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Lawmakers Applaud New Insurance Plan

November 9, 1999
By: Kristin Marinec
State Capital Bureau

Two legislative leaders in HMO regulation say they applaud Missouri's largest HMO for giving the power back to the doctors. Kristin Marinec reports from Jefferson City.

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UnitedHealth Group announced it will allow doctors to choose which treatments the company will cover--a decision that used to be up to the company itself.

Representative Tim Harlan, who sponsored the state's current HMO regulation law, says this change is a step in the right direction.

Actuality:Harlan
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Contents: Representative Tim Harlan says UnitedHealth will use this change as a marketing tool which will in turn pressure other HMOs to follow the trend.

But Harlan says reform is still needed.

Reporting from the capitol, I'm Kristin Marinec.

Two legialative leaders in HMO regulation say they couldn't agree more with the state's largest HMO's new approach to managed health care. Kristin Marinec has the story from Jefferson City.

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UnitedHealth Group is making a nationwide change this month to give physicians--not health care administrators--the final say in how they treat their patients.

Senator Joe Maxwell, who sponsored the state's current HMO regulation law, says the change is a victory for patients under the plan.

Actuality:Maxwell
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Contents: Senator Joe Maxwell says when you go to your doctor you can be assured he or she will be making the medical decisions based on what's best for you and not some insurance company somewhere else in this country.

UnitedHealth says the decision will effect nearly one-million people in and around the state. From the state captiol, I'm Kristin Marinec.

This month UnitedHealth Group will let doctors--not health care administrators--decide what treatments should be covered.

Spokesman for a leading trade association Mike Winter says insurance premiums could potentially go up.

Actuality:Winter
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Contents: Spokesman for the Missouri Association of Health Plans Mike Winter says there is a possibility that physicians could easily prescribe health care that may or may not be needed without the typical system of checks and balances.

Lawmakers who support health care reform are skeptical about the increase. They say the change will decrease premiums by eliminating the need to hound doctors about every bill and every patient. From the state capitol, I'm Kristin Marinec.