Doctor Legislator Knows the Territory
“Lawmaker’s Bills Would Have Benefited His Firm” (Feb. 15) does an enormous disservice to Assemblyman Keith Richman (R-Granada Hills), who has provided exemplary leadership in efforts to reform HMO abuses.
The California Medical Assn., which is sponsoring AB 1600, and Speaker Pro Tem Fred Keeley (D-Santa Cruz), who introduced the bill, asked Richman, the only physician in the California Legislature, to coauthor the bill precisely because of his background in this complex subject.
Who better to address the unfairness of HMO contracts than Richman, who has been on the front lines battling the HMOs for his patients? The legislative counsel’s office has stated there is no conflict of interest in Richman’s involvement.
Frank E. Staggers MD
President, CMA
Sacramento
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