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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 US 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 to try to reach 3
major goals:
1) To help patients feel
more confident in the US 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
2) To stress the importance
of a strong relationship between patients and their health care
providers
3) 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 for patients
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 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.
Taking part 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 choose can speak for 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 (privacy) 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.
Consumer responsibilities
In a health care system that protects consumer or patients'
rights, patients should expect to take on some responsibilities to get
well and/or stay well (for instance, exercising and not using tobacco).
Patients are expected to do things like treat health care workers and
other patients with respect, try to pay their medical bills, and follow
the rules and benefits of their health plan coverage. Having patients
involved in their care increases the chance of the best possible
outcomes and helps support a high quality, cost-conscious health care
system.
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 the "Additional resources"
section below.)
Health insurance problems
If you have concerns about your insurance, it is sometimes
helpful to start with customer service or a case manager at your health
insurance company. For 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,
1-800-227-2345.
National organizations and Web sites*
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of
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 teaches patients about rights
and responsibilities in regard to their hospital stay. (It comes in
English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.)
The brochure is sold in bulk orders only and there is a fee for
non-members. But you can download it free, in any of the languages, at:
www.aha.org/aha/issues/Communicating-With-Patients/pt-care-partnership.html.
National Library
of Medicine
Web site: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/patientrights.html
This site has information on patient rights along with many links to
other sources of related information
Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Toll-free number: 1-800-633-4227
TTY: 1-877-486-2048
Web site: www.cms.hhs.gov
*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 1-800-227-2345 or
visit www.cancer.org.
References
President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and
Quality in the Health Care Industry. Consumer Bill of Rights and
Responsibilities. Accessed at:
http://www.hcqualitycommission.gov/final/append_a.html on December 18,
2009.
US Office of Personnel Management. Patients' Bill of Rights.
Accessed at: http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/billrights.asp#what on
December 18, 2009.
Last Medical Review: 12/22/2009
Last Revised: 12/22/2009
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