ADA, coalition support health care transparency legislation
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Posted June 28, 2006 |
By Craig Palmer Washington—The ADA joined professional medical groups in urging support for legislation aimed at reducing patient confusion about their doctors' credentials.
"The American Dental Association has long been concerned about instances where unlicensed individuals hold themselves out as fully licensed dentists, especially those who target immigrant populations," said ADA President Bob Brandjord. "Patients can be seriously harmed by unscrupulous health care providers. This bill would go a long way toward ensuring that every patient knows exactly who is providing his or her care."
Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act in the U.S. House of Representatives June 27 with the support of the Coalition for Healthcare Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency, whose members include the ADA. The bill, HR 5688, was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
"My legislation would make it unlawful for a licensed health care provider who is not a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or doctor of dental medicine (DMD) to make deceptive statements or engage in deceptive behavior to mislead patients and the public into thinking that he or she was a MD, DO, DDS or DMD, or that he or she possessed the same or equivalent skills, education and training," Rep. Sullivan said.
Initial cosponsors include Reps. Charles Bass (R-N.H.), Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Michael Burgess (R-Tex.), Gene Green (D-Tex.), John J.H. "Joe" Schwarz (R-Mich.) and Pete Sessions (R-Tex.).
Other CHART members include the American Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Surgeons and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
The coalition cited a national survey indicating "consumer confusion" about the qualifications of their health care providers. One in three Americans believes, for example, that a dental assistant is a medical doctor, Rep. Sullivan said.
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