Bill Pascrell: “I stand before you to remind everyone here why we must pass the patients Bill of Rights today. It is because we must…”

“I stand before you to remind everyone here why we must pass the patients Bill of Rights today. It is because we must protect all Americans from the fate that befell Mr. Robert Frank Leone of Glen Ridge, N.J.--a constituent of mine. Every year, Mr. Leone was denied a chest x-ray by his HMO despite his request. When he eventually displayed symptoms of illness, his Doctor acquiesced and his cancer was diagnosed. Mr. Leone had non-small cell lung cancer that spread to his brain. His wife Victoria was told that he had only 2 months to live. After successful treatment with radiation, Mr. Leone and his wife had to beg his doctors for a referral for physical therapy. As a result of physical therapy, Mr. Leone regained much of his strength and quality of life. But his HMO cut his physical therapy sessions as soon as he started to feel better. They said it was no longer necessary. They said it was 'preventative.' As a result of losing his physical therapy, Mr. Leone's health began fading. Soon he could no longer walk without assistance. Despite pleas from his wife, his HMO refused to restore Mr. Leone's physical therapy benefit. Instead, they suggested he join a health club. And that his wife Victoria should become his physical therapist! But Victoria is legally disabled! Mr. Leone became depressed and was hospitalized and died in the hospital March 30, 1999. I call him an HMO casualty.”