SACRAMENTO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/02/09 -- This July 4th, California's Office of the Patient Advocate is urging Californians to celebrate their independence by taking control of their health care. One way Californians can do this is by using the Office of the Patient Advocate's Health Care Quality Report Card to see how their health insurance plan or doctor's medical group ratings compare to other plans or groups. This resource can help give Californians the freedom to get the most out of their health care, whether they are selecting a new health insurance plan or doctor, or simply better utilizing the plan they already have. In addition, it holds health insurance plans and doctors' medical groups accountable for their past service.

"The Health Care Quality Report Card gives California health insurance plan members the freedom to know the quality of health care they are getting," said Sandra Perez, director, Office of the Patient Advocate. "There are steps consumers can take to improve their health care and protect their rights, and knowing as much as possible about your health insurance plan is one of them. Most importantly, no matter what rating a health insurance plan receives, Californians can still get quality health care by becoming proactively involved with their health insurance plan or doctor. For a free guide, How to Use Your Health Plan, and other materials, visit opa.ca.gov."

The Office of the Patient Advocate's Health Care Quality Report Card can be found by visiting www.opa.ca.gov. It rates California's largest health insurance plans and doctors' medical groups each year based on national standards and member ratings. Consumers can also learn how health insurance plans and doctors' medical groups perform in treating common health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, mental health, and more.

Since 2000, the Office of the Patient Advocate has worked independently in state government to provide information about consumer rights and responsibilities as health insurance plan members. By releasing data on the performance of the largest health insurance plans in the state, the Office of the Patient Advocate stimulates competition in a way that increases the quality and value of health care services for all Californians. These are tools to help consumers get the most out of their health care.

To see how health insurance plans and doctors' medical groups rate, visit www.HealthCareQuality.ca.gov. To learn more about getting the most out of your health care, or to download health worksheets and other health care-related tools, visit www.opa.ca.gov.

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