Political Quotes

“I have shown my colleagues the charts of the numerous laws that the States have passed during the past decade dealing with patients' rights. Each State has taken action on some of these consumer protections. They have done so without any mandate from Washington. They have done so because they want to make sure that in State regulated insurance plans these kinds of protections have been included. In fact, the States have passed over 1,100 laws and regulations dealing with patient protections. So this is not a case where the States have failed to act and the Federal Government has to come to the rescue. Rather, it is a case where the States have been far ahead of the Federal Government. We have been slow to provide these kinds of State protections to federally regulated plans under ERISA. That should be the primary focus of this legislation. Both the Senator from Nebraska and I support a strong Patients' Bill of Rights. We want to make sure, in writing this legislation, we do not wipe out the good work of State governments.”