IAM PLASTIC LODGE NO. 2259 I.A.M.A.W.
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PLASTIC LODGE NO. 2259 I.A.M.A.W.

 


Health Care Reform Since the collapse of the Clinton health plan in 1994, health care system changes in the U.S. have been driven largely by the private sector, and by incremental government action. Yet despite record levels of enrollment in managed care plans and a booming economy, the health care system remains in turmoil. Record numbers of Americans are going without health insurance. Health care costs are expected to escalate again through the next decade, even as public and private purchasers have been aiming to hold the line on what they are willing to pay for health services. And there are new demands for patient protection by consumers fed up with the restrictions of managed care. Patients' Rights At the same time, as employers push more and more workers into managed care plans, Americans have reacted strongly to how some managed care plans have treated patients. President Clinton's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry reflected this concern in its report that recommended that consumers should have: • The right to accurate, easily understood information about health plans, professionals and facilities; • The right to access emergency services based on a prudent layperson standard, not a subsequent diagnosis; • The right to participate in treatment decisions; • The right to respect in the doctor-patient relationship, and nondiscrimination in both this relationship and in benefit design; • The right to confidentiality of health information, including the right to review and amend records; and • Access to internal and external appeals that are fair and efficient. The labor movement and a broad coalition of provider, senior citizen and consumer groups strongly support the Patients' Bill of Rights. This legislation would establish certain basic rights for consumers of health care. Specifically, it would guarantee individuals coverage for emergency services, access to specialists for needed care, and the right to appeal health care decisions with which they disagree. In addition, this bill would ensure that health care professionals can discuss all treatment options with their patients, advocate on their behalf and raise quality concerns with appropriate entities without fear of reprisal. This legislation would also require health care plans to offer an adequate network of providers, to provide greater information to consumers, and to ensure the confidentiality of patients' medical records. Most importantly, this legislation would make all of these rights legally enforceable by giving patients legal remedies against health care plans that violate their rights. Not surprisingly, the health insurance industry is an all-out fight to block action on this legislation. They spend millions of dollars on TV ads raising phony issues. Contrary to their assertions, a CBO study confirms that this legislation would not impose significant new costs on individuals. In addition, the legislation would not lead to increased government control of health care. Instead, it would return control of medical decisions to individual patients and their doctors, not health insurance bureaucrats. Less Access, More Cost In the last twenty years Americans joined the ranks of the uninsured, putting the total number at more than 43 million. State welfare reforms have contributed to the numbers of uninsured. Many former welfare recipients now have to depend on low-wage jobs that do not offer health benefits, and they are often unaware of continued eligibility for Medicaid. In other cases, former welfare recipients' income exceeds the Medicaid allowable limits but is grossly insufficient to buy private insurance. For decades, a good job was the link to health security for retirees, workers and their families. Increasingly, however many employers use cost-shifting practices that effectively discourage workers from accepting the health care coverage offered. Employers have learned to reduce the risk of inflation to them by shifting these costs to employers through increased premium sharing. This creates a situation where workers and retirees with employer-sponsored coverage are unable to afford the coverage due to the high employee contributions required. The ranks of the uninsured also include self-employed individuals for whom there is no reasonably priced health insurance available. Our Goal: A Comprehensive National Health Care Program The current state of the health care industry, and of health care legislation, is a testament to the complexity of the problem. The U.S. health care crisis cannot be effectively dealt with in installments or by incremental steps; there is simply too much to fix to attack each part individually. Our goal must be to continue to advocate a national health program that has the following: • Universal coverage, • Comprehensive benefits, • Effective measures to contain rising costs, • Progressive financing, • Strong quality assurance measures, and •Meaningful consumer protections. Special Accessibility Version click here for how to use these materials - © 1996-2002, The IAM Congress States Faces of the IAM This Week in Congress MNPL Political Legislative Department Political Archives 2000 2001 Alliance for Retired Americans Aerospace Air Transport Civil and Human Rights Government Employees Health Care Pension Railroad Social Security/ Medicare Trade Woodworking/ Forest Service Shipbuilding Worker's Rights LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER FIND YOUR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATORS; TRACK ISSUES AND LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS; AND SIGN UP FOR MEGAVOTE FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON HOW YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTE ON IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.

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Last modified: 2/18/2010

Copyright 1996-2001, The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers