Our Activities

Activities of the Consumer Coalition

Help educate, assist and protect the rights of individuals under managed care plans and for quality assurance programs that evaluate, monitor and improve these health plans. To fulfill, these goals, the Consumer Coalition advocates for programs and policies that address the critical need for consumer information, consumer participation, grievance and appeals rights, consumer advocacy programs, data collection, and independent quality oversight.
Work to preserve and strengthen consumer protections and quality mechanisms in Medicare and Medicaid laws and regulations. In addition, we will work toward the passage of federal health care legislation that contains national licensing and data collection standards for managed care and also includes strong consumer protection and quality assurance mandates in order to protect the rights of all consumers.
Draft model state policies/legislation that includes the following sections: health plan standards; grievance and appeals process; informed consumer choice; independent quality monitoring and improvement program; ombudsman program; and consumer participation.

Provide organizing, technical assistance and educational materials to state coalitions working on consumer protection and quality assurance in health care in state legislation, regulation, and/or ballot initiatives. Broaden state coalitions by creating worker/consumer partnerships at local and national level.
Enact state level reforms to ensure that consumers are provided appropriate and useful information to make good decisions in the changing health care market. In addition, state reforms will set the stage for passing national legislation in the future. The Coalition works closely with state coalitions and advocates across the nation offering organizing assistance, legislative analysis and monitoring, and technical expertise.
Operate the Quality Watchline, 1-800-720-8090, which collects personal experiences of poor quality health care from consumers and health care workers around the country. These real life stories will serve as an important tool in our campaign for strong consumer protection and high quality health care.

Monitor and participate in the work of public and private sector organizations active in the managed care quality assurance and measurement fields.
Ensure that the consumer viewpoint is heard in the critical discussions that shape the issues of quality assurance policies and programs with groups such as the Health Care Financing Administration, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Committee for Quality Assurance, American Medical Peer Review, Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, and Foundation for Accountability.