Medicaid Patient’s Rights

During US President Clinton’s term, one of the main endeavors he made different government departments do was to make the health programs act in accordance with the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. The Department of Health and Human Services launched new conditions for the Medicare program and intensified the protection of rights of patients who have obtained Medicaid coverage and benefits. After the new guidelines were put in place, Medicare and Medicaid patients rights were among those that were well looked after.

The Patients’ Bill of Rights of 1998 was formed primarily to make patients feel very secure with the US health care system. This would assure them that there is an adequate health care system that can provide for what patients require. The bill also promotes an active and healthy lifestyle for people, and provides a patient means to deal with troubles they may encounter.

The Patients’ Bill of Rights also emphasizes the significance of a good patient-health care provider relationship. The Bill also shows that patients have a major responsibility to keep themselves healthy through the help of health care providers.

Medicare and Medicaid patients’ rights are widely based from the Patients’ Bill of Rights. Majority of other health insurance providers and institutions also implement these guidelines.

The Patient’s Bill of Rights has 8 major topics. First among them is the right of a patient to have access to accurate and easy to understand information about their health program, health care professionals, and health care facilities. Assistance should be extended to people who have difficulty when making decisions for themselves on health related concerns.

A patient also has the right to select and pick which health care provider can give them first-rate health care if they need the services of any. And an individual has the right to emergency treatment if they feel extreme pain, get injured, or get very sick, without the need of any kind of authorization or payment.

A patient has the right to be informed of medical treatments and be active in determining which option they will take. If they cannot decide by themselves, other people such as parents, family members, or legal guardians can help them in choosing.

All types of health care providers, doctors, and health insurance agents should treat patients with respect and should not discriminate them in any way or form.

Medicare and Medicaid patients also have the right to have private consultations with health care providers. Patients should be allowed to see and reproduce their medical records and to have their health care information protected. If there are any errors in the information or documents, a patient has the right to demand that they be corrected.

If a patient has complaints or issues about a doctor, hospital, health insurance or any health care provider, they have the right to file reports and have these reports be quickly reviewed in an impartial manner. Reports may include protests about health care personnel actions and attitude, waiting times, operating hours of hospitals or clinics and health care facility competence.