ry of the Kuhl family of Kansas City causes us all serious concern over US health care. Mary Kuhls husband, Buddy, suffered a heart attack in 1989. The Kuhls HMO refused rehab services; they said he didnt need it. Mary explained that her husband was going to have a catheter run to find out exactly where the blockage was, and what damage it had caused. We went to have the procedure done, and we waited all day, and finally they came in and said that the HMO was denying the procedure. After several delays and denials, Buddy Kuhl collapsed in his yard and died in the arms of his wife. This same type of situation could happen to any of us, and does happen everyday.HMOs cost cutting has a devastating impact on both the born and the unborn. In Louisiana, when Florence Corcoran entered her eighth month of what had been considered a high-risk pregnancy, it had been recommended by her physician that she enter the hospital (Cohn 6). Despite the fact that Ms. Corcoran's obstetrician's recommendation was also approved by another physician, her HMO would not approve the hospitalization. Instead, it opted for home health care for ten hours each day (Cohn 6). Shortly thereafter, when the assigned nurse was off-duty, there were sudden complications, and the fetus died (Cohn 6). If this was not tragic enough, Ms. Corcoran was then informed that she could not file a suit for damages because of the 1974 Employment Retirement Income Security Act, a federal health benefit regulation which prohibits the filing of pain and suffering lawsuits (Cohn 6).Do HMO members have adequate rights? Unfortunately, in 1998 the House of Representatives rejected a bill that would allow patients or their estates to sue HMOs and other insurers for denial of treatment. But there is much controversy over this issue and several pending bills. Presently consumers lack adequate rights in three areas: consumer information; access and quality; and appeal/grievance rights. E...
