Political Quotes

“for too long the law has been on the side of HMO's and big insurance companies. It is time we give power back to patients and families and doctors. Nearly every one of us has had some sort of bad experience with an HMO or an insurance company, either personally or through a family member or a friend. Sometimes the problems are frustrating, sometimes the problem is just red tape and bureaucracy, sometimes it is simply impersonal treatment. Sometimes the problems are much more serious than that. Sometimes the problems are dangerous: when an HMO, for example, refuses to authorize a visit to a specialist or the nearest emergency room, or denies treatment that is desperately needed by a patient, or refuses to be held accountable for any of the decisions it makes. Americans have the right to expect that decisions about their health care and their family's health care will only be made by the patient, in consultation with physicians and family members, and that physicians will be able to help them make those decisions on the basis of the patient's best medical interests. Those decisions should not be made by HMOs and insurance companies concerned only about the bottom line. That is why we need a Patients' Bill of Rights.”