ACEP strongly applauds the new report from the Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding consolidation in health care.
“This report is a strong step in the right direction, but more action must be taken to preserve physician autonomy,” said Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “Emergency physicians must be able to make medical decisions based on their training and what’s best for their patients, without being undermined by profit-driven pressure from corporate interests.”
The report prominently features ACEP comments and concerns, including an ACEP member questionnaire showing that more than half (53%) of emergency physician respondents believe their medical decision-making autonomy was curtailed following the merger or acquisition of their practice.
As the national voice of emergency physicians, ACEP is proud to be the only emergency medicine organization cited in the report.
ACEP is eager to continue working with HHS, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission to curtail the unchecked corporatization of medicine and growth of private equity, both of which pose real risks for patients, physicians, and the health care system.
Emergency physicians feel incredible “pressure to take shortcuts [and] give inappropriate and potentially harmful care” to meet profit-driven metrics, that patients “are treated as numbers rather than individuals,” and that care is no longer patient-centered but “metric-centered,” according to the report.
ACEP fully supports the HHS conclusions that “health care consolidation can negatively impact patients’ and health workers’ safety, quality, and cost of care.”
We are proud to lead the call to reduce the harmful effects of corporate overreach into emergency medicine. It is clear that the Administration listened to ACEP members and recognizes the unique impact of health care consolidation on emergency physicians.
“We look forward to working with HHS, patient advocates and others so that this report translates to meaningful policy change that includes measures to protect the physician-patient relationship and empower emergency physicians on the job,” said Dr. Haddock
