Contact: Patrick Cody (703) 838-7528
CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES
But Rights Would Not Include Meaningful Consumer Ombudsman Program
(Alexandria, VA) "President Clinton's Bill of Rights for health care consumers is good for people with mental illnesses," said Michael Faenza, president and chief executive of the National Mental Health Association. "It will help provide essential safeguards for mental health consumers in an increasingly cost-based health care system."
The President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protections and Quality in the Health Care Industry issued a proposed "Consumer Bill of Rights" at a White House ceremony today.
Faenza hailed the commission's proposal to require health plans to disclose extensive information about quality indicators and financial incentives given to physicians to limit treatments, and the proposal to use a "prudent layperson" standard for approving emergency room treatments.
"The proposed independent external review of denied services is particularly important for people with mental illnesses, whose care is too frequently curtailed or terminated arbitrarily by payers -- even against the best judgment of providers," Faenza said. "External review gives consumers the opportunity to fight these capricious decisions in a timely manner."
"The very symptoms of mental and emotional disorders -- which typically impact an individual's cognition and motivation -- can make it that much more difficult to fight a denial of mental health care," Faenza said. "For that reason, I am disappointed that the President's Advisory Commission did not include a meaningful consumer ombudsman program in its final recommendations."
Although the Bill of Rights represents a significant step forward, Faenza also expressed regret the Commission did not ban discrimination against people with mental illnesses in marketing and enrollment practices or recommend that all Americans have the same access to mental health treatments that they have to physical health services.
Nonetheless, Faenza said, "the President's Bill of Rights stands to help all Americans with mental health care needs. President Clinton should be congratulated for reaching this milestone. NMHA will work closely with the administration and members of Congress to ensure a comprehensive Consumer Bill of Rights is signed into federal law."
To arrange an interview with Faenza, call Patrick Cody at NMHA: (703) 838-7528
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