Finance issue brief: comprehensive consumer rights bills.

Abstract

State lawmakers are aggressively enacting legislation that--depending on the perspective--either regulates managed care or provides for consumer protections. More than half the states have adopted a "Patient Bill of Rights." These new laws address the entire range of managed care issues, including, but not limited to, provider access, bans on gag clauses, consumer grievance procedures, direct access, disclosure, provider credentialing, medical records, insurer liability, solvency, drug formularies, certification and, in some cases, a point-of-service option.