Consumer Protection

An 8-page policy brief on the external review of health plan decisions to inform the policy debate in California and nationally. The policy brief covers external review systems in other states and the Medicare program, the current status of external review in California, and issues regarding the design and implementation…

This report analyzes recently enacted laws in Texas and Missouri that expand consumers' ability to sue their HMOs or other managed care plans for inappropriately denied care or similar problems.Report Report

This study analyzed five 1997 managed care consumer protection proposals currently or recently under consideration by the California state legislature: allowing consumers to sue their HMO (health maintenance organization) or managed care plan; expanding access to prescription drugs not approved by the health plan; expanded coverage of mental health services;…

Protection in Managed Care Plans: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Proposed Federal Legislation. A side-by-side comparison of the provisions for consumer protection in managed care plans contained in the House and Senate budget reconciliation bills and in eight other consumer protection bills currently under consideration by Congress. These bills, which would…

External Review of Health Plan Decisions:An Overview of Key Program Features in the States and MedicareExternal Review of Health Plan Decisions:An Overview of Key Program Features in the States and MedicarePrepared for the Kaiser Family Foundation by:Karen Pollitz, M.P.P., Geraldine Dallek, M.P.H., and Nicole Tapay, J.D.Institute for Health Care Research…

A survey of 1,204 adults on Americans’ views on consumer protections and government regulation of managed care and the President’s “Consumer Bill of Rights.” The survey was conducted for the Foundation and Harvard University by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Additional questions were asked as part of a national omnibus telephone…

Managed Care Plan Liability: An Analysis Of Texas And Missouri Legislation Patricia A. Butler, JD, DrPH November 1997 Background As increasing numbers of Americans receive health care coverage through managed care plans, public attention has been focused on some of the problems consumers have with such plans. Although most consumers…

During the 1999 legislative year, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed legislation addressing patient protections under health care plans. The purpose of this brief overview is to highlight in broad terms the key similarities and differences between the bills in four general areas: scope of…

Side-By-Side Comparison Of Proposed Federal Legislation For Consumer Protection In Managed Care PlansNicole Tapay, Karen Pollitz, Jalena CurtisInstitute for Health Care Research and Policy Georgetown University Medical CenterJuly 18, 1997Issue SummaryOver the past decade, an increasing number of Americans have been receiving their health care coverage through HMOs, PPOs and…

Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University School of Public Health: Update on Americans’ Views and Experiences in Managed Care The Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University School of Public Health: Update on Americans’ Views and Experiences in Managed Care is based on findings from the April 1998 Kaiser Harvard News Interest Index. The survey…