Press Release for Immediate Release
September 23, 1999
Allied Citizens for Healthcare Equity (ACHE) commends the
members of the Children, Family, and Health and Human Services
Committee for deciding to review rules recently approved by the
Department of Public Health and Human Services that are to govern
managed care in Montana. ACHE Executive Director Susan Good called
each committee member and urged the legislative review. ACHE
believes that Rule X as currently proposed contradicts the intention
of the Network Adequacy for Quality Assurance Act passed by the
1997 legislature.
"Our reports are that the committee is unanimous in requesting
at the least Rule X be scrutinized," says Susan Good. This
rule entirely guts the intention of the law. ACHE was alarmed
by statements from a Department spokesman claiming that everybody
would understand what 'good faith' means. Rule X itself violates
the "good faith" precept, and warrants a closer look.
These legislators have done the right thing to ensure patients
all across our state access to quality care. The purpose of the
1997 law is to protect Montana citizens, not health carriers'
bottom lines."
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