Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Cari Hepp/Fred Hartman
Date: February 20, 2001 Phone: 919/733-5612
EASLEY INTRODUCES PATIENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS LEGISLATION
(Raleigh, NC) Gov. Mike Easley today unveiled his Patients’ Bill of Rights Legislation, emphasizing his commitment to expanding patients’ rights and improving the health care of North Carolina’s working families.
“The doctor-patient relationship must remain paramount,” said Easley. “Doctors must make medical decisions, not administrators or bureaucrats. Patients are entitled to – and this legislation will demand – that health insurance companies are accountable to the consumers they serve.”
Easley introduced his plan during a morning press conference with the bill sponsors (Senators Wellons, Purcell, and Forrester, and Representatives Baddour, Hackney, Nye and Justus), consumer advocates and doctors.
“The time is now for managed care reform,” said Easley. “We can no longer wait for Washington to act. When this measure is passed and signed into law, North Carolina’s working families will have real managed care reform. There is no question that when it comes to our healthcare, we need better ‘care’ and less ‘management’.”
Easley’s legislation will do the following:
 Provide an expedient external review process
Patients may appeal denials of care to an independent reviewer for a timely decision.
 Insure that managed care companies are accountable for their decisions
Allows patients to hold health plans accountable in court for harm caused by the plan’s failure to exercise due care in making health treatment decisions.
 Provide for continuity of care
Requires managed care plans to allow patients with special needs to continue to see his or her doctor even if that doctor is no longer part of the health plan.
 Guarantees the availability of the correct specialist