[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        HEALTH CARE REFORM VOTES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Michel] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MICHEL. Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record the votes on 
health care reform which took place in full committee in the Judiciary 
Committee on August 2, 1994:

       The following votes were taken on August 2, 1994 in the 
     Committee on the Judiciary during consideration of H.R. 3600, 
     the Health Security Act of 1994.
       An amendment by Mr. Brooks to substitute the ``Insurance 
     Competitive Pricing Act of 1994'' (the text of H.R. 9 as 
     reported by the House Judiciary Committee) for the language 
     contained in Subtitle F of H.R. 3600 regarding the McCarran-
     Ferguson Act. The Brooks substitute modifies the scope of the 
     antitrust exemption for the business of insurance. The 
     amendment contains ``safe harbors'' protecting certain 
     collective activities by insurers. However, the amendment 
     would not protect all collective activities currently carried 
     on by insurers, such as the development and sharing of 
     trending information. Adopted 20-15.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, aye.
       Mr. Edwards, aye.
       Mr. Conyers, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, aye.
       Mr. Hughes, aye.
       Mr. Synar, aye.
       Mrs. Schroeder, aye.
       Mr. Glickman, aye.
       Mr. Frank, aye.
       Mr. Schumer, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, aye.
       Mr. Boucher, aye.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister, aye.
       Mr. Washington, aye.
       Mr. Reed, aye.
       Mr. Nadler, aye.
       Mr. Scott, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Mann, nay.
       Mr. Watt, aye.
       Mr. Becerra, aye.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, nay.
       Mr. Moorhead, nay.
       Mr. Hyde, nay.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, nay by proxy.
       Mr. McCollum, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Gekas, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, nay.
       Mr. Smith (TX), nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, nay.
       Mr. Ramstad, nay.
       Mr. Gallegly, nay.
       Mr. Canady, nay.
       Mr. Inglis, nay.
       Mr. Goodlatte, nay.
       An amendment by Mr. Fish adding an antitrust savings clause 
     to Section 2003(e) of H.R. 3600, the ``unitary pricing'' 
     provision. The Fish amendment would ensure that the language 
     in that subsection could not be construed to prohibit 
     discounts or rebates by pharmaceutical manufacturers that are 
     otherwise lawful under the federal antitrust laws, including 
     the Robinson Patman Act and the Non-Profit Institutions Act. 
     Adopted 20-14.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay.
       Mrs. Schroeder, aye.
       Mr. Glickman, nay.
       Mr. Frank, aye.
       Mr. Schumer, aye.
       Mr. Berman, aye.
       Mr. Boucher, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, nay.
       Mr. Sangmeister, nay.
       Mr. Washington, aye.
       Mr. Reed, nay.
       Mr. Nadler, aye.
       Mr. Scott, aye.
       Mr. Mann, nay.
       Mr. Watt, aye.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye.
       Mr. Hyde, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye.
       Mr. Canady, nay.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment by Mr. Moorhead dealing with federal court 
     jurisdiction in medical malpractice liability cases. These 
     cases currently end up in federal court when the parties are 
     citizens of different states and there is at least $50,000 in 
     dispute. The Moorhead amendment would require that the 
     $50,000 amount be met by actual economic losses. That is, a 
     plaintiff would not be permitted to plead up to the $50,000 
     amount based upon alleged pain and suffering, emotional 
     distress, punitive damages, attorneys fees or court costs. 
     Defeated 14-20.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, aye.
       Mr. Synar, nay.
       Mrs. Schroeder, nay.
       Mr. Glickman, nay.
       Mr. Frank, nay.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay.
       Mr. Boucher, nay.
       Mr. Bryant, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Sangmeister, nay.
       Mr. Washington, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, nay.
       Mr. Nadler, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, nay.
       Mr. Watt, nay.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye.
       Mr. Hyde, aye.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, aye.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment by Mr. Fish to limit the amount of non-
     economic damages that can be recovered in a medical 
     malpractice case at $350,000. The amendment did not limit the 
     amount that can be recovered for actual or compensatory 
     damages (i.e. quantifiable economic losses such as doctor and 
     hospital bills, lost income, rehabilitation costs and child 
     care). Non-economic damages--such as pain and suffering, 
     mental anguish or inconvenience--would be capped at $350,000. 
     Defeated 14-20.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, aye.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay.
       Mrs. Schroeder, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Boucher, aye.
       Mr. Bryant, nay.
       Mr. Sangmeister, nay.
       Mr. Washington, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, nay.
       Mr. Nadler, nay.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, nay.
       Mr. Watt, nay.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye.
       Mr. Hyde, aye.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, nay.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, nay.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, aye.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment by Mr. Fish requiring specific standards for 
     the awarding of punitive damages in medical malpractice 
     liability cases. The sponsor argued that punitive damages are 
     often awarded in medical malpractice cases when such an award 
     is not justified. Under the terms of the amendment, punitive 
     damages could only be awarded when it is proven by clear and 
     convincing evidence that the injury was the result of 
     ``malicious, wanton, willful, or excessively reckless'' 
     behavior by the defendant. Defeated 15-19.


