News from the
Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press
Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: (907) 465-4582
web site at http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540
Senate to Consider Full Disclosure in Health Care
Bill Prohibits HMO Gag Orders on Physicians
For Immediate Release: January 21, 1998 Contact: Karen Brand, Aide to Senator Dave Donley at (907) 465-3887.
Juneau – Legislation to prevent HMOs from placing gag orders on physicians which prohibit them from discussing alternative treatment options, financial incentives or second opinions moved from the Senate Health Education and Social Services Committee Wednesday and will soon be scheduled for a vote on the Senate Floor.
Senator Dave Donley (R-Anchorage) said he introduced Senate Bill 197 as a preventative measure. The bill adopts limits on Health Maintenance Organizations or HMO’s which, while not currently in Alaska, operate in all other states in the union.
"HMO’s have a negative track history in the area of disclosure," said Donley. "They have abused the public interest to such an extent that many states have passed initiatives to limit how HMO’s operate."
Senate Bill 197 was introduced in response to the following areas of public concern:
To prevent confusion about treatments that are not covered, SB 197 requires HMOs clearly identify treatments that may be denied a patient. This prevents the HMO from denying coverage to a patient after treatment has been performed but cost is not covered.
"It’s only a matter of time before HMO’s come to Alaska. When they do, we want to prevent some of the abuses that have occurred in other states before they happen here," Donley said.
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Broadcast Note: Please call 800/478-6540 to hear Senator Donley comment on SB 197.