Obama To Announce Regulatory Framework For New 'Patient's Bill Of Rights': AP

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday will announce new health insurance benefits for consumers, marking the first 90 days since he signed landmark legislation to expand coverage.

The announcement will follow a private meeting between administration officials, several state insurance commissioners, and CEOs of major insurance companies, amid concerns over continued premium hikes, the White House said. Obama is expected to attend at least part of the session.

Consumers who buy their policies directly faced increases averaging 20 percent this year, according to a survey released Monday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Although most Americans are covered on the job, about 14 million purchase insurance on the individual market and have the least bargaining power when it comes to costs.

Obama's announcement will cover regulations to implement a so-called patient's bill of rights provided under the new law, said administration allies who were briefed in advance and spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement.

The consumer safeguards are limited steps that take effect this year. The main provisions of the legislation, including federal funding to help 32 million now uninsured get coverage, won't come until 2014. The administration worries that escalating premiums will force more people drop their policies before the law is fully implemented.

Obama foreshadowed parts of his announcement last week, telling a nurses' group that the patient bill of rights would include the elimination of lifetime dollar limits on coverage, a particular problem for people dealing with hard-to-treat types of cancer. Insurance companies would be prohibited from canceling the policies of people who get sick, he added. And health plans would be required to provide consumers with simple and clear information about their choices and rights.

The law also calls for other safeguards to be put in place this year, including allowing women to pick an ob-gyn specialist as their primary care doctor and forbidding insurers from denying coverage to children on account of a previous medical problem. Protection against insurance denials would extend to adults in 2014, when most Americans would be required to carry coverage.

___

Online:

http://www.healthreform.gov

Comments

[nothingchanges]

10:50 AM on 06/23/2010

Having a "right" to medical care is not the same as being able to receive it.

Every U.S. citizen has a "right" to be treated at the emergency room of their local hospital, regardless of ability to pay. That "right" does very little good if they die in the waiting room while waiting to see a doctor. (It happens).

My local hospital has a 53% customer approval rating. How many other business can boast those kind of statistics and remain in business?

The problems with our medical delivery system go well past problems with greedy insurance companies. Our whole profit based system is sick, and the healthcare reform package passed by congress is little more than a placebo.

Until the underlying disease is addressed (a broken system), the patient (us) will continue to suffer.

So much time and political capital wasted on a "reform package" with so little actual reform.

[llivinginthemoment]

11:26 PM on 06/22/2010

Too bad the patients' bill of rights got buried by McChrystal. The bill of rights prevents insurance companies from discriminating against children for preexisting condtions and also bans the practice of resicission except in cases of deliberate fraud. Obama has pledged this before but the companies will do whatever they want-- and ignore the law-- unless Obama and his administration continue to beat the drum.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62G2DO20100317

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/04/24-1

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/demons-and-demonization/

[Philclock]

08:28 PM on 06/22/2010

If this new Health Care bill is so cool for broadening the market of choices for patients, why do we need hundreds of new government agencies and all their regulations to tell us what to do?

Don't Democrats think we're smart enough to make our down decisions, and find the best values for ourselves?

And if not, then will Democrats have more hundreds of new government agencies for every other industry, all "steering" us to the "correct" decisions?

Seems like that's what's brining Greece, and soon the rest of Western Europe, to the "progressive" nirvana Fidel's found for Cuba; blessings for Fidel and his cronies, equal misery for the rest.

[curly1b]

03:05 PM on 06/22/2010

I work in a hospital, and yes, Obamacare is straightforward socialism. Before you go screaming that I'm a "NO EVERYTHING" person, let me say I write hundreds of letters to insurance companies to obtain more coverage for patients, not less. What Obama won't tell you is, when you give away "free" health insurance, the private companies go out of business because John Doe is NOT going to spend money on private insurance if public insurance is free. So PRESTO, instant, complete, indestructible government run and owned healthcare. Therefore, the phrase "keep your own insurance if you like it" is complete Bull. There won't BE any private insurance. Then, since the payors into the system no longer exist, where is all the money going to come from to treat "free" healthcare? Nowhere, that's where. We will have less care, fewer doctors, closing hospitals, less pharmaceutical research (try that on your loved ones with cancer), and a "wait forever" process of trying to see a doctor. But don't worry...It will all be FREE. In addition, when your population dies younger, you have less Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security to pay out. Anyone see a clearer picture here yet?

[no body]

05:56 PM on 06/22/2010

Oh! for god sake, think more type less!

[aflyinyoursoup]

02:20 PM on 06/22/2010

Patients Bill Of Rights:
You have the right to be gouged, under insured, surcharged for your age and ultimately dropped for fraud for not reporting a hang-nail you had treated 30 years ago.

