AMA: Blue Cross California cannot ask physicians to police patients

Statement attributable to:
Edward L. Langston, MD
Board Chair, American Medical Association

"The foundation of the patient-physician relationship is trust, and for health insurers to implement policies forcing doctors to break this trust and police patients is wrong. Patients must be able to openly share information with their physicians with the guarantee that it remains confidential, otherwise patients may hide important information from their doctors, putting them and their quality of care at risk. The role of the physician is to care for the patient not serve as an insurance agent."

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For more information, please contact:

Lisa Lecas
AMA Media Relations
(312) 464-5980