Political Quotes

“I would first rise today to commend President Clinton for this week announcing new patient protections for those who are covered by Medicare. The time is now for all of us in the House to join together to extend those same protections to every single person who is covered by health care in this country. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) have come together in an important effort that should not be watered down by other proposals that do not make the test, that do not really protect patients. Mr. Speaker, we need to make sure that our constituents, as well as ourselves, have access to specialists, that we can have emergency room costs covered when it is necessary, that we have the opportunity to fully discuss with our physicians the kinds of treatments that we need if we are in managed care. Time is overdue for us to provide the kinds of patient protections necessary in managed care to make sure that our constituents have the quality care that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, I call upon the House to support the Patient Bill of Rights and to take it up immediately.”