                               Democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Synar, nay by proxy.
       Mrs. Schroeder, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, aye.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Boucher, aye.
       Mr. Bryant, nay.
       Mr. Sangmeister, nay.
       Mr. Washington, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, nay.
       Mr. Nadler, nay.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, nay.
       Mr. Watt, nay.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              Republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Hyde, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye by proxy.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, aye.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment by Mr. Goodlatte to repeal the limitation on 
     attorneys' fees in contingency fee cases. Under both H.R. 
     3600 and the Brooks' malpractice substitute, an attorney 
     representing a plaintiff on a contingency fee basis in a 
     medical liability action may receive up to 33\1/3\ percent of 
     the total amount recovered by judgment or settlement. This 
     amendment would have struck all limitations on attorneys' 
     fees. Defeated 12-22.


                               Democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, aye.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay.
       Mrs. Schroeder, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Boucher, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister,nay by proxy.
       Mr. Washington, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Nadler, nay.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Watt, aye.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              Republicans

       Mr. Fish, nay.
       Mr. Moorhead, nay.
       Mr. Hyde, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, nay.
       Mr. Inglis, nay.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment offered by Mr. Goodlatte to provide different 
     rules for the establishment of an alternative dispute 
     resolution system. This amendment, unlike the Brooks 
     substitute, would have required all plaintiffs to submit 
     malpractice claims to an ADR process before filing it in 
     court and would have required the party contesting an ADR 
     ruling in court to pay the opposing parties' attorneys fees 
     unless the court judgment changed the ADR determination by at 
     least 10 percent. Defeated 13-21.


