I received Dr. Eck’s email yesterday and am posting it here for all New Jerseyans to read. The pending legislation that Dr. Eck cites below is another reason why government must be downsized to such a degree that it does not matter who is president, governor or serves in the Congress or the state legislature. We are a long way from that day. Until then, we have to fight the statists of both parties who want to be our masters. What we are witnessing in New Jersey and around the country is the insight of the 19th century,”No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.” “Freedom is not free” is what we hear today. And that’s the truth. Make your voice heard.
To our friends who love freedom,
Did you notice that gasoline in NJ is down to $3.29? Nice, right? Gas stations are open and we can drive up and fill our tanks when we need to. Some of us are driving less, as even $3.29 is hard to come by, but the gas station owner has priced it as low as he can and still stay in business. No one calls him greedy.
What do you think would happen if the government passed a law forcing gas station owners to charge only $1.00 per gallon? Not only would they protest loudly, but in a few weeks we would see gas stations close one by one.
This is what is happening to the private practice of medicine. While the expenses of going to medical school and running a practice are going up, the government is trying to fix doctor fees below the cost to provide the service. Private practices are closing. Doctors are selling them to hospitals or big corporations in the hope that they will continue to be able to continue to see patients and earn a living. Who knows? What will happen when the more generous allotments Medicare and Medicaid give to hospitals will dry up as well?
Read the message below. [Monday morning}, the NJ Assembly is debating a bill that will insist physicians accept whatever the insurance companies choose to pay them as payment in full. No physician should be forced to accept such payments when he has no say in the matter. These are out-of-network physicians who have not signed any contracts. Empowering insurers to behave like Medicare and Medicaid will signal the end to quality care.
Please read the message below and take action.
Alieta Eck, MD
Piscataway, NJ
President, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
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Now is the time to speak out!
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STOP New Jersey Bill A2751
Help Save Private Medicine!
The New Jersey Assembly is considering a bill that will destroy private medicine by encouraging price-fixing by health insurance companies. It will allow them to dictate fees for out-of-network physicians. It will even prohibit insured patients from paying out-of-pocket for quality care. This bill, A2751, is a dream-come-true for insurance companies, and a nightmare for physicians and patients.
The hearing on this bill is at 10am, this Monday June 18, Committee Room 15 (4th Floor, State House Annex Building), in Trenton. We need as many physicians and patients there as possible, to offset the immense influence that insurance companies have.
In the free market, insurance companies should not be allowed to set the prices. But NJ A2751, co-sponsored by Gary Schaer and Grace Spender, would give insurance companies that power, even over out-of-network physicians. This bill also denies some patients their own right to purchase medical care. Not even the Canadian Supreme Court would allow this much interference with patients’ rights.
The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down state laws attempting to control professional fees. Now some politicians want to give that same power to insurance companies. Please let your legislators know how wrong this is, and show up with your patients at Monday’s hearing!
AAPS will be there. Our General Counsel will be there. The Medical Society of New Jersey should be there to oppose the bill, but we do not know if it will. Please help us save private medicine and contact your legislator!
In addition to attending Monday’s hearing in Trenton, you can help by calling your legislators and telling them that you DO NOT support A2751. Encourage your patients to call too.
You can find your legislators’ contact information here:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp
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