Principle #5:
Simplicity: Reducing paperwork and cutting red tape.
Gives everyone a Health Security Card. The card -- with full
protection for privacy and confidentiality -- will allow for
electronic billing and the creation of health care information
networks. This will reduce paperwork and simplify the system.
Requires insurance companies to use a single claim form. The
Health Security Act will reduce the insurance company red tape
that forces doctors and patients to spend their time filling out
forms and fighting bureaucrats. All health plans will adopt a
single, standard claims form by Jan. 1, 1995. It will enable
doctors and nurses to spend more time taking care of you -- and
less time wrestling with paper.
Eliminates fine print. Everyone will get a comprehensive
benefits package -- and what you get will be spelled out in
easy-to understand language. If you get sick, insurance
companies won't be able to point to fine print and deny you the
coverage you've paid for.
Streamlines billing reimbursement for doctors, nurses and
hospitals. The comprehensive benefits package, a standard rules
and codes for payment, and elimination of excessive government
regulations will reduce confusion. Doctors, nurses, and
hospitals will have more time to care for patients; and all of
us will benefit.
Removes the burden on business of negotiating insurance. Groups
of businesses and consumers -- regional health alliances -- will
negotiate for high-quality care at affordable prices. This will
simplify today's system, where hundreds of thousands of
businesses negotiate with more than 1500 insurance companies.
The burden of finding insurance will be lifted -- and so will
administrative costs -- which can run as high as 40% of total
health costs for small business.
Section of President Clinton's speech covering simplicity