New HMO Guide Available for California Patients.

In California, patients facing problems with their HMO, concerns over their medical privacy, or questions about their rights under new state HMO reform laws can turn to an interactive Internet guide for help at www.calpatientguide.org.

The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) has announced a new Internet guide to help Californians understand and utilize their rights as managed care patients under new health care laws. The interactive patient guide explains the provisions of landmark HMO reform laws that took effect January 1, 2001, including those allowing patients the right to sue their HMO and have independent reviews of treatment denials. For every right enumerated, the guide provides the specific state statutes for patients to cite when seeking care from their HMOs.

"The California Patient Guide: Your Health Care Rights and Remedies" was drafted by FTCR and the California Department of Consumer Affairs with the advice of medical experts, legal scholars, and state officials. Funding from the California Wellness foundation allowed for the guide's preparation.

Pam Pressley, FTCR staff attorney and editor of the guide, says, "the guide is designed to be a compass for the maze of managed care and California health care law." She adds, "Patient rights without an owner's manual to explain them are useless. The patient guide provides comprehensive health care information, defines key health care terms, and gives citations to useful statues that can help patients be their own best advocate. The guide also points patients to the appropriate health care agencies and advocates so that they don't have to waste time figuring who to call."