[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS

  (Ms. STABENOW asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I would first rise today to commend 
President Clinton for this week announcing new patient protections for 
those who are covered by Medicare. The time is now for all of us in the 
House to join together to extend those same protections to every single 
person who is covered by health care in this country.
  The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Iowa 
(Mr. Ganske) have come together in an important effort that should not 
be watered down by other proposals that do not make the test, that do 
not really protect patients.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to make sure that our constituents, as well as 
ourselves, have access to specialists, that we can have emergency room 
costs covered when it is necessary, that we have the opportunity to 
fully discuss with our physicians the kinds of treatments that we need 
if we are in managed care.
  Time is overdue for us to provide the kinds of patient protections 
necessary in managed care to make sure that our constituents have the 
quality care that they deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I call upon the House to support the Patient Bill of 
Rights and to take it up immediately.

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