                               Democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay.
       Mrs. Schroeder, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Boucher, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, nay.
       Mr. Sangmeister, nay.
       Mr. Washington, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Nadler, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Watt, nay.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              Republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye.
       Mr. Hyde, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, aye.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment by Messrs. Brooks, Synar, Scott and Nadler on 
     medical malpractice. This amendment would modify and limit 
     the malpractice provisions included in the President's bill 
     as introduced. The amendment would: (1) require the States to 
     adopt certain less stringent alternative dispute mechanisms; 
     (2) require claimants to obtain a certificate of merit prior 
     to bringing suit, (3) limit attorneys fees to \1/3\ of the 
     amount recovered, but not limit fees for appeals, (4) 
     authorize periodic payments by defendants (rather than a lump 
     sum payment) for future damages which are only in excess of 
     $250,000, and (5) authorize a pilot program for practice 
     guidelines and a study regarding medical negligence. The 
     Brooks' medical malpractice substitute does not include the 
     collateral source offset reform provision or the enterprise 
     liability demonstration program which were part of the 
     original H.R. 3600. Adopted 21-13.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, aye.
       Mr. Edwards, aye.
       Mr. Conyers, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, aye.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, aye.
       Mrs. Schroeder, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, aye.
       Mr. Frank, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schumer, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Boucher, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister, aye.
       Mr. Washington, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Nadler, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Scott, aye.
       Mr. Mann, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Watt, aye.
       Mr. Becerra, aye by proxy.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, nay.
       Mr. Moorhead, nay.
       Mr. Hyde, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, nay.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, nay.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, nay.
       Mr. Gallegly, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, nay.
       Mr. Inglis, nay.
       Mr. Goodlatte, nay.
       An amendment by Mr. Canady providing safe harbors for 
     certain competitive and collaborative activities. The 
     amendment would exempt certain health care activities from 
     the antitrust laws if the conduct falls within one of seven 
     safe harbors defined in the legislation or within additional 
     safe harbors designated by the Attorney General. The 
     enumerated statutory safe harbors protect: (1) activities of 
     medical self-regulatory entities; (2) participation by 
     providers in surveys; (3) certain joint ventures for high 
     technology and costly equipment and services; (4) certain 
     hospital mergers; (5) joint purchasing arrangements; (6) 
     activities of physician network joint ventures; and (7) good 
     faith negotiations to engage in the activities protected in 
     the safe harbors. Activities by physician network joint 
     ventures are exempt only as long as the network is comprised 
     of 20 percent or less of the physicians in a particular 
     specialty in that geographic market and the physicians share 
     substantial financial risk. (An earlier version was defeated 
     17-17. See vote below.) Adopted 18-17.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay by proxy.
       Mrs. Schroeder, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, nay.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay.
       Mr. Boucher, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister, aye.
       Mr. Washington, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Nadler, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Watt, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Becerra, nay by proxy.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye.
       Mr. Hyde, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye.
       Mr. McCollum, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, aye.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amenment offered by Mr. Canady on the application of the 
     antitrust laws to health care services (safe harbors). (This 
     amendment was later reoffered and subsequently adopted by a 
     vote of 18-17) Defeated 17-17.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, nay.
       Mr. Edwards, nay.
       Mr. Conyers, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay.
       Ms. Schroeder, nay.
       Mr. Glickman, nay.
       Mr. Frank, nay.
       Mr. Schumer, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Berman, nay.
       Mr. Boucher, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister, aye.
       Mr. Washington, nay.
       Mr. Reed, aye.
       Mr. Nadler, nay.
       Mr. Scott, nay.
       Mr. Mann, aye.
       Mr. Watt, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Becerra, nay.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, aye.
       Mr. Moorhead, aye.
       Mr. Hyde, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, aye by proxy.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, aye.
       Mr. Smith (TX), aye by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, aye.
       Mr. Gallegly, aye.
       Mr. Canady, aye.
       Mr. Inglis, aye.
       Mr. Goodlatte, aye.
       An amendment by Mr. Berman on private right of action. This 
     amendment would have adopted the Ways and Means language 
     which would allow doctors who are part of a managed care 
     program to refer patients to designated health services 
     within that health plan. Defeated 14-17.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, aye.
       Mr. Edwards, aye.
       Mr. Conyers, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, nay.
       Mr. Hughes, nay.
       Mr. Synar, nay by proxy.
       Mrs. Schroeder, not voting.
       Mr. Glickman, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, nay.
       Mr. Schumer, not voting.
       Mr. Berman, aye.
       Mr. Boucher, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister, nay.
       Mr. Washington, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Nadler, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Scott, aye.
       Mr. Mann, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Watt, aye.
       Mr. Becerra, not voting.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, nay.
       Mr. Moorhead, nay.
       Mr. Hyde, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, nay.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, nay.
       Mr. Smith (TX), nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, aye.
       Mr. Ramstad, nay.
       Mr. Gallegly, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, nay.
       Mr. Ingois, nay.
       Mr. Goodlate, nay.
       Question on final passage. Adopted 20-13.


                               democrats

       Mr. Brooks, aye.
       Mr. Edwards, aye.
       Mr. Conyers, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Mazzoli, aye.
       Mr. Hughes, aye.
       Mr. Synar, aye by proxy.
       Mrs. Schroeder, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Glickman, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Frank, aye.
       Mr. Schumer, aye.
       Mr. Berman, aye.
       Mr. Boucher, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Bryant, aye.
       Mr. Sangmeister, aye.
       Mr. Washington, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Reed, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Nadler, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Scott, aye.
       Mr. Mann, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Watt, aye by proxy.
       Mr. Becerra, aye by proxy.


                              republicans

       Mr. Fish, nay.
       Mr. Moorhead, nay.
       Mr. Hyde, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Sensenbrenner, nay.
       Mr. McCollum, not voting.
       Mr. Gekas, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Coble, nay.
       Mr. Smith (TX), nay by proxy.
       Mr. Schiff, nay.
       Mr. Ramstad, nay.
       Mr. Gallegly, nay by proxy.
       Mr. Canady, nay.
       Mr. Ingois, nay.
       Mr. Goodlatte, nay.

                          ____________________