Whether or not as an offical union or more like an AAP, AAFP business association that can do press releases and lobbying for real effective change. The IMP folks are talking about going offical but as a non-profit and this ties ones hand they say from lobbying.
Now there is the possiblity of having two separate but sort of brother, sister organizations so they can both do their own separate but kind of coordinated operations. So like one as a professional organization ala the specialty organizations do now, but one that can combine all MD, DO like PCP's. Peds, Internal Med and Family Practice. The opressors like insurance carriers love to see folks divided up because it makes you a smaller weaker target.
Now there is a local of the teamsters union here in our area that is trying to organize doctors but until we use our combinded resources and knowledge to finally find a way to get around the anti-trust laws we will always be nothing but a bug to be squashed. I still think with some combined financial resources to fight and figure out the best way to legally solve this one problem, then we can finally make some real headway.
I wonder if there might be some ethical lawyers (ya I know we all think that label is an oxymoron but there are a few, like this lady at the ACLU I just made friends with) who might give of their time for free or reduced rates because they can see the connection between what is good for primary care docs is really good for everyone and the country as a whole. We need to break the strangle hold these SOB's have on the proffession of medicine. And we need to finally have someone talk about helping us in ways other than Malpractice reform. For most PCP's, as much as it is any issue, it really is not our main issue. Our rates are almost semi-reasonable. It's everything else that is really killing us. This is a specialist's issue and again the AMA and the Medical Societies represent those guys not you folks....
Anyway, I've got a few games this evening and need to get ready for them. I'll try and check back here late tonight or tomorrow in the am... Have a great night folks...
"Solidarity forever, our union keeps us strong...."
Paul
