Joseph Romano Law

A patient called her doctor, complaining of labor pains. The treating doctor said he could not admit her to the hospital for fetal monitoring because the duration and frequency of the labor pains did not meet the criteria of her HMO.. A substantial period of time elapsed before the patient could obtain pre-certification for a hospital admission. Shortly after admission to the hospital, the patient hemorrhaged and the baby suffered anoxia and developmental delay.Patients, health care advocates, and treating health care professionals are urging that legislation be passed to allow the primary health care provider/treating doctor more autonomy to make pre-certification and admissions decisions.