The proposal omits several important rights and protections, however. Health plans should not be allowed to impose undue restrictions on the ability of patients to obtain care from the physicians within a health plan that are most qualified to treat them. The medical liability system should be reformed by capping excessive non-economic damages. Participating physicians must have a central role in the development of utilization review and quality improvement protocols. The Task Force proposal also does not adequately address the need to ensure access to affordable health insurance coverage.
Patient protections are meaningless if patients lack health insurance coverage.
Congress should also consider proposals from other bipartisan bills and from the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. ACP-ASIM agrees with not imposing excessive regulations on health plans. All rights reserved.