[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE MANAGED CARE BILL OF RIGHTS OF 1996

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks and include 
extraneous material.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise before the Members to introduce a 
crucial piece of legislation that is long overdue, the managed care 
bill of rights of 1996.
  Today I introduce this legislation in response to a repulsive and 
dangerous trend that is taking place. Across this country, Americans 
are joining managed care plans in order to cut costs. However, while 
ultra-wealthy HMO's are making multibillion-dollar profits, working-
class families are paying for these profits with their health and, in 
some cases, their lives.
  Health care companies should make people healthier, not sicker, yet 
HMO patients are routinely denied access to specialists and refused 
compensation for emergency room visits. My legislation will put an end 
to these cruel policies. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this 
legislation and work toward safeguarding every American's access to 
quality health care.

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