[llivinginthemoment]

11:29 PM on 06/22/2010

Its supposed to be illegal for them dropping you for not having reported a hang nail thirty years ago. At least that is what they claim.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/04/24-1

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/demons-and-demonization/

[aflyinyoursoup]

02:39 AM on 06/23/2010

"Supposed to be" is a FANTASY!

[Whale]

11:25 AM on 06/22/2010

Whatever Obama said, expect the opposite.

[jamenta]

01:36 PM on 06/22/2010

fanned.

[Toa Reap]

01:45 AM on 06/23/2010

Wait... whale - you forgot something... You only said "Whatever Obama said, expect the opposite"

you left out the rest....

"Whatever Obama says, expect the opposite vote and result from Republicans - regardless if it hurts the country or not"

I know you were in a hurry so no problem... I fixed it for ya!

[Beth Brungardt]

11:01 AM on 06/22/2010

(Continues from comment below)

This is NOT socialized medicine. The government will not be paying for my dad’s surgery. This bill focused on reforming yet another big corporation that has put profits ahead of people. Next time please think of people like my dad that are NEEDLESSLY suffering to protect the pocket of big insurance corporations. He may not make it through 2011. You may not care about my dad, but what if it was your dad or someone else that you loved? Are Americans really so heartless to think that protection of human rights should only be guaranteed to those with money?

[no body]

11:42 AM on 06/22/2010

I'm sorry about your father. Having insurance companies try to hold down medical costs is a failed business model. What I believe we should do instead is to create a public-private process between HHS and the Health care Industry that's goal is to determine “Best Medical Practices”. And then to build an always learning Health care IT system a lot what we did when we created the inter-state highway system. This would create efficiencies through productivity gains and better Health care instead of trying to nickel and dime every patient to death.

[vippy]

10:59 AM on 06/22/2010

I find it odd that something that should be included in healthcare coverage here requires another bill. And let me look back, it will be like all the other bills, in favor of the ones it is supposed to
fight.

[TheRevV]

11:44 AM on 06/22/2010

It's not another bill. What he's announcing is already part of the new law. And if you read that law, you'd know these benefits he's announcing were written in that law to kick in after 90 days of the HCR bill being signed into law. That's why he's bringing it up.

From the article:
"Obama's announcement will cover regulations to implement a so-called patient's bill of rights provided under the new law,"

[jamenta]

01:44 PM on 06/22/2010

To bad all the measure cost control measures that would have avoided this on-going fight (and it will never end) - to bad the Public Option, the Medicare Buy-In, Single Payer, and Drug re-importation Obama made absolutely sure never was negotiated.

To bad no regulatory body was empowered and Americans CAN STILL get dropped easily from their insurance coverage if they get sick.

To bad under this plan 24 MILLION americans will remain uncovered even though every other Western Industrialized country ON EARTH universally covers their people.

Yeah Obama went to bat for the American People all the way - and he fought so hard for us - and he did all that he could to help us. I mean just the way he fought, he and Rahm fought for the Public option is a shining example of a "Yes We Can" president.

And now he has the audacity and turn around and blame his base for not supporting him enough, or malign his base if they say - wtf Obama, you didn't even throw a punch - not once during the entire Health Care debate. What we ended up with is garbage.

[Beth Brungardt]

10:53 AM on 06/22/2010

I hope my family’s story will change the minds of those who oppose heathcare reform.

My dad suffered a head injury and cannot sleep. He went to a doctor approved by our insurance company. She diagnosed him with CSA and gave him a stimulant to stay awake. His condition worsened. He finally went to an insurance unapproved specialist. Turns out he had been misdiagnosed. He has an extremely rare malformation. The $10,000 sleeping machine for CSA was worsening his condition and the stimulant was not approved for use in his case. The specialist prescribed a different stimulant, sleeping machine, and recommended he see a neurosurgeon because his malformation was treatable with surgery.

Turns out our insurance company is the real expert in my dad’s rare condition. They refuse to pay for the more expensive new stimulant because the cheaper, previous stimulant is a “better option”. They also refuse to pay for the new sleeping machine, which came out of my family’s pocket. Now, they're saying the surgery isn’t necessary won't pay for it. We CANNOT afford surgery out of pocket without selling our house.

We've been with this company for 30 years, paying thousands/year for protection when something serious happens. When it does, they deny us coverage. SINCE WHEN DOES PROFIT COME BEFORE HUMAN LIFE? It’s sad my dad has to wait to get his brain surgery until the insurance companies are told by the government that they cannot refuse my dad coverage...

