Political Quotes

“Today I introduce a bill to protect the medical privacy rights of patients when they talk to their health care insurers or providers. The bill requires health care insurers and providers to obtain patients' 'express consent' before tape-recording or monitoring conversations. Today, the health insurance industry routinely tape-records and monitors incoming telephone calls of patients with questions about their health insurance coverage. This bill halts that common practice with two simple rules. First, health insurance companies and health care providers must obtain the patient's 'express consent' before tape-recording or monitoring a conversation. Second, health insurance companies and health care providers must give patients the option not to be tape-recorded or monitored. The bill puts control of medical privacy back where it belongs--in the hands of patients who have no choice but to share personal information with their health insurance and health care providers. The bill protects all patients--Whether covered by private or public health plans, Whether covered by group, individual, or self-insured health plans, Whether covered by Medicare or Medicaid, Whether covered by Federal health plans, or Whether covered by the Children's Health Insurance Plan.”