[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 95 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1318-E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         PATIENT PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID L. HOBSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 1998

  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the House 
Republican Health Care Proposal, the Patient Protection Act. I believe 
this bill strikes a good balance between protecting patient rights 
without the heavy hand of big government. I am excited about many of 
the large protections in this bill, like giving patients a better and 
quicker appeal process when the HMO denies their claim, lifting any gag 
orders on physicians to ensure that patients are better informed, and 
providing greater access to specialists for women and children. I am 
equally excited about how this bill addresses the frustrating problems 
that upset so many people about their HMOs.
  I am sure that many of you are like me in that every week I get a 
letter or call from someone upset because the HMO decides that the plan 
will no longer cover a specific prescription drug. Our bill will 
require HMOs to give at least 30 days notice before the HMO can remove 
a drug from the coverage list. These 30 days are essential in the care 
of the

[[Page E1319]]

patient, and for the physician-patient relationship. With the 30 day 
notice a physician can work with the patient and the local pharmacist 
to determine which drugs are suitable alternatives. It will also give 
the physician the opportunity to educate the HMO plan when he has a 
patient that has shown little or no progress with any of the 
alternatives on the plan's approved drug list.
  I want you all to understand that this can be a life saving decision. 
Just last week I learned of a cancer patient that was experiencing 
great success with a drug that shrinks tumors. After paying for three 
treatments, the HMO arbitrarily removed the drug from their coverage 
list without any warning to the patient or physician. Because 
traditional treatments had not worked, by the time the appeal process 
was completed the patient was dead. Let's not allow this tragedy to 
repeat itself--support the Patient Protection Act.

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