U.S. Patients' Bill of Rights
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The Patient's Bill of Rights
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Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
The following was adopted by the US Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry in 1998. Many health plans have adopted these principles:
Information Disclosure. You have the right to accurate and easily understood information about your health plan, health care professionals, and health care facilities. If you speak another language, have a physical or mental disability, or just don’t understand something, assistance will be provided so you can make informed health care decisions.
Choice of Providers and Plans. You have the right to a choice of health care providers that is sufficient to provide you with access to appropriate high-quality health care.
Access to Emergency Services. If you have severe pain, an injury, or sudden illness that convinces you that your health is in serious jeopardy, you have the right to receive screening and stabilization emergency services whenever and wherever needed, without prior authorization or financial penalty.
Participation in Treatment Decisions. You have the right to know your treatment options and to participate in decisions about your care. Parents, guardians, family members, or other individuals that you designate can represent you if you cannot make your own decisions.
Respect and Nondiscrimination. You have a right to considerate, respectful and nondiscriminatory care from your doctors, health plan representatives, and other health care providers.
Confidentiality of Health Information. You have the right to talk in confidence with health care providers and to have your health care information protected. You also have the right to review and copy your own medical record and request that your physician change your record if it is not accurate, relevant, or complete.
Complaints and Appeals. You have the right to a fair, fast, and objective review of any complaint you have against your health plan, doctors, hospitals or other health care personnel. This includes complaints about waiting times, operating hours, the conduct of health care personnel, and the adequacy of health care facilities.
McCain-Edwards-Kennedy Patients' Bill of Rights Senate bill S.1052
The McCain-Edwards-Kennedy Patients' Bill of Rights Senate bill S.1052 was an attempt to providing comprehensive protections to all Americans in health plans in 2001.
The House of Representatives and Senate passed differing versions of the Patients' Bill of Rights. Although both bills would provide patients key rights such as prompt access to emergency care and specialists, only the Senate-passed measure would provide patients with adequate means to enforce their rights.
The Senate-passed Patients' Bill of Rights confers a broad array of rights on patients. The bill would ensure that patients have the right to:
- have their medical decisions made by a doctor;
- see a medical specialist;
- go to the closest emergency room;
- designate a pediatrician as a primary care doctor for their children;
- keep the same doctor throughout their medical treatment;
- obtain the prescription drugs their doctor prescribes;
- access a fair and independent appeals process if care is denied; and
- hold their health plan accountable for harm done.
The Congress did not pass this bill in 2002.
See also
References
- Summary of the McCain-Edwards-Kennedy Patients' Bill of Rights (http://democrats.senate.gov/pbr/summary.html) S.1052 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:s.01052:) 2001. from the Senate Democratic Caucus.
- Consumer Patient Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.consumer.gov/qualityhealth/rights.htm) Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry
External links
- Patient's Rights in New York State (http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/patient/patient.htm)