Legislation that requires health benefit plans to take a number of steps to protect patient interests under managed care. The provisions of the acts vary according to state, but some of the most common require plans to disclose coverage provisions, benefits, exclusions, utilization review protocols and policies regarding specialist referral. Many of the acts ban language in provider contracts that may prevent physicians from discussing all treatment options (known as "gag" clauses), and require plans to disclose financial incentive plans for providers that may limit care and referrals and provide appeals processes for denied claims. Provisions may also require that individuals be given a choice between HMO, PPO and POS options, and that enrollees be allowed direct access to certain types of physicians, such as OB/GYNs. Plans can also be required to disclose their criteria for selecting and deselecting physicians and to provide due process for providers.

This definition is in context to Health Care. See more contextual defintions for Patient Protection Acts.