In a message dated 96-03-09 18:13:29 EST, you write:
>From:    Kathleen Bruce <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: BFHI hospitals in US, NOT
>
>J. And on top of THAT...(can you tell I am FUMING?) the managed care nurses
are not allowed to** tell**  their clients antepartum what services available
pp such as LC services. They will keep the insureds' ignorant of services
avail, and dish them out sparingly if they are needed.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Withholding information from patients smacks of censorship and people and
newspapers in this country don't like to think that information is being
withheld from them.  This is where a few well placed anonymous phone calls to
the proper investigative reporter can maybe get them stirred up to
investigate this practice and expose it to the enrolees of the HMO.  If you
really want to stay anonymous remember CALLER ID so you may want to use a pay
phone.  There are other "monkey warfare" ways of exposing this practice.
 Have a trusted friend place a paid notice in the newspaper "IF YOU WANT TO
KNOW WHAT INFORMATION YOUR HMO WITHHOLDS FROM YOU WRITE BOX XXX with a SASE
for information exposing censorship practices of XYZ HMO."  Send them back
with no return address a sheet of what every you want them to know.  Tell
them to "Call your HMO and ask them what specific post-partum services are
available."
HMO censorship and gag orders of staff and doctors has come under a lot of
fire and some states have past laws outlawing the practice.

        Jon Ahrendsen, M.D. (FAAFP, LLLI Medical Associate )
        215 13th Ave SW,    Clarion, Iowa 50525  USA
        515-532-2836, FAX 532-2523, Email [log in to unmask]