Mark Udall: “At one time or another all Americans are faced with making tough choices about medical care for themselves and for their…”

“At one time or another all Americans are faced with making tough choices about medical care for themselves and for their families. At those times, the last thing anyone wants to think about is whether their health plan will be there for them. They should know that access to vital services and information is guaranteed to them. Here is what is needed, I believe, to make sure that is in fact what we have in our medical care system. Patients should know that if they have an emergency they can go to the nearest emergency room without worrying if their plan will cover it. No one with a serious emergency should have to call an 800 number for permission to seek the emergency care that is needed. Patients also need access to clear and complete medical information. The reason for that is that informed decisions about health care options can only be made by patients who have full access to information about the options available to them. As a part of this, physicians should be able to advise patients of their options without restrictions from their health plan. Health care providers should know that they can give accurate medical advice without fear of retaliation by the health plan that is in order at that time. Patients need to know they can appeal plan decisions of denial or delay of care when a doctor feels that the care prescribed is medically necessary.”