Re: U.S. Politics: *IMPORTANT* Call for informatioon...
Bobvanhook
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Collection
Title:
Re: U.S. Politics: *IMPORTANT* Call for informatioon...
Creator:
Bobvanhook
Text:
In your (Ted Trower's) message yesterday you expressed concern about the lack
of regulation on self-insured corporations. Rep. Charles Norwood's bill, know
as the Patient Access to Responsible Care Act (HR 1415), provides a wide range
of patient protections, many of which are very much like the provisions in the
Consumer Bill of Rights adopted by the President's Advisory Commission on
Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. Norwood's PARCA
bill encourages consumer assistance, external grievance procedures, and
nondiscrimination in marketing and enrollment. As your message suggests, the
PARCA bill would extend these protections to people in self-insured plans as
well, much to the dismay of the self-insured corporations who like the freedom
they enjoy under ERISA laws.
One major downside of the PARCA bill is that it could unleash a ton of
litigation because it greatly expands the grounds for consumers to sue their
health plans. As a presenter at the AOPA Policy Forum this week said, the
bill encourages 'death-by-lawyer' which is already a plague in this country.
There are several other bills that have been introduced on consumer rights and
there will be several others before the brief legislative session is over
(Congress has less that 60 working days left this year!). It is very likely
that one of the bills will pass this year, but it is likely to be a bill that
does not have the potential for litigation found in Norwood's PARCA bill.
AOPA's Board of Directors approved a policy in support of legislation on
consumer qualtiy and protection that reflect the concerns of the O&P field.
The position also directs staff to pursue inclusion of conditions of coverage
and the elimination of insurance caps (one limb per life and monetary) on O&P
care.
If anyone needs more information, please let me know.
Bob
Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
Executive Director
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
1650 King Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703/836-7116
Fax: 703/836-0838
Email: <Email Address Redacted>
Webpage: www.theaopa.org
of regulation on self-insured corporations. Rep. Charles Norwood's bill, know
as the Patient Access to Responsible Care Act (HR 1415), provides a wide range
of patient protections, many of which are very much like the provisions in the
Consumer Bill of Rights adopted by the President's Advisory Commission on
Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. Norwood's PARCA
bill encourages consumer assistance, external grievance procedures, and
nondiscrimination in marketing and enrollment. As your message suggests, the
PARCA bill would extend these protections to people in self-insured plans as
well, much to the dismay of the self-insured corporations who like the freedom
they enjoy under ERISA laws.
One major downside of the PARCA bill is that it could unleash a ton of
litigation because it greatly expands the grounds for consumers to sue their
health plans. As a presenter at the AOPA Policy Forum this week said, the
bill encourages 'death-by-lawyer' which is already a plague in this country.
There are several other bills that have been introduced on consumer rights and
there will be several others before the brief legislative session is over
(Congress has less that 60 working days left this year!). It is very likely
that one of the bills will pass this year, but it is likely to be a bill that
does not have the potential for litigation found in Norwood's PARCA bill.
AOPA's Board of Directors approved a policy in support of legislation on
consumer qualtiy and protection that reflect the concerns of the O&P field.
The position also directs staff to pursue inclusion of conditions of coverage
and the elimination of insurance caps (one limb per life and monetary) on O&P
care.
If anyone needs more information, please let me know.
Bob
Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
Executive Director
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
1650 King Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703/836-7116
Fax: 703/836-0838
Email: <Email Address Redacted>
Webpage: www.theaopa.org
Citation
Bobvanhook, “Re: U.S. Politics: *IMPORTANT* Call for informatioon...,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210506.
