Congress, reflecting the unease among Americans, has been conducting vigorous debate over how to reform managed care. An important tool for protecting patients is giving physicians the ability to negotiate collectively the terms of patient care. Physicians and other health care professionals are the patient's advocate, but their hands are tied by contracts which force them to abide by medical practices that are not in the best interests of the patient. This profits-based policy is equivalent to a medical lockout. Doctors are frustrated that care is dictated by insurers who are more concerned with profits than patients.
Care is denied.
Care is delayed. Doctors and patients are forced to surmount administrative and procedural obstacles erected to dissuade them from purchasing treatment. Here's a personal experience. A patient of mine needed prompt hospitalization. Her HMO initially allowed her to check into a nearby hospital which was outside of the HMO's network.