Summary of Dr Julia Hallisy's testimony at Patients' Bill of Rights Forum

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SENATOR BARBARA BOXER
PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS FORUM
June 25,2001
San Francisco, CA

Forum Panelist Dr Julia Hallisy:
"Another story was given by Dr. Julia Hallisy’s who provided moving testimony of her daughter Katherine's death that was potentially exacerbated by their HMOs refusal to authorize the necessary, specialty care, instead insisting that she see a doctor in the plan. The plan also continued to deny the coverage of prescription drugs claiming that they were experimental. So, instead of spending the last days of her daughter's life by her side, Dr. Hallisy spent her time fighting with the HMO to pay for her daughter's medical bills. The McCain/Edwards/Kennedy bill would have prohibited the HMO from refusing necessary specialty care and prescription drug coverage. Further, Dr. Hallisy would have been able to obtain the specialty care her daughter needed in a timely fashion and she would not be wasting her valuable time on the phone arguing with her HMO over whether they would cover her daughter's pain medication."

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PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS FORUM