RN-Sponsored Bill to Expand Patient Choice on Access to Care Wins Approval in California Assembly
Targeted News Service |
A major bill that sets a new national standard for breaking through rigid restrictions on patient choice of doctors, hospitals and other medical providers set by insurance companies won approval in the
AB 2533, introduced by Assembly member
"This is a historic vote that will make a huge difference in the lives of tens of thousands of patients who may no longer face financial ruin or bankruptcy for seeking the critical medical care they need from the provider of their choice," said CNA Co-president
AB 2533 also directly addresses a growing national scandal of insurers who while entering the new health exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act have set even tighter network restrictions than existed in non-exchange plans. Many Californians in particular have found that private insurance plans they signed up for through Covered California excluded major hospitals in the state.
A key component of the bill is to require health insurers to arrange for enrollees who go outside their "approved" network of doctors or hospitals to obtain needed medical care in a timely manner will be charged the same out-of-pocket costs as they would pay for getting care within their network.
"This bill corrects that gaping hole both in the ACA and the existing insurance-based system that limits patient choice, forces people to travel long distances to find a provider within their 'network,' or exposes patients and families to excessively high bills that can lead to financial disaster," Burger said.
AB 2533 would also require health insurers to file annual reports on denials of care and complaints about timely access to care to the
A separate CNA-sponsored bill to assure workplace compensation eligibility for RNs and other hospital staff who contract the dangerous MRSA skin infection also won approval by the
AB 2616, introduced by Assembly member
An estimated 200,000 MRSA occur in
Under current law, a number of workplace injuries qualify for presumption of eligibility for workers' comp for public safety personnel, but only for police, firefighters and some other safety personnel who are predominantly male. AB 2616 would extend that eligibility to RNs and other hospital employees who are predominantly women.
Testifying for the bill last month, CNA Co-President
Too often, Markowitz noted, RNs and other healthcare workers "face an enormous amount of pressure and intimidation from management to not file workers' compensation claims and/or face claims rejections. When nurses do file claims there are often harassed and embarrassed to the point where they do not proceed with the claim or do not file an appeal if a case is rejected."
"Nurses and other healthcare workers provide a vital community service and should be taken care of with a rebuttal presumption for MRSA infections. Just like other first responders such as firefighters and police officers, nurses do not discriminate in which patients they care for, which include those with MRSA and other infections."
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