(Washington, DC) Families USA's analysis of the three leadership managed care bills finds that only the Patients' Bill of Rights Act (S.6/H.R. 358) will establish essential protections for America's consumers.
"We've waited long enough to establish basic consumer protections," said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. "Consumers want these protections. Candidates campaigned in support of consumer rights. Now Congress needs to stop stalling and pass true consumer protections."
The new Families USA analysis shows that the House Republican Leadership Bill, the Patient Protection Act of 1999 (H.R. 448), is missing many key consumer protections including the right to a true external appeal of a health plan denial of care, access to out-of-network providers, and access to prescription drugs not on a health plan's formulary. In addition to missing many key consumer protections, the Senate Republican Leadership Bill, the Patients' Bill of Rights Plus Act (S 300) will not apply to millions of Americans who have their health insurance purchased by their employers.
"At this point in the debate there is only one proposal out there that truly addresses the American public's concerns about managed care," added Pollack. "The Patients' Bill of Rights Act establishes common sense patient protections and will help restore America's trust in the health care system."
The analysis also found that only the Patients' Bill of Rights Act assures consumers that doctors' decisions will prevail and that consumers have the right to sue their health plan for damages in the event of a wrongful denial of care.
"Under S.300 and H.R.448, a plan that improperly delays or denies essential health care will never be held accountable for the harm it causes. It therefore will have no deterrent for scrimping on needed care," said Pollack. "The worst that an uncaring HMO will be required to do is to provide the service originally delayed or denied. This gives HMOs virtual license to withhold essential care."
