prev next front |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |25 |26 |27 |28 |29 |30 |31 |32 |33 |34 |review
Mandatory insurance had to be provided by employers. Employees could not chose individual policies for themselves. Basic benefits included the right to choose medical facilities and physicians within health plan packages, and the right to seek redress for medical malpractice. This last provision was the primary mode of controlling the quality of medical care provided to consumers. Lack of professional accountability to the patient has been a major reason for patient dissatisfaction. Employers could choose among competing private health plans at different prices, much like the Health Insurance Purchasing Corporations considered by the Health Reform Task Force of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Although the choice of health plan was made by the employer, the Russian health care consumer was given greater access than going to the nearest polyclinic in their geographic medical district, where the medical staff was employed and accountable to the government.