mark Bair, MD, FACEP
Chair-Elect, Young Physicians Section
American Medical Association
Chicago
In June 1999, the American Medical Association (AMA) created Physicians for Responsible Negotiation (PRN) in response to a demand by its House of Delegates for help. PRN was created to empower today’s physicians in their challenging medical, social, and economic practice environment. Although PRN was created by the AMA, it functions separately by design. PRN functions as a labor organization under the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which require PRN to be an independent organization. PRN is the only labor organization created specifically for physicians.
Today’s environment in medicine has become more complicated than ever before. In many circumstances, physicians have tried to find help in working with employers, insurance companies, hospitals, and patients. Federal law is restrictive to physicians when it comes to discussing and negotiating as a group. PRN was developed to add another possible tool for physicians.
In response to physicians’ needs for assistance, many organizations have developed programs and information. A physician or group of physicians with a particular circumstance or question can access those programs locally or nationally. State organizations have various committees that deal with reimbursement, resident issues, young physician contracting, and financial information for physicians. Those organizations are available at both the state medical associations and specialty societies. Various states also have developed programs for physicians.
At the national level, the AMA has developed programs to deal with contracting and advocacy. The Private Sector Advocacy Group (PSA) of the AMA has positioned itself to provide a response that includes the full scope of AMA resources. The PSA group will pursue strategies that address marketplace issues that impact physicians in any mode of practice. The PSA group has been involved across the country in trying to improve the quality of physician practice. Its activities include creating and passing national legislation, engaging the Federal Trade Commission to amend restrictive clauses, support state legislative attempts, engage health care organizations, and disseminate tools to assist physicians in their practice. AMA members can access the PSA group on the Web at www. ama-assn.org.
PRN was created to add to the arsenal available to physicians to achieve their goals in their practice environment. PRN is directed and restricted by the NLRB and NLRA. This means PRN can represent employed physicians only when asked to assist. In December 1999, the NLRB passed down a ruling that residents are considered employees. This increases the number of physicians who can be represented by more than 90,000 residents. Once physicians initiate contact with PRN, they must then petition the NLRB for permission to represent that group of physicians in a negotiation.
In January 2000, PRN officials were asked to rep resent their first official organization, The Wellness Plan physicians from Detroit. The Wellness Plan is a mixed-model HMO developed for underserved areas of Detroit. The 42 staff physicians have become the victims of downsizing, contract renegotiations, and practice changes. Those physicians now are going to be represented by PRN. The physicians want to make sure they are still active participants in providing care to the underserved to whom they have dedicated their lives.
PRN, developed as a tool for physicians, is limited in its scope by the NLRB and NLRA. PRN has the ability to help physicians in an employed contract situation to improve their practice environment. Physi cians should remember that many tools are available. PRN has its own Web site at www.4prn.com. Any physician who would like more information about the organization, its programs, or the qualifying membership rules should contact PRN. Today’s physicians must be the designers of their own future. If we don’t do it, someone else will.
[Editor’s note: Bair can be contacted at 9164 S. Wedgefield Drive, Sandy, UT 84093. Telephone: (801) 714-6570. Fax: (801) 942-4671. E-mail: [email protected].]
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