This Independence Day, Exercise Your Freedom to Know the Quality of Health Care You Are Getting
California's Health Care Quality Report Card Helps Consumers Get the Most Out of Their Health Care
| Source: Office of the Patient Advocate
SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - July 2, 2009) - This July 4th, California's Office of the Patient Advocate is urging
Californians to celebrate their independence by taking control of their
health care. One way Californians can do this is by using the Office of
the Patient Advocate's Health Care Quality Report
Card to see how their health insurance plan or doctor's medical group
ratings compare to other plans or groups. This resource can help give
Californians the freedom to get the most out of their health care, whether
they are selecting a new health insurance plan or doctor, or simply better
utilizing the plan they already have. In addition, it holds health
insurance plans and doctors' medical groups accountable for their past
service.
"The Health Care Quality Report Card gives California health insurance plan
members the freedom to know the quality of health care they are getting,"
said Sandra Perez, director, Office of the Patient Advocate. "There are
steps consumers can take to improve their health care and protect their
rights, and knowing as much as possible about your health insurance plan is
one of them. Most importantly, no matter what rating a health insurance
plan receives, Californians can still get quality health care by becoming
proactively involved with their health insurance plan or doctor. For a
free guide, How to Use Your Health Plan, and other materials, visit
opa.ca.gov."
The Office of the Patient Advocate's Health Care Quality Report Card can be
found by visiting www.opa.ca.gov. It rates California's largest health
insurance plans and doctors' medical groups each year based on national
standards and member ratings. Consumers can also learn how health
insurance plans and doctors' medical groups perform in treating common
health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, mental health, and more.
Since 2000, the Office of the Patient Advocate has worked independently in
state government to provide information about consumer rights and
responsibilities as health insurance plan members. By releasing data on
the performance of the largest health insurance plans in the state, the
Office of the Patient Advocate stimulates competition in a way that
increases the quality and value of health care services for all
Californians. These are tools to help consumers get the most out of their
health care.
To see how health insurance plans and doctors' medical groups rate, visit
www.HealthCareQuality.ca.gov. To learn more about getting the most out of your health care, or to
download health
worksheets and other health care-related tools, visit www.opa.ca.gov.