Patient's Bill of Rights

It is hereby declared by the Legislature of Louisiana that access to health care for the citizens of this state is a priority to promote well-being and strong state protections. The state has an obligation to ensure that every person enrolled in a health plan enjoys basic rights as a patient. Comprehensive care should guarantee patients greater access to information and care including access to needed specialists and emergency rooms, guarantee a fair appeals process when health plans deny care, expand choice, protect the doctor-patient relationship, and hold managed care organizations accountable for decisions that harm patients. Because many states have passed patient protection laws that are appropriate to their states, the Department of Insurance shall establish and maintain an information collection program to track and evaluate state and federal legislation to provide for a uniform patient bill of rights. The department shall compile the data on an annual basis and submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Insurance and the House Committee on Insurance of ongoing efforts to adopt or enact a uniform patient's bill of rights.