Voters' Anger at H.M.O.'s Plays as Hot Political Issue.
The Sunday May 17th issue of the NY Times, contained an article on the public's perception of HMO's in today's Managed Health Care system.
"In at least a score of states, including New York, California, Texas, Florida and North Carolina,
candidates in primaries and general elections for governor and Congress typically are promoting access to more doctors, a right to appeal managed-care organizations' decisions on restricting care to impartial tribunals, and freedom to sue the organizations for malpractice.
"That argument has now turned against the (insurance) industry. As enrollment in managed care has climbed from half the work force four years ago to 85 percent, largely driven by employers trying to contain health care costs, millions more Harrys and Louises are complaining of choices they do not like and of no choices at all.
"The managed-care organizations and insurance companies and employers, who typically pay about 70 percent of their workers' health insurance premiums, are clearly mobilized in their own defense: They have formed a coalition to block enactment of most patient-rights proposals in Congress and to respond to the accusations in the campaigns."
The story went on to analyze the various politicians up for election/re-election, and how this issue will impact on their campaigns.