
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 24, 1994                   TAG: 9405240095
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

DOCTORS WANT REFORM TO INCLUDE PATIENTS' RIGHTS

The American Medical Association accused insurers and managed-care companies of trying to "take over the examining room" and deny coverage to fatten their profits.

The AMA launched an advertising and lobbying campaign Monday to win passage of a bill of rights for patients and physicians. AMA leaders were joined at a news conference by two families who fought with insurers to get surgeries paid for.

Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., author of a Canadian-style government-paid health insurance plan, also lent his support, saying he shared the AMA's concerns about "the danger of monopoly medicine."

"We absolutely have to build those protections in" to health reform, said Wellstone, whose approach to health reform the AMA has long opposed.

Under the AMA's draft legislation, health plans would have to tell consumers in advance what services they covered, and allow them a "point of service" option to go to doctors outside the health plan or HMO.

The health plans also would have to spell out their criteria for deciding which doctors got their business, and allow doctors to appeal a plan's refusal to include them in the network.

Lorrie McHugh, a White House spokeswoman, said, "We're glad to see the AMA engaged in the debate to promote patient choice and quality health."

by CNB