OTHER NEWS - Dec. 10, 1991

AMA Eyes Ban on Self-Referrals: The American Medical Assn. is expected to approve the strongest admonition in its history against the practice of physicians referring patients to laboratories or health facilities in which the doctors have a financial interest. The resolution, to be considered today by the AMA’s House of Delegates meeting in Las Vegas, says that, as a general rule, self-referrals should occur only when other health care facilities do not exist. According to the AMA, about 10% of physicians have investments in facilities that could create potential conflicts of interest.