NEWS RELEASE
November 3, 1999
Department of Community Health Launches
Patient Bill of Rights Commercial
"Michigan is a national leader in Patient Bill of Rights protections," said Haveman. "Our Patient Bill of Rights has been in effect in Michigan since 1997 and unlike many reform proposals, ours applies not only to HMO’s but across the board to all health insurance plans. With these radio advertisements and our brochure outlining the Patient Bill of Rights, more residents will have access to this important information."
The Department of Community Health will continue to distribute a brochure to Michigan citizens outlining their guaranteed health care rights. For a free copy of the Michigan Patient Bill of Rights brochure, call 1-800-353-8227.
Under Michigan’s landmark Patient Bill of Rights legislation, citizens can get information they need about their health care coverage. When a person enrolls in a plan, they now get written information about what is included in their coverage, how much they have to pay and what happens if their doctor no longer participates. Complaints are handled faster and the health insurer must give answers to complaints in writing. For life-threatening illnesses, patients can get answers to their complaint within 72 hours and if the patient is still unsatisfied with the response, they can appeal to the Department of Community Health. For non-life threatening illness, patients can appeal to the HMO Task Force within the Department of Community Health. The legislation also reduced the amount of time an insurer can refuse to pay for a condition that existed before the patient joined the health care plan.
A November 1998 report from the Institute for Health Care Research at Georgetown University titled "External Review of Health Plan Decisions: An Overview of Key Program Features in States and Medicare" cites Michigan’s state level grievance process as a national model.
Governor Engler and the Legislature have passed other laws to protect the consumer. For instance, individuals with HMO coverage can get emergency care that is medically necessary until their medical condition is stable. Also, insurance companies cannot put gag clauses into physician contracts. Doctors can fully advocate for their patients and can talk with patients about all health care options."The number of Michigan citizens enrolled in managed care plans continues to grow. Nearly one of every four Michigan citizens gets their coverage from an HMO," said Haveman. "The first step toward being a better consumer in today’s complex health care market is knowing your rights and how to exercise them."
The text of the radio ad "Your Rights" is as follows:
Announcer: What kind of health care coverage do you have?
(Sound Effects: hospital background)
Aide: Doctor, you’re needed right away in emergency.
Announcer: If you’re like nearly one in four Michigan residents, you’re in a managed care program. To help make things clear about quality of care and consumer protection, Michigan has adopted a comprehensive Patient Bill of Rights. Those rights…your rights…are fully explained in a helpful brochure so you can be an informed consumer.
Doctor: Mr. & Mrs. Johnson, we just got out of surgery. Your daughter is fine. Good thing you got her here as fast as you did.
Announcer: Your questions about emergency room coverage, how to make complaints when you have them and other issues are also answered in this brochure. Call 1-800-353-8227, that’s 1-800-353-8227 for your free copy of the Michigan Patient Bill of Rights brochure. 1-800-353-8227. Your health is important. So is understanding your health care rights. A message from the Michigan Department of Community Health.