Consumer-Advocacy Group Urges Governor to Sign HMO Continuity of Care Bill.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 14, 1998-- Consumer-advocacy group Citizens for the "Right to Know" is urging Gov. Pete Wilson to sign a bill currently before him that would ensure continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions.

Authored by Sen. Byron Sher (D-Redwood City) and sponsored by the California Psychiatric Association, SB 1129 would require HMOs to provide patients who are being treated for acute or serious chronic conditions up to 90 days, and longer in some cases, of continued care from doctors who are no longer on the approved list of physician providers.

"As a coalition that represents thousands of patient members who would directly benefit from this legislation, Citizens for the `Right to Know' strongly urges the governor to sign SB 1129, which would assist in ensuring that patients with chronic conditions can obtain continual care when their doctors are no longer insured by their managed health plan," said Liz Helms, member of Citizens for the "Rightto Know" and president of the TMJ Society of California.

The bill would also protect patients recovering from serious injuries or major surgery and certain Alzheimer's patients. Women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy would also be able to keep their physician through postpartum care.

"The transition period that SB 1129 would provide is particularly important for patients with severe psychiatric disorders, who are not only difficult to treat, but also have difficulty establishing trusting relationships, even with therapists," said Conni Barker, director of government relations for the California Psychiatric Association. "In addition, many psychiatric medications take a long time to be effective and require close monitoring for effectiveness and side effects."

This legislation is especially important because a large number of health -care consumers choose an HMO because their personal physician is on the company's panel of doctors, said Helms. With the frequency of mergers and downsizing, health-care plans and insurers are shrinking their panel of doctors in the process, she added.

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 Lung Association, Long Beach Chapter; California Medical Association; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Hemophilia Council of California; International Patient Advocacy Association; Latino Issues Forum; Mental Health Association in California; National Multiple Sclerosis Society, California Chapters; Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; Sickle Cell Disease 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