Doctors Turn to Teamsters to Help Fix Broken Health Care System
Frustrated doctors in New York have joined the Teamsters Local 1149 in hopes of gaining more bargaining power on behalf of their patients. Doctors are upset with insurance companies (particularly the dominant area ins. co., Excellus BlueCross BlueShield) trying to dictate patient care. The Teamsters union has already gained the membership of 250 doctors, and expect to gain another 750 by year's end.Excellus is cutting pay to doctors, and deciding which drugs the doctors can prescribe to their patients. Payments could be cut as much as 20%, which is difficult to understand when Excellus' profits increased 88% last year.
Doctors wouldn't need to unionize if there was more competition among insurance companies. With an organized group, doctors hope to gain a louder voice and negotiate contracts that would help their patients acquire the care they need. But, as it stands, doctors and patients are at the mercy of the local giant.
By terra - 6/28/2006
5 Comments:
OOrah for the Doctors!
Anthyting is better that the status quo that the Ins. companies lord upon us.
Actually, what the Ins Mafia needs is some muscle in their face - The Teamsters are just the group to arrange that.
& remember that the Teamsters have always looked after their people - the origins of the union are the result of truckers being treated as rubbish by robber barons.
Petey- Teamsters local 377, Youngstown, Ohio 1977-1982
Petey,
I had a feeling you would like this story. It's amazing that the only way people can get actual health care is if their doctors join a union to put some pressure on them. Sad.
I heard that they've been successful at getting treatment for people by just letting the ins co know that a doctor from the Teamsters was calling.
The article also said "Excellus' profits increased 88 percent last year and the nonprofit insurer paid five executives more than $1 million"
where is Jimmy Hoffa when yuou really need him?
I don't understand how anyone could be against unions (when they're functioning as they should). When the government won't bust monopolies and look out for people's rights, unions are an effective solution. Good post!
Post a Comment
<< Home