Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 3605, the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights. Today we have a tremendous opportunity to protect our constituents' right to receive quality health care. More than half of all Americans are not offered a choice of health care providers by their employer. Under current law, many consumers have little recourse if their HMOs or insurance companies do not protect their most basic health care rights. I believe Congress must act to guarantee these rights. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Ganske-Dingell bill (H.R. 3605). It would ban 'gag rules' and contracts in which doctors are paid less if they refer to needed specialists or suggest expensive treatment, guarantee access to specialty and emergency care, protected medical confidentiality, and give patients access to a free, timely appeals process if their HMOs deny them benefits. If patients are harmed by decisions made by their HMOs, they will be allowed to take the HMO to court and recover damages. H.R. 3605 also provides for speedy implementation. Americans need relief from badly managed care now, not 2 years from now. On the other hand, H.R. 4250, the Republican alternative, is a step in the wrong direction. It actually weakens the protections patients have under current law.”