Political Quotes

“we finally have a debate today on the Patients' Bill of Rights but it is not a good deal. In the dark of night we have an agreement that is masquerading as a Patients' Bill of Rights, but it is a patients' bill of wrongs. For example, one proposal gives rebuttable presumption to HMOs, placing the burden on the patients to get the care they need. This provision stacks the decks against patients and makes it nearly impossible to prove that the HMO, when they are denied care, was negligent. Additionally, the compromise would change State law. Even in my home State of Texas and we have had a law for 4 years, federal law will change our Texas law. Texas has a meaningful patients' bill of rights on the books since 1997, and it has resulted in strong protections for both patients, doctors, and insurers. But under the Bush-Norwood plan, the Texas patients will have their case heard under federal law but in State court. So we are changing the rules in the State of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) worked long and hard on this issue, but every compromise in this proposal is in favor of the HMO and not the patient. I came here to vote for a strong patients' bill of rights, not an HMO's bill of rights.”