FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 4, 1999
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelley Elwood, 312/580-6497
ISMS Hails House Move on Patient Rights
Illinois doctors enthusiastically support the Managed Care Patient Rights Act (HB 579) introduced in the state House of Representatives this week, according to Illinois State Medical Society President Richard A. Geline, M.D.
The Act is sponsored by Reps. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Wilmette), Ralph Capparelli (D-Chicago), Carolyn Krause (R-Mt. Prospect), Gwenn Klingler (R-Springfield), and Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago, and co-sponsored by Reps. Tom Cross (R-Yorkville), Edgar Lopez (D-Chicago), Andrea Moore (R-Libertyville), Judy Erwin (D-Chicago) and 47 others (complete list below).
"I congratulate and thank the legislators on both sides of the aisle who are giving this landmark Act overwhelming bipartisan support," said Dr. Geline. "The Act sets up a common set of ground rules that will standardize managed care practices -- without imposing the kind of overactive bureaucracy that raises costs needlessly.
"This Act upholds each of the major principles we’ve been fighting for since we first asked the General Assembly for managed care reform in 1996," Dr. Geline stated.
"It gives patients clear, understandable and timely information about their coverage. It allows patients to choose their doctors and gain access to specialty care when needed. It assures, through recognized national standards for utilization review and a strong appeals procedure, that medical decisions will be based on the patient’s individual needs. And it protects the patient-doctor relationship, freeing physicians to serve in their traditional role as their patients’ advocates.
"This Act is a powerful achievement. Everyone taking part in its development should be proud of what they are accomplishing for the patients of our state," Dr. Geline concluded.
The Illinois State Medical Society represents 18,000 physicians practicing across the state in all specialties. Dr. Geline is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Skokie.
HB 579 - Managed Care Patient Rights Act
Chief Sponsors (5): Jeff Schoenberg (D-Wilmette); Ralph Capparelli (D-Chicago); Carolyn Krause (R-Mt. Prospect); Gwenn Klingler (R-Springfield); Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).
Co-sponsors (4): Tom Cross (R-Yorkville); Edgar Lopez (D-Chicago); Andrea Moore (R-Libertyville); Judy Erwin (D-Chicago).
Additional co-sponsors (47): Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago); Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills); Bob Biggins (R-Elmhurst); Mike Bost (R-Carbondale); Richard Bradley (D-Chicago); Robert Bugielski (D-Chicago); Daniel Burke (D-Chicago); Elizabeth Coulson (R-Glenview); Mary Lou Cowlishaw (R-Naperville); Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest); Julie Curry (D-Mt. Zion); James Durkin (R-Westchester); John Fritchey (D-Chicago); Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest); Lauren Beth Gash (D-Deerfield); Michael Giglio (D-Lansing); Kent Granberg (D-Centrailia); Julie Hamos (D-Chicago); Gary Hannig (D-Gillespie); Brent Hassert (R-Lemont); Douglas Hoeft (R-Elgin); Thomas Holbrook (D-Belleville); Constance Howard (D-Chicago); Lou Jones (D-Chicago); Shirley Jones (D-Chicago); Howard Kenner (D-Chicago); Patricia Lindner (R-Sugar Grove); Joseph Lyons (D-Chicago); Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago); Jim Meyer (R-Bolingbrook); Donald Moffitt (R-Galesberg); Rosemary Mulligan (R-Des Plaines); Harold Murphy (D-Markham); Phil Novak (D-Kankakee); Mary K. O’Brien (D-Coal City); Carole Pankau (R-Roselle); Vince Persico (R-Glen Ellyn); Tom Ryder (R-Jerseyville); Angelo "Skip" Saviano (R-River Grove); Douglas Scott (R-Rockford); Ricca Slone (D-Peoria); Michael Smith (D-Canton); Keith Sommer (R-Mackinaw); Dave Winters (R-Rockford); David Wirsing (R-DeKalb); Kay Wojcik (R-Schaumburg); Anne Zickus (R-Palos Hills).
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