Bill Nelson: “I rise on this first day of consideration of the Patients' Bill of Rights to say that this is a glorious day, that…”

“I rise on this first day of consideration of the Patients' Bill of Rights to say that this is a glorious day, that finally, after a 5-year wait, the Senate can take up this important legislation. It is my hope that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will not block this legislation, as has been rumored all over the Capitol today. We have heard that there will be all kinds of efforts to delay and distract. This issue is way too important for this country to withstand such potentially dilatory tactics. Indeed, the people of this country embrace patient protection and they embrace it in a bipartisan and, indeed, a nonpartisan fashion. What does this bill do? It simply addresses a grievous wrong under American law. Currently, health care providers are held accountable for their mistakes and their malpractice, save for one type of health care provider--an insurance entity known as a health maintenance organization. An HMO is exempt under the law. So this Patients' Bill of Rights brings to the floor of this Senate the opportunity to change the law so that HMOs are held accountable for their grievous mistakes. This is just common sense and clearly, a standard of fairness. This is why we are seeing wide acceptance of the principles of this legislation reflected in the polls all over this country.”