The physical and emotional risks of allowing teenagers to make this decision alone are too great for parents not to be involved. Independent Review for HMOs - A system of independent review would create an appeals process by which doctors outside an HMO can review HMO decisions. The Legislature failed to pass a comprehensive independent review plan, a more cost-effective way to ensure that people receive quality care at a low price. Instead, the Legislature enacted an entirely new branch of State bureaucracy to deal with patient claims. Ultimately, this will lower the effectiveness of health care in California.
Every dollar spent on a bureaucrat is one less spent on real health care.
The next Legislature should revisit this issue and recognize that less government bureaucracy will mean healthier patients in a healthier system. Clearly, there is more work to be done on many of these important issues. I believe the Legislature needs to meaningfully deal with unfinished business in the next session. If not, Californians will continue to suffer the effects of the Legislature's inaction.