[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H6075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MANAGED CARE REFORM

  (Mr. Stupak asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, the Republican Party has introduced the 
Insurance Industry Protection Act instead of the Patients' Bill of 
Rights. Make no mistake about it, there are major differences between 
the Patients' Bill of Rights and the Republican fig leaf proposal.
  The Republican plan still leaves medical decisions in the hands of 
insurance company clerks. It allows for drive-through mastectomies; 
does not give access to specialty care when needed; does not allow 
women to choose their obstetrician or gynecologist as a primary care 
doctor; does not provide for the continuity of the doctor-patient 
relationship; provides no effective mechanism to hold accountable an 
HMO plan when it abuses or kills or injures someone. There are only two 
organizations in this whole country that have immunity, HMOs and 
foreign diplomats.
  Mr. Speaker, the Democratic plan wants to make sure that good health 
care is the right of every American. If you pay for it, you deserve it. 
You have the right to demand the treatment you need from your managed 
care plan.

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