A group representing many of California's largest HMOs yesterday declared that patients should have the option of appealing to an independent authority when health plans refuse to pay for medical services.

The California Association of Health Plans said 16 of its 40 member companies -- those represented on its board of directors -- will voluntarily give patients the right to have disputes resolved by someone outside their health plan, and it called on the other member companies to do the same.

"This is in large part an acknowledgment {that} the public has legitimate concerns about managed care, and that plans want to address those concerns," said Walter Zelman, president of the association.