Should a patients’ bill of rights include the right to sue an HMO or other insurance company?
The U.S. Congress is again considering passage of a patients’ bill of rights to provide protection for people in managed care plans. The main point of contention between supporters and opponents of the bill is whether patients should have the right to sue their HMO or other insurance company. Opponents argue that the courts will be flooded with lawsuits, driving up health insurance premiums and forcing employers to drop coverage. Supporters of the bill say this won’t happen because the internal and external appeals processes will address most patient grievances, thereby reducing lawsuits. Eighty-four percent of readers said a patients’ bill of rights should include the right to sue.
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