Word: hmos
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Republicans came back to pass similar, but more limited, measures that would cover only the 48 million enrolled in federally regulated plans. And by a 53-to-47 vote on Thursday, the Senate struck down the Democrats' centerpiece: a provision enlarging the rights of many patients to sue their HMOs for the denial of treatment. In the wings, President Clinton waited, hinting that he'll veto any watered-down legislation and essentially hand the issue over to voters in next year's elections...
...blaring, the parliamentary maneuvering is intense, and the lobbying is scorching. In another preview of election 2000 ? the other main issues are gun control, tax cuts and campaign-finance reform ? the Senate is engaging this week in amendment-by-amendment combat over a patients' bill of rights for HMOs. Democrats, including a vociferous President Clinton, are pressing for a broad set of provisions that would expand access to emergency-room care and specialists, and enlarge the right to sue recalcitrant HMOs for denial of treatment. Republicans, while pressing for some of the same reforms, are seeking a more limited bill...
Then there are the potential legal hurdles. Federal labor laws designed to combat price fixing bar self-employed physicians, the vast majority of doctors in the U.S., from jointly discussing fees and contracts. Only 1 in 7 physicians--those directly employed by entities like hospitals, HMOs or state health departments--can currently unionize. In the past, doctors' groups that have tried to organize anyway have been slapped with antitrust complaints by the Justice Department...
...quell worries like this, the A.M.A. has pre-emptively renounced its right to strike. It is even shying away from using the word union, preferring the squishier "national negotiating organization." The group says it will rely on tamer job actions like "slowing a bit on completing paperwork" required by HMOs. Yet representatives of other doctors' unions, such as the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, claim the A.M.A. is making a mistake by voluntarily giving up its most important bargaining tool...
Supporters hope the mere threat of joint action will coax HMOs to the bargaining table. It has already perked up frustrated doctors like Gunby. "They may kick me out of their plans," he vows, "but I'll go down fighting." So, no doubt, will managed care...