Bill Pascrell: “I rise to speak against this unfair rule and against this flawed legislation. It is really unfortunate that the rule…”

“I rise to speak against this unfair rule and against this flawed legislation. It is really unfortunate that the rule will not allow any amendments to improve the bill. My primary concern is that nowhere in H.R. 4600 does it limit health care lawsuits to just medical malpractice. In fact, health care lawsuits applies to any health care liability claim, quote unquote. H.R. 4600 would undermine the 11 States of the Union, including my State of New Jersey, that hold HMOs accountable. We arrived at that in a very bipartisan way. It would decimate what we have done in New Jersey, what we have worked so hard to do. In my memory, if my memory serves me correctly, last summer, a majority in this Congress, on both sides of the aisle, voted to hold HMOs accountable when they make medical decisions that kill or permanently maim patients. So we are on the floor today doing the exact opposite of what most of us supported just last summer. In looking at what happened in California, I have heard that mentioned a few times this afternoon, H.R. 4600 probably would not accomplish its goal of reducing premium costs or increasing the availability of medical malpractice insurance, either. Premiums in California rose 190 percent in the 12 years following the enactment of their claim limitation bill. In its present form, H.R. 4600 is not good for patients, and it does not work. So I ask that we vote against H.R. 4600.”