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What is the Patient's Bill of Rights?
Here you will find a summary of the Consumer Bill of Rights
and Responsibilities that was adopted by the U.S. Advisory Commission
on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry in 1998.
It is also known as the Patient's Bill of Rights.
The Patient's Bill of Rights was created with the intent to
reach 3 major goals:
- to help patients feel more confident in the U.S. health
care system; the Bill of Rights:
- assures that the health care system is fair and it works
to meet patients' needs
- gives patients a way to address any problems they may
have
- encourages patients to take an active role in staying or
getting healthy
- to stress the importance of a strong relationship between
patients and their health care providers
- to stress the key role patients play in staying
healthy by laying out rights and responsibilities for all patients and
health care providers
This Bill of Rights also applies to the insurance plans
offered to federal employees. Many other health insurance plans and
facilities have also adopted these values. Even Medicare and Medicaid
stand by many of them.
The 8 key areas of the Patient's Bill of
Rights
Information disclosure
You have the right to accurate and easily-understood
information about your health plan, health care professionals, and
health care facilities. If you speak another language, have a physical
or mental disability, or just don't understand something, help should
be given so you can make informed health care decisions.
Choice of providers and plans
You have the right to choose health care providers who can
give you high-quality health care when you need it.
Access to emergency services
If you have severe pain, an injury, or sudden illness that
makes you believe that your health is in serious danger, you have the
right to be screened and stabilized using emergency services. You
should be able to use these services whenever and wherever you need
them, without needing to wait for authorization and without any
financial penalty.
Participation in treatment decisions
You have the right to know your treatment options and take
part in decisions about your care. Parents, guardians, family members,
or others that you select can represent you if you cannot make your own
decisions.
Respect and non-discrimination
You have a right to considerate, respectful care from your
doctors, health plan representatives, and other health care providers
that does not discriminate against you.
Confidentiality of health information
You have the right to talk privately with health care
providers and to have your health care information protected. You also
have the right to read and copy your own medical record. You have the
right to ask that your doctor change your record if it is not correct,
relevant, or complete.
Complaints and appeals
You have the right to a fair, fast, and objective review of
any complaint you have against your health plan, doctors, hospitals or
other health care personnel. This includes complaints about waiting
times, operating hours, the actions of health care personnel, and the
adequacy of health care facilities.
Other bills of rights
This bill of rights focuses on hospitals and insurance plans,
but there are many others with different focuses. There are special
kinds, like the mental health bill of rights, hospice patient's bill of
rights, and bills of rights for patients in certain states. Insurance
plans sometimes have lists of rights for subscribers. Many of these
lists of rights tell you where to go or whom to talk with if you have a
problem with your care. The American Hospital Association has a list of
rights along with patient responsibilities that can help a person be a
more active partner in his or her health care. (See "Additional resources"
below.)
Health insurance problems
If you have concerns about your insurance, it is sometimes
helpful to start with customer service or your case manager at your
health insurance company. For more information about dealing with
insurance claims, see our document Medical Insurance and Financial
Assistance for the Cancer Patient.
Additional
resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following related information may also be helpful to you.
These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number,
1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345).
National organizations and Web sites*
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of
patient information and support include
American Hospital Association
Toll-free number: 1-800-242-2626
Web site: www.aha.org
AHA's Patient Care
Partnership brochure educates patients on their rights and
responsibilities in regard to their hospital stay. (The brochure is
available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Russian,
Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.) The brochure is available in bulk
orders only. There is a fee for non-members, but it is also available
as a free download on the Web site, in all the languages
mentioned at: www.aha.org/aha/issues/Communicating-With-Patients/pt-care-partnership.html.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) - HHS
Toll-free number: 1-800-633-4227
TTY: 1-877-486-2048
Web site: www.cms.hhs.gov
Medline Plus
Web site: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/patientrights.html
Has information on
Patient Rights
*Inclusion on
this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.
No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or
night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-ACS-2345 or
visit www.cancer.org.
References
President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and
Quality in the Health Care Industry. Patients’ Rights and
Responsibilities. Available at:
http://www.hcqualitycommission.gov/final/append_a.html. Accessed
October 24, 2008.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Patients' Bill of Rights
and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Available at:
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/billrights.asp#what. Accessed October
24, 2008.
Last Medical Review: 11/11/2008
Last Revised: 11/11/2008
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