Political Quotes

“it took months of drafting and redrafting and threats and rejection, but last night we got our first look at the Republican managed care proposal. While the final details will not be worked out for another month, the rough draft is not very promising. Most of the outlined provisions in the bill are too weak to help people like in the story in yesterday's Washington Post. It was a father of five with liver cancer. He already had access to an appeals process that he actually won. Unfortunately for him, it took 5 months for his doctor to be told that he needed a liver transplant and the HMO was ordered to pay for it. But, Madam Speaker, he died right after they were given that permission. What he needed was a timely appeals process and an HMO knowing that they would be responsible for the denial of that coverage. The Republican bill would not help the Houston police officer who, after 30 years of service and not missing a day for illness, was diagnosed with cancer and it took him months to get to a specialist. The proposal would be just about as effective as using a Band-Aid for a deep flesh wound. The provisions in the GOP bill would do nothing to stop HMOs from making major decisions based on profits instead of patients.”