[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 109 (Wednesday, August 5, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MANAGED CARE REFORM

  (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today the Committee on Commerce will 
consider legislation reauthorizing the Mammography Quality Standards 
Act, a program which has saved countless lives by improving the quality 
and accuracy of life-saving breast cancer screenings. While we improve 
early detection and screening of this deadly disease, women who suffer 
from breast cancer continue to be denied the best medical treatments 
available because medical decisions are too often made by insurance 
company HMO bureaucrats.
  The bipartisan Patients Bill of Rights would ensure that women could 
stay in the hospital overnight following radical breast surgery. The 
Republican bill does not. The bipartisan Patients Bill of Rights would 
ensure that women can receive reconstructive surgery following 
mastectomy. The Republican bill does not.
  This House has passed the Republican Insurance Company Bill of 
Rights. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing. Insist on a real 
Patients Bill of Rights, legislation which provides real protections 
for women.

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