COALITION FOR PATIENTS’ RIGHTS (CPR) CALLS ON AMA TO CEASE DIVISIVE EFFORTS TO LIMIT PATIENTS’ CHOICE OF PROVIDERS
CONTACT:
Christopher Bettin, AANA, 847-655-1143
Laura Diamond, ANA, 301-628-5020
Luana Bossolo, APA, 202-336-5898
July 27, 2006
35 health care organizations* unite to ensure patients’ a full range of health care provider options and the right to choose among them
Washington, DC – In response to divisive efforts by the American Medical Association (AMA) and other physician groups to limit the ability of licensed health careprofessionals to provide care to millions of patients, the newly formed Coalition for Patients’ Rights (CPR) today urged all health care professionals to work together to counter the AMA’s actions.
The CPR was formed to ensure that the growing needs of the American health system can be met and that patients have access to quality health care providers of their choice. The coalition represents more than 3 million licensed professionals who provide a diverse array of safe, effective and affordable health care services.
In a joint statement endorsed by the 25 health care groups* that comprise the coalition, the CPR expressed concern about the negative impact on patients if their ability to seek care from advanced practice nurses, psychologists, nurse midwives, chiropractors, and many other licensed, qualified health care providers is limited. The coalition is calling on the AMA and other physician groups aligned with the AMA to cease their divisive efforts to oppose the established practice rights of CPR members. The coalition also seeks an end to legislation at the state level that would reduce provider options for patients.
The CPR is especially concerned about efforts by the AMA and other physician groups that have formed the “Scope of Practice Partnership” to study the work and qualifications of “allied health professionals” in rural and underserved areas.
“Limiting the ability of health care professionals to practice and provide appropriate care will place an enormous burden on the health care system,” remarkedBarbara Blakeney, MS, RN, President of the American Nurses Association, which is a member of the coalition. “As leaders of the health community, this coalition seeks to maintain the broadest range of provider choices for everyone,” said Blakeney.
The coalition questions the objectives of the AMA and other physician organizations when they seek to advise consumers, regulators, policymakers and insurers on the ability of other health careprofessionals to offer the services they are allowed by law to provide. Health careproviders are a critical source of care for patients throughout the United States, especially those who live in rural areas and medically underserved urban areas. Historically, people who live in rural areas have relied on a strong array of practitioners to meet their health care needs. Advanced practice registered nurses, social workers, and other professions that require rigorous educational preparation and ongoing instruction and certification are the backbone of not just the rural health caresystem, but the entire health care structure in the United States.
“Organizations representing medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathy (DOs) are not in the best position to conduct a balanced and fair assessment of an issue that directly affects their reimbursement,” said Mitchell H. Tobin, JD, Senior Director of Professional Practice Affairs for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, also a member of the coalition.
The coalition asserts that the AMA’s actions affect the entire health carecommunity and all current and potential patients.
“Health care professionals other than MDs and DOs have been key to assuring access to care for millions of patients in rural and underserved areas. Given the difficulty that so many people have in getting needed care, now is the time for all health care professions to work together, not to work against each other to meet the need,” said Dr. Russ Newman, PhD, JD, Executive Director for Professional Practice of the American Psychological Association.
The Coalition for Patients’ Rights is continuing to expand and invites other health care organizations to join.
LIST OF COALITION FOR PATIENTS’ RIGHTS MEMBERS AND CONTACTS
Organization |
Name |
Telephone |
| American Academy of Nurse Practitioners | Nancy McMurrey | 512-2 76-5903 |
| American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) | ||
| American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Robert Rosseter | 202 -463-6930 |
| American Association of Critical-Care Nurses | Marilyn Petterson | 949-362-2020 |
| American Assn. of Naturopathic Physicians | ||
| American Association of Nurse Anesthetists | Christopher Bettin | 847-655-1143 |
| American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM) | Rebekah Christensen |
866-455-7999 |
| American Chiropractic Association | Angela Kargus | 703-812-0240 |
| American College of Nurse- Midwives | 240-485-1800 | |
| American College of Nurse Practitioners | 202-659-2190 | |
| American Nephrology Nurses Association | 856-256-2320 | |
| American Nurses Association | Eileen Carlson Rose Gonzalez |
301-628-5093 301-628-5098 |
| American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) | ||
| American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) | ||
| American Psychological Association | Luana Bossolo | 202-336-5898 |
| American Psychiatric Nurses Association | Gail Kincaide | 866-243-2443 |
| American Speech-Language Hearing Association | 301-897-0104 | |
| Association of Nurses in Aids Care (ANAC) | ||
| Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) | ||
| Association of Rehabilitation Nurses | 847-375-4710 | |
| Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) | ||
| Assn. of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses | Karen Tucker Thomas | 202-261-2400 |
| California Optometric Association (COA) | ||
| Emergency Nurses Association | Meredith Klein | 312-751-4197 |
| Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) | ||
| Integrated Health Policy Consortium (IHPC) | ||
| National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists | Christine Carson Filipovich | 717-234-6799 |
| National Assn. of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) | 202-543-9693 | |
| National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners | Karen Kelly-Thomas | 856-857-9700 |
| National League for Nursing | 212-363-5555 | |
| National Nursing Centers Consortium | 215-731-7140 | |
| National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties | Kitty Werner | 202-289-8044 |
| Oncology Nursing Society | Karen Hochberg | 412-859-6236 |
| Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association | Sue Koob | 608-250-2440 |
| Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society | Nicolette Zuecca | 856-439-0500 |
Statements of Support from Other Organizations