Forum on economic credentialing (E.C.).

What is economic credentialing? The California Medical Association defines economic credentialing as follows: "The use of economic criteria that do not apply to quality for granting or renewing medical staff pr ivileges?" The American Medical Association defines economic credentialing as " ... the use of economic criteria unrelated to quality of care or professional competency in determining an individual's qualification for initial or continuing hospital medical staff membership or pr-ivileges?" The Florida Medical Association defines economic credentialing as " ... any practice that denies access to hospitals based on eco- nomic criteria unrelated to the clinical qualifications or professional responsibilities of the physician." It also defines economic credentialing as " ... fiscal responsibility in practicing quality healthcare," and specifically notes that the governing body of a hospital has the right to discipline physicians (and presumably, exclude them) on the basis of resource utilization.