Both Health Care Reform Bills Would Create Ombuds Program

Progressive blogger Jon Walker observes that both versions of the House and Senate health care reform legislation would create a new health care Ombudsman program to help people deal with insurance companies. In the Senate Finance Committee bill, people would only be allowed to seek help from the Ombuds if their internal appeals last more than three months, or they were facing a life-threatening situation. The House bill puts no restrictions on when a person could seek help from the Ombuds. (FireDogLake Blog; GovTrack Bill Status for S. 1796 and HR 3962. Hat tip to John Zinsser.)

Prior post: Classical Ombuds May Have Role in Health Care Reform.