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Managed Care Reform
AMA Letter Supporting Republicans on HR
2723, the Norwood-Dingell managed care reform bill
Letter from the AMA to House Republican
Cosponsors of HR 2723, the "Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of
1999."
The Honorable Sherwood L. Boehlert
U.S. House of Representatives
2246 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Boehlert:
On behalf of the 300,000 physician and
student members of the American Medical Association (AMA) and millions of patients, thank
you for your courage in standing with Representative Charlie Norwood and others in support
of patient protections.
Congressional action on patient protections remains critical in the minds of voters - this
month a CNN/Gallup poll found that 83% of those polled said passing a Patient's Bill of
Rights is very important and was rated the number one priority.
Your continued vigilance on this issue
is especially critical during the August recess. We strongly encourage you to continue to
support the following important principles:
 | "Medical necessity" determined
according to generally accepted standards of medical practice by a prudent physician
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| A truly independent and binding external
review process
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| Accountability for medical decisions made by
health plans
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| A prudent layperson definition of
"emergency medical condition"
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| Proper disclosure of information regarding
benefits and costs
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| Prohibition on gag clauses and practices
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| Adequate choice of physicians and plans
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Thank you again for your stalwart support
of meaningful and effective patient protections. We have a long road ahead of us to
achieve our goals and will continue to support you in your efforts to enact a truly
meaningful patients' rights bill.
Respectfully,
E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr., MD
Legislation Return
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