MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Coleman (65th), Broomfield, Calhoun, Coleman (29th), Espy, Harrison, Hines, Straughter, Wooten
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BASIC TENETS OF THE HEALTH INSURER "CODE OF CONDUCT."
WHEREAS, the Mississippi House of Representatives encourages transparency in communications among health care professionals and patients; and
WHEREAS, members of the health care community, comprised of health care providers, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, and health care organizations, such as hospitals and surgical centers, are increasingly influenced by decisions based on the designs of health benefit plans; and
WHEREAS, health care providers have acknowledged that intrusions into clinical decision making have led to adverse outcomes; and
WHEREAS, these adverse outcomes are placing patients at increased risk, furthering the gap around health care disparities and distancing health care providers from practicing optimal patient care; and
WHEREAS, the concept of a Health Insurer "Code of Conduct" has been introduced by the American Medical Association to address these intrusions and promote change in health plan policy through legislation and judicial intervention; and
WHEREAS, the code is a publicly reported forum to provide both patients and employers a method to compare insurance carriers' compliance with these basic tenets of the Health Insurer "Code of Conduct," thus promoting transparency, patient safety, and competition in the marketplace; and
WHEREAS, patients should receive the best health care regardless of race or income level, and should receive care that will provide the optimal result for the patient; and
WHEREAS, the patient–health practitioner relationship relies on a confidential, honest and transparent exchange of information based on trust; and
WHEREAS, physicians or health practitioners who receive financial incentives to prescribe certain medications strain that relationship when patients are not informed of practitioners' financial incentives; and
WHEREAS, the longevity, quality-of-life, and continued health of all people in this society depend on quality health care; and
WHEREAS, the death rate of African Americans due to cardiovascular disease is the highest of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, and 40% of African-American adult men and women have some form of heart disease:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby encourage this body to work collaboratively with the health care community, including the American Medical Association, in the development of the basic tenets of the Health Insurer "Code of Conduct"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi encourages wide dissemination of this joint statement comprising the Health Insurer "Code of Conduct," and health insurer compliance to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and consumers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this body examines the status of access to quality health care by African Americans in the State of Mississippi; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi strongly supports efforts to improve and publicize information on how the Health Insurer "Code of Conduct" can help improve better delivery of care for patients in need; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That these efforts should include foreign language education and outreach programs, if necessary, to facilitate an understanding of the Health Insurer "Code of Conduct"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.