The House Commerce Committee has unanimously approved the Patient Right to Know Act, which is

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