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Managed Care Legislation...
Senate Managed Care Legislation Falls Short of
Protecting Patients in Emergency Situations
The American College of Emergency Physicians
(ACEP) today said the Senate managed care legislation
continues to leave patients vulnerable for charges
related to visits to the emergency department, although
emergency physicians are encouraged that patient
protection legislation is continuing to move forward in
Congress.
Dr. John Moorhead, president of ACEP,
made the following statement following tonight's passage
of S. 1344, the "Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1999":
"The American College of Emergency Physicians is
encouraged the U.S. Senate has gone on record and passed
legislation to protect patients who visit the emergency
department. We are disappointed, however, that the
language is not comprehensive and does not include
effective provisions for coordinating a patient's
post-stabilization care or limit a patient's costs for
an emergency visit — issues addressed in the
Graham/Chafee amendment, which failed on Tuesday. ACEP
also is disappointed that the post-stabilization
language provides financial incentives that may divert
people from obtaining the care they need in an emergency
situation, continuing to allow health plans off the hook
in coordinating the post-stabilization care of a
patient, a critical part of treatment that health plans
need to be closely involved with.
"However, the
bill represents an incremental step toward protecting
people in managed care plans, covering 48 million
people. We are encouraged by discussions in the House
Commerce Committee about emergency care, and the stage
is now set for the Senate to work with the House to pass
meaningful emergency care provisions in its patient
protection legislation.
"ACEP continues to call
on Congress to adopt the same national 'prudent
layperson' standard for all Americans as they did for
Medicare and Medicaid patients in the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997 and as the President did for all Federal
employees. The legislation should include provisions for
post-stabilization care and limits a patient's cost
sharing."
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The American
College of Emergency Physicians is a medical specialty
society representing nearly 20,000 physicians who
specialize in emergency medicine. ACEP is dedicated to
improving emergency care through continuing education,
research, and public education. Headquartered in Dallas,
Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state as
well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and
Government Services.
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