Why Organized Medicine Matters — Another Example!
AB 533 Has Been Defeated!
September 17, 2015
Thanks to your assistance, CMA has defeated Assembly Bill 533, which would have transferred negotiating power to health plans at the expense of physicians.
AB 533 would have drastically changed the current healthcare marketplace by allowing a massive transfer of negotiating power to the health plans at the expense of physicians. Although CMA is in favor of removing patients from billing disputes between health plans and out-of-network physicians, this specific solution was unacceptable and would have given too much power to health plans.
AB 533 would have done more harm than good by giving massive market power and profits to health plans and insurers, while placing unfair burdens on the state’s physicians and patients. This bill had the powerful financial and political backing of health plans, and the strong support of consumer groups, organized labor, and the California Chamber of Commerce.
With your strong support, CMA fought the measure to the end, lobbying against it until a final vote was taken at midnight on the last day of the legislative session. Ultimately, the bill did not receive enough votes to advance.
As always, your voice was critical to our success in defeating AB 533. Thank you for standing with us, once again, in the state legislature!
Sincerely,
California Medical Association