In fact, AHS just closed a contract with the UAPD represented doctors, which did not include this language.

The only laws which have been cited by AHS's bargaining team as the reason for this language are the Stark Law and the anti-kickback statute.

These laws do protect patients by ensuring doctors do not receive direct compensation for referrals, which has the potential to incentivize unnecessary care for financial gain.

We are not paid for referrals, nor is our compensation tied to referrals in any way.

Further, the union negotiating process creates a mechanism for AHS to review doctor compensation regularly and to standardize pay by specialty, making kickbacks essentially impossible.

While AHS's bargaining team has admitted that we are not breaking any laws, they have created a second category of concern called noncompliance.

This is not a legal term, but a concoction of the contractors AHS has hired.

And so by rights, that's just something we can move forward on.