Iowa Senate considers patients’ rights

Policymakers at the statehouse are reviewing different proposals which try to ensure that Iowans have some “patient protections” from H.M.O. abuses. Democrat Governor Tom Vilsack wants a “patients’ bill of rights” to include assurances that rural Iowans in an H-M-O aren’t forced to drive huge distances to a doctor or hospital. But republicans like Brad Hanson, a representative from Hudson, say their bill doesn’t include a guarantee of easy access to health care for rural Iowans. Another hurdle: Vilsack wants insurance companies to publicly disclose the details of all their policies. The republican plan would not force the companies to make that sort of revelation. Senator John Redwine, a republican from Sioux City who is a doctor, says there aren’t that many differences to resolve. The Senate will debate the issue this week.