Here’s the evidence:
Rossi voted twice against adopting a Patient Bill of Rights that would ensure that health plan patients have improved access to information regarding their health plans; have access to a quick and impartial process for appealing plan denials of health care coverage; are protected from unnecessary invasions of health care privacy; and are assured that personal health care information will be used only as necessary to obtain and pay for health care or to improve the quality of care. [ESSB 5587, 3/11/99; ESSB 5587 5/19/99]
SB5587 would prohibit a health carrier that offers a health plan from offering to sell a health plan to an enrollee or to any group representative, agent, employer, or enrollee representative or to an individual in a group plan if that person is not given the following information before purchase or selection: a listing of covered benefits, including prescription drugs, if any; a listing of exclusions, reductions, and limitations to covered benefits, including policies and practices related to any drug formulary, and any definition of medical necessity or other coverage criteria upon which they may be based; a statement of the carrier’s policies for protecting the confidentiality of health information; a statement containing the cost of premiums and enrollee point-of-service cost-sharing requirements; a summary explanation of grievance and appeal procedures; a statement regarding the availability of a point-of-service option, if any, and how the option operates; and a convenient means of obtaining a list of participating providers, including disclosure of network arrangements that restrict access to providers within any plan network. The bill would require a process for the fair consideration of consumer complaints relating to decisions by the health plan to deny or limit coverage of or payment for health care. [ESB5587]
The Ad Says “Against you and your doctor making medical decisions”
Here’s the evidence:
One measure, SB 5587, would subject health insurers to rules intended to give patients and their doctors more rights and ultimately more control over the quality of their care. The Patients’ Bill of Rights measure passed 29-17. The bill, which is given little chance of passage in the House, where Republican foes share power with Democrats, would: Provide consumer protection rules, such as a standardized process under which patients denied coverage or payment could appeal the denial. The appeal would be heard by an independent panel of medical experts; Require that insurers provide standardized and timely internal grievance processes to easily address and solve consumer complaints about access to care and the quality of care; Protect the privacy of personal health information by barring its use for “inappropriate and unauthorized” reasons; and Require health plans to fully disclose benefits and limitations contained in their plans so consumers could make an informed choice before signing up. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/12/99]
The patients’ bill of rights is included in SB 5587, sponsored by Sen. Lorraine Wojahn, D-Tacoma. If enacted, it would require that patients in Washington state: Have timely access to appropriate services; Have adequate choice of health care providers; Have health care decisions made by medical professionals, not insurance companies; Have better access to information about their insurance plans; Have a quick and impartial process for appealing denials of coverage; Are protected from unneeded invasions of their privacy; and Are protected from unfair and deceptive marketing practices. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2/12/99]
The Ad Says “But for his big insurance contributors”
Here’s the evidence:
Dino Rossi has accepted $34,764 from health insurance companies and their employees in campaign contributions. [Washington Public Disclosure Commission, July 1996- June 2008]
Individuals who testified against ESSB 5587 were: Mel Sorensen, Washington Physician Service; Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; Basil Badley, Health Insurance Association of America; Ken Johnson, Association of Washington Business; Carolyn Logue, National Federation of Independent Business. Debbie Ward, Group Health; Jeff Robertson, Bonnie Suminski, Regence Blue Shield; and Cliff Webster, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. [ESSB 5587 Senate Bill Report, 3/11/99]
Representatives of Regence Blue Shield testified against ESSB 5587 in front of the Washington legislature’s Health & Long-Term Care Committee. Between 2000 and 2008, Dino Rossi accepted $3,350 in campaign contributions from Regence Blue Shield and their employees. [ESSB 5587 Senate Bill Report, 3/11/99; Washington Public Disclosure Commission]
Download the spreadsheet of contributions Dino has taken from big insurance contributors.
Download the bill and read it for yourself.