While Congress debates two competing proposals to give patients a bill of rights, many states have passed their own regulations in the past several years. Those regulations can apply to only about 60% of Americans because of a 1974 federal law that exempts self-insured plans from state oversight. But Governors are lobbying hard to change that. Some of the most progressive states:
Oregon Oregon's comprehensive Patient Protection Act forces health plans to disclose the financial incentives they offer physicians to control costs, gives consumers the right to a full appeals process if denied treatment and allows access to emergency-room care.
Texas...
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