Patients First

By Sandie Dunn

I strongly support the Patients Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 3605). This bill would protect the rights of patients in managed care plans and ensure they receive the highest quality medical care.

Ensure medical decisions are made by doctors - not HMO bureaucrats

First and foremost, doctors and patients should decide on medical treatment and care, not insurance bureaucrats and administrators. We must guarantee that all medical decisions are made in the interest of the patients and not the insurance company bottom line.

Provide new protections for women

I want to ensure that all women have the right to direct access to their OB/GYN and are allowed to choose their OB/GYN as their primary care provider. Currently many women enrolled in managed care plans must negotiate their way through managed care bureaucracy just to get referrals before being allowed to see an OB/GYN.

Protection for Breast Cancer Patients - We should
prohibit bureaucrats from dictating the amount of
recovery time breast cancer patients need in the hospital, and we should require coverage for reconstructive surgery, if necessary.

Provide coverage for emergency care

Patients should have the right to emergency care
wherever and whenever a medical emergency arises.
Nobody experiencing a medical emergency should have
to call an insurance company bureaucrat for permission to seek emergency medical care.

Give patients more choice in selecting their doctor

Patients should have more choice in choosing their own
doctors, both in and out of their plan - allow patients to receive referrals to specialists outside of their plans. Currently many patients cannot afford the specialist care they need because of substantial out-of-pocket costs managed care plans often will not cover.

End "Gag Rules" that limit treatment options

Doctors should have the right to discuss all available
treatment options with their patients. Currently many
managed care providers prohibit their doctors from
discussing certain treatment options.