Your Wait To See A Doctor: Cut Under New Rules
LOS ANGELES -California regulators have unveiled new rules to cut the time patients must wait to see HMO doctors.
The state Department of Managed Health Care announced Wednesday that doctors who violate the rules could face various fines. However, officials say many of the state’s health maintenance organizations are already in compliance.
The rules say an HMO family practitioner has 10 business days to see a patient who makes an appointment. Specialists have 15 days. Patients seeking most urgent care must be seen within 48 hours.
The rules, which take effect next year, were hashed out in discussions with doctors, hospitals, HMOs and consumer groups.
Some observers say HMOs will need to hire more doctors to comply – and that could be a problem because California is facing a doctor shortage.
