Landmark legislation to give all patients the same right to sue their HMOs for damages as public employees now have advanced out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. SB 21 (Figueroa), sponsored by FTCR’s Consumers For Quality Care, now moves to the Assembly floor. It has already passed the State Senate. There were no amendments in Appropriations Committee.

“This vital legislation provides every Californian with the same remedies as the Governor to hold HMOs accountable for damages when they are harmed by an HMO denial or delay of medically necessary services,” said Jamie Court, advocacy director for FTCR. “Patients and doctors in California deserve the same legal leverage against their HMO as patients and physicians in Texas.”

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