Empowering Consumers and Patients

The HLC supports reforms that empower consumers and patients as they navigate the health care system.  These include provisions to promote greater consumer understanding of choices among providers and health plans.  Consumers are served best when providers or health plans compete on the basis of offering genuine value, that is, balancing the highest quality and service with the most reasonable cost.  Information is the key that will unlock the door for consumers to recognize value and make appropriate choices.

The Consumer Empowerment Agenda

Confidentiality-  HLC supports confidentiality of individuals medical information, while permitting the sharing of information necessary to ensure high-quality care.

Antitrust-  HLC supports antitrust provisions which secure for consumers the benefits of competition in the health care system.

Consumer-Centered Action without Unnecessary Federal Intervention      HLC supports private sector initiatives to accredit health plans and providers as meeting performance and quality standards, and to contain costs. 

HLC supports concise, comparative information regarding quality, cost and consumer satisfaction related to plans and providers, to promote consumers understanding of choices,  confidence in the health care system, and competition based on value.  HLC supports procedures for consumers and patients to resolve benefit or other concerns, quickly and fairly.

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