News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 13, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke asks Legislature to pass a patients' bill of rights

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today called on the state Legislature to pass a patients' bill of rights that would put medical decisions into the hands of patients and their doctors.

"Even though managed care is reality for most of us, decisions on medical care should be made between the patients and their doctors," Locke said. "We must make sure those decisions rest with those who are affected the most."

Studies in health care changes show 62 percent of Americans now have enrolled in managed care health plans, up from only 4 percent in 1977.

Locke spoke at a press conference today in which Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn, several state legislators and consumers spoke about the need to improve health care systems. Legislators included Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, Sen. Lorraine Wojahn, and Rep. Tom Campbell. The governor said he believes Washington citizens need new laws and regulations to preserve their basic rights as patients to get the care for which they pay.

Locke said patients should have the right to:

* Choose doctors they trust.
* A fast and impartial grievance process to resolve health care disputes.
* A timely independent medical review of disputes.
* Sue their managed care plans if they believe their managed care system has failed them through negligence.
* Access to information about their health plans.
* Protection from unnecessary invasions of health care privacy.
* A health plan that has a licensed doctor as its medical director.

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