American Medical Student Association reacts to dismissal of resident antitrust litigation

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation’s largest, independent medical student organization, calls for improvements to the “Match” even after U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman dismissed the antitrust lawsuit against the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and 27 other organizations, stating that the system does not violate antitrust laws.

Though not a party in the lawsuit, AMSA has followed the lawsuit closely, as its outcome has a sweeping effect on medical students and residents.

“While the recent act of Congress exempting the NRMP from antitrust laws forced dismissal of this lawsuit, few doubt the veracity of its claim that resident working conditions are poor and wages are low,” says Brian Palmer, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., AMSA national president. “While AMSA took no position on the antitrust question, we insist that the NRMP continue to consider methods to increase choice and negotiating abilities for applicants.”

AMSA’s proposals to increase student and program director representation on the NRMP board and to create a “Second Match” to help relieve the confusion of the Scramble are under active review. Currently, students who do not receive a position in the Match have a period in which they "scramble" to find an open position. AMSA and the NRMP are investigating the feasibility and desirability of conducting a two-phased Main Residency Match. In the past, AMSA successfully improved the match algorithm in favor of applicants and, last year, won disclosure of the actual contracts applicants will be forced to sign when they match.

Source: Medical News Today