Janice Schakowsky: “I want to give my colleagues one example of a heartbreaking letter that I received. It starts, Dear Representative…”

“I want to give my colleagues one example of a heartbreaking letter that I received. It starts, Dear Representative Schakowsky, I am a 31-year-old nurse with breast cancer. Because I am an HMO member, I have had recurrent problems with receiving health care. As a patient, I have not yet received compromised care, but I have been denied services or have been told where to get care and who could give me care. I recently also was made to change primary doctors, giving up one that I had for 8 years because of my HMO. I heard you speak on behalf of the Patients' Bill of Rights, and I need you to know that, as a health care provider and receiver and HMO member, I am certain that care is being compromised and restricted and refused to us.”