The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final regulation to give Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans the same types of protection that participants in private plans would receive under patient rights legislation now under consideration in Congress. The regulation guarantees Medicaid beneficiaries access to emergency room care, a second opinion when needed, a timely right to appeal adverse coverage decisions and other patient protections. Under the new regulation, states have significant flexibility to decide how best to implement patient protections and use managed care in their Medicaid plans.For full article Click Here