[Bill in Michigan]

01:14 PM on 06/22/2010

Sadly, yours is not an isolated incident. I doubt that any health system based on profit will function in the best interests of patients. You ask, "Since when does profit come before human life?" This is a problem that has long existed in our country. There has been an ebb and flow over the years between democracy and capitalism. Since the 1980's, the emphasis has been on the importance of capitalism in our society at the expense of democracy. As far as health care reform is concerned, as long as the insurance companies are in charge, their stockholders will come before people like your father. Right now, democracy is pretty badly broken in our country.

[llivinginthemoment]

11:32 PM on 06/22/2010

People pay and pay and play by the rules and then they are dropped as soon as they need help. The insurance companies say they are not doing this anymore but we know otherwise.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/demons-and-demonization/

[floodberg]

10:37 AM on 06/22/2010

'RIGHTS' DON'T MEAN A THING IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

For the tens of millions who are losing their coverage, Obama's 'Rights' are irrelevant. These Americans are not slackers, but they are....

(1) already priced out of the for profit insurance

(2) unemployed who will lose their cobra

(3) millions who are losing their benefits through becoming 'contractors' or 'part time'

(4) or employees of companies who are ending health benefits because the fines are cheaper (they are)

These people are 'disenfranchised' and out of time, because Obama summarily gave up the battle for public option with the single comment that HCR made it 'unnecessary.' Obama and Congress got paid very well for this windfall to insurance.

Don't 100 million Americans deserve 'rights,' too?

[vippy]

11:00 AM on 06/22/2010

you mean, us, the little people?

[floodberg]

11:20 AM on 06/22/2010

To be honest, 'little people' are the 99% of Americans who are middle and lower class, and losing ground. At this moment, there are still 'little people' who can afford their healthcare, so this is a subclass of little people who won't be around for very long without healthcare.

Vippy, if you could come up with a better name for this huge group of 'little people', I'm with you. 'Little People who will never live to social security' doesn't quite fit the bill.

[TheRevV]

11:49 AM on 06/22/2010

um... the new law covers 95% of Americans. Those at the lower income scale won't pay, either.
COBRA will be phased out and replaced by this plan.

Still, continue the fight for a Medicare buy-in, because I will too. This law doesn't go far enough.

[floodberg]

12:00 PM on 06/22/2010

I'm one of the those 'covered,' and one of the approximately 50 million who couldn't afford it. Before HCR, my best quote was $14.4K in premiums alone, with a $10K deductible before the insurer paid a cent. (50, single, no deps, prior back surgeries.) Even if I could afford it, in what universe does that make sense? So, like many employers are now deciding to do, I'll take the fine.

Now that I am 'covered', my low bid is $18K/yr premiums with a $10K deductible...a change that I believe in but stil can't afford.

If anyone would like to pay this for me and the tens of millions like me, we'd appreciate it...and so would the greedy insurers and both very greedy parties, and all the other big Artificial persons.

There's no doubt the public option would have been cheaper in every way. Obama used that big voter mandate to push this windfall through. He won't have that mandate next time, assuming he doesn't lose to Franken, Grayson, or some other Independent progressive currently 'testing the waters' and finding them really pleasant.

[firedup49]

10:15 AM on 06/22/2010

bumpy ride hold on to your wallet : )

[nothingchanges]

10:05 AM on 06/22/2010

By passing a Health Care Reform law that reinforces an existing, flawed, poorly functioning, health care delivery system, a "can of worms" has been opened up that we are just now seeing the surface of.

I foresee years, if not decades, of totally unnecessary waste, an endless struggle between regulators passing new laws, and businesses changing their tactics to circumvent the new regulations.

The end result being thousands of lost lives, billions in wasted dollars, and most likely, hundreds of thousands of people suffering needlessly in the name of "profit".

Supposedly we represent the most intelligent creatures on earth. It's remarkable how foolish we can be.

[Mr-Mikey]

10:15 AM on 06/22/2010

When we have an entire segment of our population mindlessly fighting any and all change put forth. We end up with the partial HCR that was passed this year.

When we have an entire segment of our population flogged by an entire political wing to be fearful of change. We end up with the chaos we've experienced this last two years.

Lots of good, decent plans are held up in the branches of our government by archaic loopholes in our laws governing our house and senate.

It's hard when an entire wing of our government is so dead set against the American dream.

[floodberg]

10:40 AM on 06/22/2010

We got sold out by both parties. Period. Those 'parties' are supported by big money to keep everyone on the same page.

They don't work for us. Neither party has clean hands on anything since the upper tax rate dropped under Carter in 1976, taking effect under Ford.

