Unfortunately, unionization is not really an answer to the economic problems of member physicians and here's why. There is only one labor exemption from the antitrust laws. It applies to non-supervisory employees in collective bargaining with their employer. Therefore, if you are not a non-supervisory employed physician, the antitrust laws apply to you. This means that independent private practice physicians are subject to antitrust laws.
Antitrust laws apply to the activities of physician unions.
Forming an organization called a physician union in Milwaukee County doesn't mean that the union can engage in anticompetitive conduct. Physician unions cannot represent independent physicians in jointly negotiating or setting fees. On the other hand, if a group of non-supervisory employed physicians approached the Medical Society and requested that MSMC represent them in negotiations with their employer, this is legal and can be done. There is no requirement that collective bargaining be done by a union. It is very important that independent physicians understand that they and their Medical Society are subject to the antitrust laws and that collective conduct resulting in illegal price-fixing or boycott agreements is illegal.