FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 1999

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelley Elwood, 312/580-6497

ISMS Long Awaited Managed Care
Reform Bill Passes!

Springfield - Today, after nearly four years of legislative debate, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation that will assure patients essential rights under managed care. The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) was the catalyst behind the Managed Care Reform and Patients Rights Act, Senate Bill 251, having pushed for its passage each year since its initial introduction in 1996. Governor George Ryan, Sen. Thomas Walsh (R-La Grange Park), Rep. Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Evanston) and Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) played important leadership roles in moving forward on this issue. Senate Bill 251 was sponsored by Rep. Frank Mautino (D- Spring Valley) and Sen. Walsh.

"Today, our patients won," said Clair Callan, M.D., president of ISMS. "Reforming the managed care climate is a chief priority for us, and we are ecstatic the bill has finally passed." "ISMS has fought a long, hard battle to gain these basic rights for our patients. We thank the General Assembly for its action on SB 251 and urge Governor Ryan to sign it quickly."

Senate Bill 251 assures patients enrolled in managed care plans these essential rights:

• care consistent with professional standards of practice to assure quality medical and nursing practices,

• the freedom to choose a participating physician responsible for coordinating their care,

• complete information about their condition and proposed treatment,

• privacy and confidentiality of medical records, and

• the right to purchase any health services outside the plan with their own money.

ISMS is a professional membership organization representing 16,000 physicians, practicing in all specialties statewide.

ISMS permits and encourages reproduction of ISMS news releases with the request that ISMS is credited as the source of the information.