Study finds no gag clauses in physician contracts
Study finds no gag clauses in physician contracts
After examining more than 500 HMO physician contracts, the General Accounting Office (GAO) in Washington, DC, has concluded that they contain no gag clauses restricting physicians from discussing all medical options with their patients. According to Managed Care magazine’s analysis of the GAO study, physicians should not expect to see specific gag-rule legislation passed soon.Requested by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R- MS) and Sen. Don Nickles (R- OK), the study concluded there were no business clauses in the contracts that indirectly inhibited physicians from discussing treatment options with patients. The GAO also said such clauses were unlikely to affect physician practices even if they were under contract to the HMO with contracts containing the clause. The reason — Physicians would probably either ignore them, interpret them in a way that does not hinder communication, or be unaware of them.
"This report clearly indicates that the market has worked to address concerns raised by physician organizations about communication between doctors and patients," Nickles said.
Phil Nudelman, Member, Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry, and Chairman and President, Kaiser Group Health, Seattle, WA. Telephone: (206) 287-4690.
The Ricardo Group Inc., Maryanne Ricardo, MBA, President, 1411 W. 190th St., Suite 225, Gardena, CA 90248. Telephone: (310) 515-7999.
Medimetrix Consulting, Bill Macko, Principal, 1500 North Point Tower, 1001 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114. Telephone: (216) 523-1300.
St. Rita’s Medical Center, Kenneth G. Payne, CPA, MBA, Senior Vice President of Finance and Managed Care, 730 West Market St., Lima, OH 45801. Telephone: (419) 226-9106.
Fallon Community Health Plan, Jay Egan, Director of Marketing, Chestnut Place, 10 Chestnut St., Worcester, MA 02608. Telephone: (508) 799-2100.
HealthGuard, Jim Godfrey, President, 280 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. Telephone: (717) 560-9049.
Family Health Plan Inc., Kristine Hoffman, MS, Director of Corporate Communications, 2200 Jefferson Ave., 6th Floor, Toledo, OH 43624. Telephone: (419) 241-6501.
National Committee for Quality Assurance, Brian Schilling, Spokesman, 2000 L St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036. Telephone: (202) 955-5104. Web site: www.ncqa.org.
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