MANAGED CARE REFORM: New Poll Finds Broad Support

A new survey conducted for the Patient Access to Specialty Care Coalition finds overwhelming support for several managed care reform measures. More than 96% of respondents said they support requiring health care providers "to give their patients full information about their conditions and treatment options," and more than 95% said they support requiring "basic" managed care plans "to allow patients to see plan specialists when necessary." Other issues addressed in the survey:

94.7% of respondents said patients "should have the right to a speedy appeal when a plan denies coverage for a benefit or service."
91.3% said patients should be provided with a "complete list of benefits and costs offered by a health plan" before enrolling.
87.2% said health plans "must allow their patients the option of seeking treatment outside their HMO, with the HMO covering at least a portion of the cost."
67.6% said insurers should be "prohibited from paying doctors more money for offering less treatment or refusing referrals," while 26.1% said they oppose this requirement.

The survey also asked respondents whether they would support legislation that includes all of the HMO reforms listed above. More than 85% of respondents said they would support such comprehensive legislation, while only 4.2% voiced opposition. Respondents also were asked if they would support the legislation if they knew enacting the mandates "would cost you about $17 more per month, about $200 more per year." More than 67% said they would still support the legislation, while 23.1% said they would oppose it. The survey of 1,005 adults was conducted April 29 to May 1 by Luntz Research Companies; the survey has a margin of error of +/-3.1% (Luntz release, 5/14). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.