William Helms: “one of the many reasons for my having opposed the Clinton health plan was the well founded fear that the American people…”

“one of the many reasons for my having opposed the Clinton health plan was the well founded fear that the American people would have been denied their right to choose their medical care. The enormous bureaucracy of the Clinton plan made that apprehension a certainty--which is why the American people rejected it. In the interest of time, I will not offer my amendment to guarantee patients the freedom to choose their health care provider.--This amendment was originally approved by the Senate last October by a vote of 79 to 20 when we considered Medicare reform.--I have no doubt that this provision continues to have strong bipartisan support in the Senate. However, instead of offering the original amendment I submit this amendment to require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study to make certain that any changes in the health insurance market will not result in the loss of the American people's freedom to choose their health care provider. Whether Congress considers Medicare reform or health insurance reform, patients must not be deprived of the right to choose their own doctors. Even when Congress attempts to provide access to health insurance, that is only half of the equation. Equally important is that patients must not find themselves unknowingly thrown into health care coverage that limits their freedom to choose their own health care providers.”