There has been some confusion of a healthcare bill introduced in the House of Representatives this past June.  This bill has spawned a debate concerning the power of the AMA and its influence on congress concerning any non-MD specialty such as Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Osteopathic Physicians, Optomotrists, Phsychologists and general Denstists.  However, in this bill, doctors of dentistry and osteopathy are covered, but not podiatrists?  It is obvious that the AMA and members of CHART consists of members of physician and dental coalitions.  If you read the memo placed by the Physician and Dental Coalition, they put podiatry at the top of the list (72% of the population believe a podiatrist is a  medical doctor).  It is interesting, however, how their survery doesn’t mention DDS, but dental assistant.  Confused about this bill . . . read on. I have found the bill and reproduced it here in full.  A thread was posted in the Student Doctor Forum concerning this bill and its ramifications.  It was posted in the forum:

 ”This bill is a blatant attack on any provider other than those who hold a degree in medicine (MD), osteopathic medicine (DO), or dentistry (DDS). The College [ACFAS] strongly agrees with the APMA that this bill is a direct attack on the integrity, training, and practice of all our members.”

Read a the official Washington fax memo on this bill.   Also , read how this bill is now backed by the Physician and Dental Coalition. You can read the bill as introduced for yourself and decide on its wording.  To see the present status of the bill, click on the Library of Congress Link.  

Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2006 (Introduced in House) HR 5688 IH109th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 5688 To prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 27, 2006

Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. BASS, Mr. SCHWARZof Michigan, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and Mr. SESSIONS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILLTo prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the `Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2006′.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that–
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      (1) the truthful exchange of information between patients and their health care providers is key to helping them understand their health care choices;
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      (2) consumers believe that complex medical issues, surgeries, procedures, and prescribing medications should be performed by medical doctors;
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      (3) consumers are often unaware of the differences in, and seek more information about, the qualifications, training, and education of their health care providers;
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      (4) ample evidence exists of providers who are not medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, doctors of dental surgery, or doctors of dental medicine holding themselves out as such; and
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      (5) providers of health care services who are not medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, or dentists are of vital importance to the Nation’s health care system.

SEC. 3. HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDER UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES.

    (a) Conduct Prohibited- It shall be unlawful for any person who is a licensed health care service provider but who is not a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental medicine to make any deceptive or misleading statement, or engage in any deceptive or misleading act, that deceives or misleads the public or a prospective or current patient that such person is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental medicine or has the same or equivalent education, skills, or training. Such deceptive or misleading statements or acts shall include advertising in any medium, making false statements regarding the education, skills, training, or licensure of such person, or in any other way describing such person’s profession, skills, training, experience, education, or licensure in a fashion that causes the public, a potential patient, or current patient to believe that such person is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental medicine.
    (b) Enforcement- A violation of subsection (a) shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45). The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.

SEC. 4. INVESTIGATION.

    As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall conduct an investigation of health care providers engaging in the conduct prohibited by section 3(a) to–
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      (1) identify specific acts and practices constituting a violation of such section;
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      (2) determine the frequency of such acts and practices;
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      (3) identify instances of harm or injury resulting from such acts and practices; and
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      (4) identify instances where any State public policy has permitted such acts and practices.
    The Federal Trade Commission shall report its findings to Congress not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.