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Issue Briefs
Americans deserve the
Right to Choose Their Own Health Care Providers
The
American Chiropractic Association has long maintained that a
meaningful health care professional-patient relationship is
essential to good overall health and that the patient's ability to
choose his or her health care provider is vital to establishing and
preserving this relationship. Americans are increasingly concerned
that rapid changes in the health care system may be limiting access
to high-quality care by overemphasizing cost controls. Congress
appears poised to act to protect patients' rights. Any legislation
that adequately addresses these concerns must include a strong
point of service (POS) provision that guarantees all Americans
the option of choosing their own health care professionals.
Patient Choice is Affordable
The April 22, 1998 Kaiser Family Foundation study conducted by
Coopers & Lybrand found that guaranteeing Americans the option
of choosing their own health professionals would add only 58 cents
to the average monthly health care premiums for an individual, or
as a Kaiser spokesman put it, "dirt cheap."
The Kaiser
study is consistent with an earlier study by Muse & Associates
which estimated an increase of 0.3 percent in health premiums for
those electing a "point of service" option, based on actual claims
data developed by Milliman and Robertson, Inc. Americans
Highly Value Their Right to Choose Health Professionals
In poll after poll, overwhelming majorities of Americans say
that the right to choose their own doctor or other health
professional is extremely important.
Perhaps this is why
President Clinton's statement that, "You have the right to choose
the doctor you want for the care that you need," drew such
thunderous applause during the 1998 State of the Union address.
Only Congress Can Guarantee Patient Choice for All
Americans
Many states already have taken steps to ensure the patients'
right to choose their health professionals. Contrary to dire
predictions from the managed care industry, these measures have
not caused dramatic cost increases.
Medicare
beneficiaries, federal employees, and members of Congress all
enjoy the option of choosing their own health professionals.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
shields the health plans that cover the 125 million Americans from
state laws and regulations. So even when states act to guarantee
patient choice for their citizens, many plans operate outside of
those controls. Congress can and should pass legislation
that provides all insured Americans with the right to choose their
own health professionals. The American Chiropractic Association will
continue to support those patents' rights bills that include this
essential provision. |
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