The Contest for Control: Regulating New and Expanding Health Occupations.

The article discusses the need to regulate new and expanding health occupations in the U.S. The current health care market has witnessed the proliferation of new medical occupations like respiratory therapists and physician assistants. However, the contest for control of such occupations results in a variety of additions and deletions to regulatory law. Practitioners belonging to these categories struggle to win the legitimacy of state recognition and the licensed ones tend to seek protection from new occupations that might compete for clientele. Also examined are the various factors that produce the steady stream of new occupations and the responses to new entrants.