Frank Pallone: “make no mistake, the differences between the Democrats' Patients' Bill of Rights and the Republican HMO proposal are…”

“make no mistake, the differences between the Democrats' Patients' Bill of Rights and the Republican HMO proposal are major. The Republican bill excludes key provisions that are essential for consumer protection and includes provisions that would reduce current consumer protections. The Republican HMO plan seeks to give the appearance of reform without the reality. Among other gaps, the Republican plan still leaves medical decisions in the hands of insurance company accountants instead of doctors. It does not limit HMOs' and insurance companies' use of improper financial incentives to limit needed care. It allows drive-through mastectomies and fails to contain a requirement for coverage for reconstructive surgery after mastectomy. It does not give access to specialty care where needed. The Republican bill does not guarantee patients access to needed drugs or clinical trials. And most important, the Republican bill provides no effective mechanism to hold plans accountable when plan abuse kills or injures someone. Democrats will insist on a bill that contains guarantees that are a significant gain for health care consumers. The Republican plan is basically a sham.”