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Press Release July 15, 1998 |
Contact: 202/462-6262 |
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WASHINGTON – Adrienne Mitchem, legislative counsel for Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, issued the following statement reacting to the outlines of a health care proposal unveiled by Senate Republicans Wednesday:
"Consumers Union is disappointed that the Senate Republicans’ plan immunizes HMOs from responsibility for medical mistakes that exacerbate consumers’ illnesses or fail to treat life-threatening conditions. By immunizing HMOs, Republicans are turning a deaf ear to the clamor from consumers for accountability from the profit driven managed care industry. Consumers want doctors, not accountants, to call the shots when they get sick, so giving the managed care industry immunity from callous mistakes over life or death decisions is dangerous to consumers’ health."
"Consumers Union is also concerned that the GOP lawmakers’ proposal revives an idea that has been widely recognized as a marketplace flop: Medical Savings Accounts. It is time for Congress to recognize that MSAs drain the Treasury and benefit the healthy at the expense of the sick who pay higher premiums. No more than 100,000 Americans currently use this flawed approach to health care insurance and reports show that those who do are often disappointed to learn how riddled with holes these policies really are.
"Will this new MSA proposal be any different? Is the MSA catastrophic health insurance policy comprehensive or does it leave families at risk of absorbing staggering out of pocket medical expenses? Do MSA catastrophic health insurance policies exclude coverage for pregnancy or select illnesses?
"Every American is at risk of facing a costly serious illness or accident during his or her lifetime which can cripple a family budget. Sen. Phil Gramm stated at today’s news conference that "All consumers need to know is whether their health care provider accepts a credit card or check." But the issue with MSAs is not whether your doctor accepts plastic. The issue is: how much of your bank account must you drain or do you ever have enough money to receive adequate health insurance coverage?
