Political Quotes

“Managed care lobby pushed to halt measure allowing doctors to negotiate with health plans. After an intense lobbying campaign by managed care plans, House GOP leaders have killed for this year--at least--a bill that would allow doctors to bargain collectively with health plans. The bill (H.R. 1304), sponsored by Tom Campbell, R-Calif., had been scheduled for a markup in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday. But Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on Monday asked committee Chairman Henry J. Hyde, R-Ill., to yank it. "It won't be dealt with this year," Hyde said. "The leadership decided that they were involved with other health care issues and this was the. . .one that broke the camel's back. It's extra weight on a complicated issue. They felt it was another area of focus they don't need right now." The issue has long been a thorn in the side of the GOP leadership, which favors allowing the marketplace--rather than government--to regulate managed care.”