[TheRevV]

11:50 AM on 06/22/2010

Fanned! I've been saying that since this whole thing started...
Hard to govern when one segment doesn't want to do anything but say "no" and yell a lot.
All Repub obstruction does is provide cover for Blue Dog legislation.

[no body]

10:15 AM on 06/22/2010

You're scenario doesn't have to be the case, if we just made things transparent through Health care IT automation and decided the goal of Health care reform is to make sure American receive “Best Medical Practices” Health care at a minimum.

[Social Construct]

09:56 AM on 06/22/2010

I'll gladly pay some extra if it means some of my fellow millions of presently uninsured citizens will be able to finally get to see a doctor. It is disheartening and, in my understanding of the potential of this nation, unpatriotic to allow tens of millions of less fortunate people, many of which work harder than you or me for much less, to be denied adequate health care for themselves and their loved ones. If my tax dollars can be used to support endless military adventurism and unlimited give-aways to the financial sector, then maybe some of it could be used to help a fellow American in need of health care.

[Mr-Mikey]

10:12 AM on 06/22/2010

How did I miss fanning you?

People can oppose this all they want, they are just going to end up paying more in premiums to cover people like me and others. People who have pre-existing conditions and CANT get coverage on health care. As it was before the beginning of HCR, I'd wait until I was nearly dead and end up in the hospital being treated.

Being disabled, I have no income so the hospital ate those bills and passed them on to the tax payer. I feel guilty, but there's nothing I can do about it..

Now rather than make that blow easier on people, commentators want the status quo to remain the same. Why is basic human decency unpatriotic?

[floodberg]

10:50 AM on 06/22/2010

Fanned and Favved for that one, SocialConstruct.

Public option would have severely damaged our desperate insurance industry, but in the end covering everyone through nonprofit coverage would have saved us money. Unfortunately, neither party liked that possibility.

Somewhere along the lines, we forgot compassion for fellow citizens. Corporate America loves us for that. Both 'parties' are supported very well by big money, but they still need our votes so we get 'reform' and spin.

If you are one of the 99% who are getting butchered by these policies, please check the campaign financing of the incumbents you vote for at opensecrets.org, and see who they really represent. If it's not you, the other guy or Independent might be a better choice...and will at least send the message that we're smarter than big money and our politicians believe.

Our system requires that candidates file information on funding AFTER the election...to the best of my knowledge, there is no way to check funding of challengers before the election. So look at your incumbents, and ask if the challenger is getting the same kind of money from the same sources, and make the call. At least poorer new guys will be easier to defeat if they follow the incumbent path.

[gman87]

09:16 AM on 06/22/2010

What about the right to opt out of Obamacare? One would think this is a fundamental right.

[konkyboy]

09:36 AM on 06/22/2010

What is this Obamacare thing you speak of?

[markm8128]

09:54 AM on 06/22/2010

You can.....

Just select the insurance provider of your choice.

But don't go into the emergency room, with no insurance, and expect the tax-payers to foot the bill!

[pauldeba]

09:14 AM on 06/22/2010

If we want to require additional benefits, it will cost more. You simply can't add benefits and expect it to cost nothing.

[no body]

09:19 AM on 06/22/2010

Want to bet? It's called automation.. By creating a public-private open-source Health care Information Technology process between HHS and the Health care Industry and using the best evidence based-medicine from come up with “Best Medical Practices” diagnostic and treatment interactive-electronic-medical-workbooks using: XML, XML schema, XForms, Dita and web-services which are IETM Class V compliant documents that when each step is filled out is checked for accuracy and completeness in real-time and saved to a telecom (third-party). Savings OMB Director Orszag's 700b a year using BMP, since your insurance is based on BMP it could be fully automated, savings Senator Sanders 400b a year in administrative costs, since the workbook format is public the HHS like the IRS could offer rewards to programmers savings 60b a year in fraud. Like Newt Gingrich has said if you're using BMP, a malpractice case should never go to court savings 100b a year. Your personal EHR is also at the telecoms secure with bio-metrically audited access and no name or address attached, from anywhere in the world and is in one place. The DOD, IBM, and many others are already using these technologies.

[IndependentLib]

11:12 AM on 06/22/2010

No body is absolutely correct.
However, the multinationals who run the country and the right wing would never let this happen. It makes too much sense.
They'd just scream something about communism/fascism, and people will scamper like scared little puppies into the warm arms of hysteria. And the status quo will largely remain unchanged.

Sorry to be negative, but after watching the right wing block every piece of sensible legislation, it's hard not to be!

[VotingPresent]

09:20 AM on 06/22/2010

Details, details...............