Help is Here for Hispanic Healthcare Consumers in California

USA - English

• USA - español

SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Today, the California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC) announced the launch of a Spanish language version of MyPatientRights.org, an online resource for Hispanic and Latino health care consumers in California who have been denied coverage, experience delays or are dissatisfied with the decisions made by their health plan.

"MyPatientRights.org is critical for any patient," said Ysabel Duron, founder and CEO of Latinas Contra Cancer. "The stress of living with and treating a chronic disease is difficult enough, facing a cancer diagnosis can be life changing. Often patients and their family hardly know where to turn. It's doubly helpful now that it's in Spanish for the types of patients and community members that turn to us for help."

More than 50 million people in the U.S. identify as Hispanic American and by 2060 that number is expected to double. As the Latino community grows, so will the prevalence of chronic conditions that Hispanics face. In a recent survey by the National Council of La Raza, 60.5 percent of Hispanics surveyed had a chronic disease, which includes diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, among others.

"MyPatientRights.org is a beacon of light in a stormy health care sea, particularly for patients with a chronic condition," said Liz Helms, president and CEO of the CCCC. "With the future of the nation's health closely linked to the well-being of the Hispanic and Latino communities, it is imperative they access quality, affordable health care and navigate the complaint system when they are not able to access the specialists or medicines they need."

MyPatientRights.org includes step-by-step instructions for filing a complaint with a health plan, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and/or the Department of Insurance (DOI). It also includes testimonials from patients who have experienced lengthy delays or denials.

To date, MyPatientRights.org has collected the following types of complaints:

• Denials to specialists
• Denials to important procedures
• Denials to culturally/linguistically appropriate providers
• Barriers to prescription medicines
• Delays receiving tests for chronic diseases
• Medical bills from out-of-network providers
• Balanced billing issues

"California Latinos face many barriers accessing appropriate care, including cost in time, money, immigration status and language," said Helms. "MyPatientRights.org fill a critical need, ensuring the biggest risk factors for chronic disease patients within the Hispanic community are addressed through education and information on where, when and how to demand life-saving care."

Please visit www.MyPatientRights.org for more information.

About The California Chronic Care Coalition 
The California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC) is a unique alliance of more than 30 leading consumer health organizations and provider groups that engage policy makers, industry leaders, providers and consumers to improve the health of Californians with chronic conditions. We envision a system of care that is accessible, affordable and of a high quality that emphasizes prevention, coordinated care and the patient's wellness and longevity. http://www.chroniccareca.org/

Related Links

http://www.chroniccareca.org