Doctors urge Congress to enact 'Bill of Rights' for patients

CARSON CITY -- An organization of Nevada doctors has urged Congress to enact a patients' "Bill of Rights" to curb potential abuses by managed care or health maintenance organizations.

The Nevada State Medical Association said the 1997 Legislature enacted a state law to protect patients of health care groups. But the state law doesn't cover everybody in these organizations.

Dr. John Scott, Jr., president of the association, said Wednesday, "Congress has the chance to show the same commitment to patient rights as did the Nevada Legislature. It would be a shame if election year politics and wealth of the managed care insurance industry prevents Congress from doing the right thing now when it really matters."

Larry Matheis, executive director of the association, estimates more than half of Nevadans who have health care coverage are under federal jurisdiction, not the state.

He said about 40 percent of the Medicare population in Nevada is covered by health maintenance organizations or managed care organizations. Nevada law doesn't apply to them.

About half of Nevadans with private health insurance through their employers come under federal regulation, Matheis said.

The association said federal legislation must include the end of gag rules that prevent doctors from telling patients about specialized treatments that might be available and the bill must ensure patients have a right to know the details of their policies.

The legislation must allow patients to appeal decisions in a denial of a medical procedure; it must cover emergency services and these health plans must be liable if something goes wrong.

Scott said, "My patients are concerned that their health insurance plan will abandon them just when they need it the most, when they are ill, when they are in an emergency, or when they need specialized care."

Scott said these are simple reforms and every member of the Nevada Legislature voted for them last year.

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