How patients almost beat big health insurance

Modern Healthcare: Two decades ago, there was a powerful bipartisan movement to set detailed federal standards for private insurance, fueled by a fierce public backlash against then-new managed-care plans that restricted patients' access to care. HMOs and other plans came under fire for practices such as requiring patients to get prior approval from primary-care gatekeepers to see specialists such as OB-GYNs, and rushing women out of the hospital after delivering a baby.

Following an advisory commission's recommendations, the Clinton administration, by executive order, established some consumer protections for federal health programs.

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