Reform law doesn't go far enough to protect patients

Regarding “Providers push for further delay of two-midnight policy”:

Being hospitalized for five days with an infection, I kept some notes and afterward sought a department that would review my treatments that I was given. The Michigan Department of Community Health said there is no such agency. My doctor, who was not affiliated with the hospital, told me afterward that I was over-medicated.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act does not go far enough to protect the patient. Healthcare providers should be required to post the patient's rights that include where to file a complaint, make suggestions or comments and the forms to do so.

Health providers are switching from paper to electronic health records. These records should be kept indefinitely. They should be kept in a timeline manner of treatments and medications. This may reduce unnecessary test and may keep the patient from being over-medicated.

All medical bills should have a reference number that would be used by the health provider, insurance companies, lawyers and collection agencies. The bills would include treatments and dates of service. This would reduce double payments and give the patients a clear understanding of what the charges are for.

Gary Kujat