Political Quotes

“No. 3, we require health plans to provide consumers with comprehensive information about their new rights. We provide all the new rights, but we need to make sure the consumer, the patient, receives them in a way that they can truly understand. That is accomplished in the Frist-Breaux-Jeffords bill. No. 4, we ensure a rapid independent external review. If there is disagreement on the patient protections, you need to go both internally and externally and have an independent, unbiased physician make that final decision. No. 5, doctors--not HMOs, not health plans--need to make medical decisions. No. 6, we hold health plans accountable through expanded Federal liability. Both bills expand the liability to hold these HMOs accountable. Yes, we believe if HMOs create injury or harm, in essence, something unjust, you should be able to hold them accountable and liable, and you should be able to sue your HMO. No. 7, we protect employers from costly, unnecessary litigation.”