以聯合調漲掛號費事件論醫師公會之聯合行為與公平交易法【醫法新論】 試閱
Comment on the Application of Fair Trade Act to Concerted Action of Medical Association-With Special Reference to Concerted Price Hiking of Medical Registration Fee
掛號費之變動素來即為社會民生之重要議題,本文以醫師公會聯合調漲掛號費事件討論其所涉之公平交易法為題,首先說明醫師公會屬於公平交易法下之「事業」、醫師公會之聯合定價及約束事業活動等行為均屬公平交易法下之「聯合行為」,次介紹公平交易法第46條之意旨在於凡競爭之行為均應適用公平交易法,並以臺北市會計師公會事件之法院判決為例,說明欲將專門職業法規下之行為排除公平交易法之優先適用,仍須依公平交易法第46條但書加以審酌,僅有於不牴觸平交易法之立法意旨範圍內,方可排除公平交易法之優先適用,再討論關於醫師公會之掛號費聯合漲價事件,本文先說明掛號費之費用屬性並非屬於醫療費用,本即應受公平交易法之規範,並解釋即使掛號費被廣義地認定為屬醫療費用,則因醫療法與公平交易法各有其不互相牴觸之立法意旨,故掛號費之聯合漲價行為仍應適用公平交易法並受其規範。
The price determination of the medical registration fee has been an important issue in our society. This article elaborates the related fair trade issue regarding the concerted medical registration fee price hiking action conducted by Taiwan Medical Association. Firstly, the Taiwan Medical Association is deemed as enterprise as referred to in Fair Trade Act, consequently the determination of price and the restriction of business conducted by the Association will be interpreted as “concerted action.” Secondary, this article elucidates, with special reference to the litigation of Taipei Association for Certified Public Accountants, that any conduct of competing for trading opportunities in the same market should apply Fair Trade Act except the situation where other laws provide relevant provisions that do not conflict with the legislative purposes of this Act as stipulated in the provisos of Article 46. Since the medical registration fee shall not be classified as part of the medical fee which the municipal or county (city) competent authority, according to Article 21 in Medical Care Act, has the right to determine, consequently the price determination of the medical registration fee shall apply the Fair Trade Act. Even if registration fee be regarded as the medical fee stipulated in Article 21 in Medical Care Act, none the less, the concerted medical registration fee price hiking action still shall apply Fair Trade Act since it conflicts with the legislative purposes of this Act as stipulated in the provisos of Article 46.
138-159