Consumer Group Questions How HMOs Will Implement Disclosure to Consumers.SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 14, 1998--In the aftermath of Gov. Pete Wilson's signing of significant health-care disclosure legislation late June, consumer-advocate group Citizens for the "Right to Know" is questioning how California HMOs plan to implement disclosure. "We applaud Gov. Wilson's action in signing disclosure bills SB 625 and AB 974, but when the laws go into effect Jan. 1, we want to know how HMOs plan to comply," said Liz Helms, member of Citizens for the "Right to Know" and president of the TMJ TMJ abbr. temporomandibular joint syndrome Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) Pain and other symptoms affecting the head, jaw, and face that are caused when the jaw joints and muscles controlling them don't work Society of California. "Right now we are in the process of writing letters to all the HMOs in California, asking what action each will take in order to comply with the new laws New Laws: see Las Casas, Bartolomé de. . It's our plan to cooperate with HMOs to determine how we might work together to ensure that health consumers get all the prescription coverage information they need to make informed decisions." Among other requirements, the newly signed legislation mandates that HMOs disclose their formularies, or lists of covered drugs, and the process by which they make coverage decisions. "As the April '98 `Right to Know' survey showed, millions of Californians enrolled in managed-health plans have no idea which medications are covered by their health insurers, much less how a plan member can go about requesting a nonformulary or uninsured medication," Helms said. "The current controversy about Viagra coverage exemplifies the confusion about how health plans determinemedications are often excluded from formularies, effectively denying patients new treatment options, Helms said. Citizens for the "Right to Know" is an alliance of more than 80 health-care organizations and consumer groups whose focus is to educate consumers about the need to become informed purchasers of health care. Members include: Arthritis Foundation, Northeastern California Chapter; American Association of Retired Persons American Association of Retired Persons: see AARP. ; American Lung Association The American Lung Association (ALA) is a non-profit organization that "fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health". , Long Beach Chapter; California Medical Association; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) is a non-profit organization in the United States established to provide the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis. The Foundation provides information about cystic fibrosis (CF) and finances CF research that aims to improve the ; Hemophilia Council of California; International Patient Advocacy Association; Latino Issues Forum; Mental Health Association in California; National Multiple Sclerosis Society The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a United States-based non-profit organization, and its network of chapters nationwide promote research, educate, advocate on issues relating to multiple sclerosis, and organize a wide range of programs, including support for the newly , California Chapters; Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is an industry trade group representing the pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in the United States. ; Sickle Cell Disease sickle cell disease or sickle cell anemia, inherited disorder of the blood in which the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin pigment in erythrocytes (red blood cells) is abnormal. Association of America Inc. and TMJ Society of California.
CONTACT: The Perry Group
Kassy Perry, 916/443-7239
or
California Psychiatric Association
Conni Barker, 916/442-5196
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