ACEP Urges FTC to Finalize Ban on Non-Compete Clauses in Employment Contracts
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) urges the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to finalize its proposed rule to ban non-compete clauses in employment contracts. In a letter to the Commission, ACEP unequivocally supports a ban on these predatory clauses which can limit the ability of emergency physicians to practice medicine in their communities and hinder their ability to effectively advocate for their patients.
“Emergency physicians should not be subject to harmful non-compete agreements,” said Christopher S. Kang, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “Restricting an emergency physician’s ability to choose a job can stall or upend their career, contribute to workplace dissatisfaction, and accelerate currently high rates of burnout, especially in rural or underserved communities where it is already challenging to attract and retain physicians.”
ACEP strongly agrees with the FTC that non-compete clauses are unfair, exploitative, and coercive because they can restrict emergency physician autonomy and limit otherwise viable employment options. Finalizing this regulation as proposed would help address the current anti-competitive conditions faced by many emergency physicians amidst growing health care consolidation.