New state law allows consumers to learn more about their physicians

Under a new state law, Missouri consumers can now learn more about the educational history of their doctors. House Bill 265, signed by Gov. Jay Nixon, took effect yesterday and allows the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts to release extensive information about licensed doctors for the first time. The board's website now allows consumers to learn about medical and professional schools attended by physicians, as well as any specialties or board certifications.

In addition, more information will soon be available to the public: Under the law, any future information submitted to the board may be released if it pertains to discipline by another government agency or court-ordered limitations on a doctor's practice.

"This law is a significant step toward better transparency for patients in Missouri," said John M. Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. "We always encourage consumers to learn as much as they can about the professionals they're doing business with, and that's especially important in a doctor-patient relationship."

House Bill 265

also gives more authority to the board to discipline doctors who violate the law. The board can now:

· More effectively seek an immediate suspension of a physician's license when the board believes the doctor is a danger to patients;

· Streamline the process for discipline of doctors;

· Move cases more quickly through the state Administrative Hearing Commission, which conducts hearings related to the discipline of doctors; and

· Discipline doctors for alcohol dependency, being on a sex offender registry or failing to cooperate with board investigations.

Consumers who would like to learn more about their physicians can use the licensee search

feature on the board's website at pr.mo.gov

, or they can contact the board by phone at 573-751-0098.

About the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration
The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of financial industries and professionals. The department's seven divisions work to enforce state regulations both efficiently and effectively while encouraging a competitive environment for industries and professions to ensure consumers have access to quality products.

New High Risk Health Insurance Pool Available

Missouri's new high-risk health insurance pool is offering a significant reduction in rates. The board of directors of the Missouri Health Insurance Pool has announced a 23 percent reduction in rates for new and existing policyholders in its federally funded pool.

The pool guarantees health coverage for Missourians with pre-existing medical conditions, many of whom are unable to buy a policy from private insurance companies. The pool is funded by an $81 million federal grant, and has been operated by MHIP since July 2010.

"Our aggressive rate reduction is intended to make this much-needed health coverage more affordable," said John M. Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance and an MHIP board member. "This pool is now insuring more than 550 Missourians who previously had no health coverage because they could not find affordable coverage in the commercial market. This premium reduction will make comprehensive health care coverage more accessible to Missourians with pre-existing medical conditions."

Huff says monthly premiums range from $137 to $601, depending on the consumer's age and which deductible is chosen. In addition to the federal grant, the program is funded by premiums paid by policyholders. No state funds are used by the pool.

To be eligible for the federally funded pool, applicants must be Missouri residents, have a pre-existing medical condition and be uninsured for at least six months.

Consumers can apply online for insurance coverage at mhip.org or by calling toll-free 800-821-2231.

This new pool is the second operated by MHIP in Missouri. Since 1991, MHIP has run a high-risk pool for Missourians, established by state law. The state pool has more than 4,100 members. That pool is funded by premiums paid by policyholders and by fees assessed on health insurance companies operating in Missouri.

MHIP is governed by a nine-member board of directors, appointed by the director of the Missouri Department of Insurance. The current board represents a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including the insurance director, insurers, consumer advocates and health care providers.

About the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration
The Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) is responsible for consumer protection through the regulation of financial industries and professionals. The department's seven divisions work to enforce state regulations both efficiently and effectively while encouraging a competitive environment for industries and professions to ensure consumers have access to quality products.

Missouri Department of Insurance releases latest consumer complaint numbers

Consumers shopping for insurance can now take advantage of the latest complaint data released by the Missouri Department of Insurance. The annual complaint index report is posted and searchable at the department's website, insurance.mo.gov, under the "Find an Insurance Company" link. For more than 1,200 insurance companies doing business in Missouri, users can see consumer complaint histories for the past three years.

Each insurance company in the online database is assigned a complaint index number, which explains whether the company has a high, average or low volume of complaints for a company its size. A complaint index of 100 is average. An index of less than 100 means a company receives fewer complaints than average; an index of above 100 means a company receives more complains than average.

Consumers can search online for the complaint index rating of a particular company, or find rankings of companies with the highest or lowest complaint ratings, sorted by line of insurance, such as auto, home, life or health.

"Missouri has a competitive insurance market, so I encourage consumers to shop around to find the company that best fits their needs," said Insurance Director John M. Huff. "One important piece of that research is checking a company's track record when it comes to dealing with conflicts with customers."

The complaint index numbers are based on the roughly 3,300 formal complaints consumers file against companies with the department every year. The department's Consumer Affairs Division mediates complaints and in 2010 returned $9.6 million to consumers who had been unfairly denied claims or overcharged on premiums.

In addition to searching complaints, Huff said consumers should verify with the department whether a particular agent or company is licensed to do business in Missouri. This information is also available on the department's website.

Consumers can verify licensing, get complaint index ratings, file complaints or ask other general questions about insurance by calling the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or visiting insurance.mo.gov. The hotline hours have been expanded to meet the needs of Joplin-area consumers: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

State regulators call for tougher laws to regulate doctors

State regulators are seeking laws giving them more authority to crack down on doctors who violate Missouri law. The Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration is proposing legislation this year that would allow the board that oversees doctors to better protect patients and the public.

Key provisions of the proposal will include giving the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts authority to:

· Immediately suspend the license of a doctor believed to be a danger to patients;

· Expedite discipline of doctors who commit fraud;

· Require timely decisions from the state Administrative Hearing Commission, which must approve board discipline of doctors;

· Greatly improve transparency of information about doctors to the public, including the doctor's education and discipline by other government agencies;

· Discipline doctors for negligence in patient care, rather than just "gross negligence" as required by current law;

· Discipline doctors for violating professional trust and confidence with patients - a law most other state licensing boards already have; and

· Discipline doctors for DWI convictions, being on a sex offender registry or failing to cooperate with board investigations.

"Protecting patients is one of our most important jobs as state regulators," said John M. Huff, director of the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. "We'll work with legislators to build consensus and strengthen these important consumer protections in Missouri."

Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, Senate chair of Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee, looks forward to working with Rep. Ellen Brandom, R-Sikeston, chair of the House Professional Registration Committee, and other members in the General Assembly to pass this legislation this session. "It is critical we move forward to protect the safety and welfare of Missouri patients, especially those vulnerable to doctors overprescribing medications," said Sen. Engler.