Jay Rockefeller: “during the past five years, we have debated the merits and faults of assorted patients' rights legislation. We have…”

“during the past five years, we have debated the merits and faults of assorted patients' rights legislation. We have offered statistics, we have shared stories, and we have reduced strong legislation--legislation that held the real possibility of protecting all Americans--to weaker law that protects a minority of the population. Our work at times spoke of this issue in the abstract, yet there is nothing abstract about it. The 180 million Americans enrolled in health care plans have always understood exactly what it means to have insufficient coverage. However, they are not sitting on the edges of their seats, watching our heated arguments and waiting breathlessly for an outcome. Instead, they are engaged in the battles they have fought for far too long, and their disputes have far higher stakes. They are, quite literally, fighting with managed care organizations for their lives. The American people are tired, Mr. President, and deserve relief from these battles. They deserve good health and the peace of mind that comes with quality care. It is time we cast aside our partisan bickering and give the American people the right to health care, as well as the right to seek redress if denied quality health care. It is time to pass the Patients' Bill of Rights.”