APTA NEWS RELEASE!!
APTA APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF NORWOOD-DINGELL
BIPARTISAN
PATIENT PROTECTION BILL
ALEXANDRIA, VA, October 7, 1999 -- The American Physical
Therapy Association (APTA) applauds the 275-to-151 passage of
H.R. 2723, “The Patient Bill of Rights,” bipartisan
legislation that provides necessary protections for patients
in managed health care plans.
“Congress has taken an important step in doing the right
thing for patients across America,” said APTA President Jan K.
Richardson, PT, PhD, OCS. “The standards contained in
this bill are not a radical reform of our health care system;
rather, they are a set of minimum safeguards that are needed
to protect our patients.”
Introduced by Representatives Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and
John Dingell (D-MI), H.R. 2723 meets select criteria
established by APTA for patient protection legislation.
The bill allows patients to see providers outside of a
closed-panel network; ensures access to a sufficient number of
providers and greater access to specialists within and outside
a plan; eliminates “gag” rules that restrict communication
between providers and patients; and allows patients to hold
their health plans accountable for the decisions that the
plans make regarding medical necessity.
“The time is now for Congress to ensure that all Americans
receive the quality of care that they deserve under managed
care,” said Richardson. “As a long-time advocate
of patient protection legislation, APTA applauds Congress for
passing meaningful, bipartisan, comprehensive patient
protections for all Americans.”
The American Physical Therapy Association is a national
professional organization representing more than 70,000
members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical
therapy practice, research, and education.
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For more information, please call Kristen
Nelson,
APTA Assistant Director of Federal Affairs, at
703/706-3165 |
PatientProtect_MgdCare
