The author of a 2006 failed Bill in the US House of Representatives is at it again. Last year, Rep. John Sullivan of Oklahoma introduced a Bill aimed at limiting the scope of practice by non-medical doctors in the United States. Now he has introduced a new Bill that would place more limitations and requirements on the way healthcare practitioners advertise their services.

Last year’s Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2006 drew heated debate in the House of Representatives. It was then referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection and went no further. The title of that Bill said this: “To prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services.”

This year’s Bill is called Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 (H.R. 2260). It is titled as follows: “To prohibit the misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of healthcare services, and to require the identification of the license of certain health care providers.”

Just like last year’s attempt, this Bill is seen as another veiled attempt by medical doctors, specifically the American Medical Association, to limit what they view as competition from the providers of alternative healthcare services.

In a nutshell, this Bill would make it unlawful for anyone who is not a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine to make statements about their education, skills or training that would lead a person to believe that the provider is a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathic medicine. Secondly, it would require providers who are not either of these types of doctors to provide licensing information in advertisements. Finally, it would direct the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the measures of the Bill.

A strongly worded response to this new Bill was immediately forthcoming from Richard Brassard, the president of the American Chiropractic Association. “Given the fact that consumer protection laws and restrictions are already in place, it is clear that this redundant legislation is intended to merely undermine the legitimate education and training of Chiropractors and other healthcare professionals. H.R. 2260 appears to be working in the best interest of the patient, but clearly its supporters are acting in their own self interest at the expense of consumers.”

One minor item of note in this continuing attempt of Rep. Sullivan to operate on behalf of the medical profession is that very few additional legislators have fallen into line as co-sponsors of the 2007 Bill. Last year, he had 12 co-sponsors and that number is down to 3 this year.

To follow the progress of this Bill, check out the following US government website: http://thomas.loc.gov. Search H.R. 2260. It has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Source: The Chiro Web 2007 http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/25/14/13.html