Tom Harkin: “A patient should have the right to appeal an HMO's decision to deny or…”

On the recordJune 19, 2001

A patient should have the right to appeal an HMO's decision to deny or delay care to an independent entity and to receive a binding and timely decision and, finally, the right to hold HMOs accountable when their decisions to deny or delay care lead to injury or death. It was my friend from North Carolina, Senator Edwards, who said earlier that there are only two groups in the United States that can't be sued--diplomats and HMOs. It is time to end the HMO diplomatic immunity in this country and to allow them to be held accountable. The reality is that unless HMOs are held accountable when they make inappropriate medical decisions that harm a patient, there is no guarantee that they will change their ways and stop putting profits before patients.

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Tom Harkin

Democratic · Iowa

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing patient rights and accountability for HMOs during a Senate debate.

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Tom Harkin: “A patient should have the right to appeal an HMO's decision to deny or delay care to an independent entity and to…”

Editor's note · Context