Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
- Images
Alternative Names
Health care consumer's rights; Rights of the health care consumer
Information
In March 1998, the Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry issued its final report, which included the Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. The Commission was appointed by President Bill Clinton, and co-chaired by Donna Shalala, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The purpose of the Bill of Rights is:
- To build up consumer confidence in the health care system, by making it easy for consumers to participate actively in their own health care.
- To strongly support the importance of a good healthcare provider and that of a good provider-patient relationship.
- To emphasize and support the importance of the consumers' role in making sure they have rights and responsibilities with regard to health improvement.
The following section, Consumer Bill of Rights, was developed by the federal government. This has been used as a foundation for many health plans, including the federal-government-sponsored health plans.
Consumer Bill of Rights
I. Information Disclosure
You have the right to receive 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, assistance will be provided so you can make informed health care decisions.
Review Date: 08/02/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
