The House Commerce Committee has unanimously approved the Patient Right to Know Act, which is sponsored by the only dentist in Congress, Rep Greg Ganske, R-Iowa. It prohibits health insurance plans from imposing "gag rules" on health-care providers in their contracts or other written or oral communications. Three other House committees are now scheduled to consider the legislation. Under the legislation, health-care plans that attempt to restrict medical communications by providers would be subject to fines of up to $25,000.
Judi Hasson
Washington Correspondent
