Statement of Principle on Patient Choice

Health Policy Consensus Group

A broad-based group of health policy analysts including researchers from major market-oriented public policy research organizations

Statement of Principle on Patient Choice

October 11, 2000

Because the Patients' Bill of Rights will raise costs and reduce access to health insurance, employers and employees should have the ability to opt out of the provisions of the bill if they so desire.

Therefore, if an employer gives a defined contribution to employees for health coverage, the employer, the employee plan, and the insurer chosen by the employee should be exempt from the liability and the regulatory provisions of the Patients' Bill of Rights.

Employees would be the owners of their health coverage, which they would choose and purchase either individually or through group plans. The tax treatment of this defined contribution would be the same as under current law.