Clinton names panel to monitor health care
Saying many Americans are worried their medical care is suffering as costs are cut, especially under managed care, President Clinton named a commission in March to monitor health care quality and write a health care consumer’s "bill of rights."
The announcement sparked debate over his intentions. On the one hand, some Republicans, like Rep. William Thomas of California, think the panel is only a gimmick to ratify regulations the president plans to impose on the private health care marketplace. On the other hand, some consumer groups worry that the panel might delay reform.
Ann B. Howard, executive director of the American Federation of Home Health Agencies in Silver Spring, MD, says the commission is a positive development for health care consumers, including home care patients whose visits are often limited under managed care, she says. Her organization plans to make suggestions to the commission for the "bill of rights," which should logically extend to home care, she says. "Consumers have the right to all services, including home health services."
Howard says her organization has gathered evidence from "140 to 150" cases that show problems with health care access and quality under managed care.
Administration officials have been careful to say the panel isn’t intended to bash managed care, and that all types of health care will be scrutinized.
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