care system, people must first educate themselves on how their healthcare works, voice their opinions, and finally join together to bring reform. The first action people must take to insure their own well being and safety is to stay thoroughly informed on how their HMO plans run. Managed care is often criticized for encouraging the withholding of beneficial care from patients. People need to be aware that many HMOs contain Gag Rules. These rules, in contracts between managed-care organizations and physicians, expressly prohibit the physician from telling patients about therapies that are not covered by the plan. Therefore, the physicians are not part of the decision making process involved in determining what services to provide. These rules can apply even when the patient’s life is at stake. Other terms prohibit the physician from disclosing how he or she is paid, especially when payment methods reward limiting referrals to patients. Why do HMOs want physicians to be less than honest with their patients? Because patients might demand care that would raise costs and reduce profits. According to Jeffrey Koplan, M.D., "Patients should learn how to become active participants in their own healthcare, which means taking part in decisions involving diagnosis and treatment." Koplan is the president of Prudential Center for Health Care Research which conducts research to evaluate and improve how healthcare is delivered to managed care customers. If all insured c

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Care Research, Hassan’s HMO, Gag Rules, REFORM United, Workers Comp, MD Patients, America Bibliography, Physicians Care, London UK, Macon GA, healthcare system, injured person, personal involvement, national healthcare, prohibit physician, health insurance, managed care, healthcare reform, health care,