| Mandatory HIV Testing of Newborns |
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| The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), can be transferred from an HIV-positive mother to her child. Testing a newborn's antibodies after birth reveals whether the newborn has been exposed to HIV. Administering antiretroviral chemoprophylaxis (AZT) to at-risk newborns following delivery dramatically reduces their chances of developing HIV. More... |
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| REVOKING AUTHORIZATIONS TO USE OR DISCLOSE PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION |
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| An individual can revoke an authorization form he or she has executed that would allow a covered entity to use or disclose protected health information at any time in writing under certain conditions. A revocation will not be valid if the covered entity has relied and acted upon on that authority or if the authority was obtained as a condition of obtaining insurance coverage. More... |
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| Immigrants' Access to Public Health Benefits |
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| The enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Act (PRWOA) and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) has greatly restricted the ability of many immigrants to obtain public health care benefits. Consequently, many immigrants and many aliens in the U.S. who were previously eligible for Medicaid no longer qualify for benefits. More... |
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| HMO Liability for Failure to Authorize Treatment |
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| Patients can sue their HMOs for the wrongful refusal to authorize treatment in order to obtain reimbursement of money paid for medical services that should have been authorized. Thus, patients can sue their HMOs for the failure to pay for the treatment. However, patients (or, if the patient has died, his or her family members) cannot recover for any damages that resulted from not authorizing the treatment or from a delayed treatment.
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| Mental Health Parity |
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| The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA) prevents certain group health plans from placing annual or lifetime dollar limits on mental health benefits that are lower than annual or lifetime dollar limits for medical and surgical benefits offered under their plans. MHPA applies to group health plans and their issuers, including insurance companies and health maintenance organizations (HMOs), with more than 50 participants. More... |
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