The American Medical Association yesterday announced that it will continue funding its union affiliate Physicians for Responsible Negotiation (PRN), reversing a board decision reached earlier this year not to fund the union which has so far not brought in enough members or dues to offset its expenses (see WIT for May 9, 2002). The AMA board changed tack following a unanimous vote earlier yesterday by its 552-member House of Delegates, supporting the immediate resumption of loans without which the PRN could have collapsed as early as next month. The delegates defended the thee-year old union as vitally important in the fight against doctors? growing loss of control over patient care decisions to HMO?s.
See "AMA gives life support to union", BRUCE JAPSEN, Chicago Tribune, June 19, 2002