“Healthcare Constitution” Initiative to Define Rights for Patients, Providers; Place Limits on Government and Insurers

Portland, OR, November 24, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Americans worried about government and corporate control over healthcare policy have a new ally. The non-partisan, non-profit organization U.S. Healthcare Constitution.org has launched an on-line “constitutional convention” in order to properly balance the rights of patients and providers with the interests of government and health insurers. If successful, the resulting healthcare constitution could transform the healthcare debate from a partisan brawl into a broadly accepted overhaul of one the least efficient industries in America.

“No one trusts the government or commercial special interests to do the right thing for patients and providers, and for good reason,” observed Dr. Douglas Perednia, a physician and founder of the healthcare constitution initiative. “Governments and corporations have their own financial and political agendas. Unless we firmly establish healthcare rights, responsibilities and limitations today, every decision made by patients and their doctors will be directly influenced or regulated by government regulators and corporate interests.”

Time for Reform Experts to “Speak Now, or Forever Hold Their Peace”

Located at www.USHealthcareConstitution.org, the “constitutional convention” process asks healthcare experts, interest groups and pundits to weigh in by describing exactly how they believe the healthcare system should be structured and financed. To be valid, the plans are expected to outline all of the tough decisions. These include the presence or absence of universal coverage, how healthcare resources will be rationed, and steps taken to ensure that the system is economically efficient, medically effective and financially sustainable. Once the proposals are posted on the website, they can be compared and contrasted on an “apples to apples” basis.

The same website will then serve as a public discussion forum. Opinion polling will separate viable strategies from those that are unacceptable to American patients, providers and businesses. Ideas generating the greatest patient-provider protections, healthcare benefits, financial sustainability and public support will be used to draft the terms of a “healthcare constitution” for the United States. This document – the first of its kind in American healthcare – will establish a gold standard for healthcare rights, responsibilities and limitations placed on patients, providers, government and insurers. Voters will have a right to expect that the future actions of elected officials and regulators will be made in accordance with its terms.

For more information on the U.S. Healthcare Constitution.org healthcare constitution project, contact Dr. Douglas Perednia at (503) 610-8742 or visit www.USHealthcareConstitution.org.

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