[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 102 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 1998

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4250 is an ineffective attempt to 
solve the real problems and concerns of the American people. The 
legislation fails to achieve real managed care reform by allowing 
insurers to selectively choose specific geographic areas to limit 
enrollment. This approach will inevitably segment the market, removing 
the healthy from the general insurance pool and leaving the remainder 
with increasingly unaffordable premiums.
  H.R. 4250 also fails to provide patients with information on 
benefits, cost-sharing, access to services, and grievance and appeals. 
It fails to provide an internal quality assurance program and fails to 
allow for an effective mechanism for accountability. In short, H.R. 
4250 fails the American people.
  The Republican leadership bill is simply a cosmetic approach toward 
enacting real patient protections. We must enact strong, common sense 
measures which include critical protections for all privately insured 
Americans. We must strengthen federal enforcement to ensure compliance, 
and increase access to affordable, high quality care. Again, H.R. 4250 
fails the American people on each of these counts.
  Mr. Speaker, only through bi-partisan consensus can we achieve 
meaningful reform. As Congress continues to work toward this goal, I 
look forward to supporting truly bi-partisan proposals that addresses 
patient concerns honestly and expands health care options for all 
Americans.

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