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| SPONSOR: | Sandoval | DATE TYPED: | 2/16/99 | HB | 244 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Patient Protection Ombudsman | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Esquibel | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY99 | FY2000 | FY99 | FY2000 | ||
| $ 500.0 | Recurring | GF | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Public Regulation Commission
Health Policy Commission
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The bill appropriates $500.0 in general fund in FY2000 to the Insurance Division of the Public Regulation Commission to establish and operate a patient protection ombudsman office to assist in the implementation of the Patient Protection Act.
Significant Issues
The Insurance Division of the Public Regulation Commission is currently utilizing its own resources to implement a limited managed care ombudsman program to promulgate the intent of the Patient Protection Act.
The patient protection ombudsman's office was originally intended to assist managed care enrollees in exercising their rights; advocate for and protect the interests of the consumer of managed care plans; educate consumers about their rights and responsibilities; and provide a mechanism to assist consumers in resolving disputes with managed care plans.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The bill would appropriate $500.0 in general fund in FY2000 to the Insurance Division to establish a recurring office and program.
Currently, House Bill 2, as amended by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, already contains a $500.0 appropriation and 7 FTE to carry out the provisions of HB244.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The State Agency on Aging, Human Services Department, Attorney General's Office, Public Regulation Commission and Children, Youth and Families Department all perform mandated ombudsman duties to protect patients' and wards' rights.
RAE/gm