Number: RS20410
Title: JOINT NEGOTIATION BY HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS: H.R. 1304, "QUALITY HEALTH-CARE COALITION ACT OF 1999"
Authors: Janice E. Rubin, American Law Division 
Abstract: H.R. 1304, "Quality Health-Care Coalition Act of 1999," amended and passed by the House on June 30, would enable health-care professionals to negotiate jointly with health plans concerning "the terms of any health plan contract under which the professionals provide health care services or items for which benefits are provided under such plan," altering existing antitrust law so that joint negotiation by health-care entities that, but for their joint activity, would normally be competitors, would no longer be considered unlawful. Prior to a discussion of H.R. 1304's major provisions, this report sets out the present antitrust law and some relevant exemptions from it, and some pertinent parts of the "Statements of Antitrust Enforcement Policy in Health Care."
Pages: 6
Date: Updated July 17, 2000