July 22, 2010

Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement on the health reform bill he passed in the Senate and the implementation of new regulations that will allow consumers to appeal decisions made by their health plans or insurance companies such as the denial of claims and rescission.

"One of my primary goals while leading passage of health insurance reform was to end insurance company abuses and put Nevada consumers back in charge of their health care decisions," Reid said.  "These enhanced consumer protections will ensure that Nevadans have a system in place that supports their right to appeal health plan decisions and keeps insurance company bureaucrats from coming between patients and their doctors."

In addition to the implementation of these new consumer protection regulations, a new Consumer Assistance Grants Program has been established.  This program will help states like Nevada establish additional consumer assistance offices and strengthen existing ones.  The role of these offices is to provide consumers with the information and resources they need to decide which coverage option will best meet their needs.

Links to information on the consumer protections and grants program is included below:

Fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the new consumer protections and grants program: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/protectconsumers_factsheet072210.pdf

Information about the Appeals regulation: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-18043_PI.pdf

The grant announcement: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=4G33MLQVNfc9B2QvVGSR11Lpmyw2Fy25bGlr6lsBWJ4rG6dSTSpT!-1402506127?oppId=56058&mode=VIEW

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