[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  HMOS

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I just want to inquire. I see the majority 
leader.
  Before we go to the reading of the bill, I had mentioned to the 
majority leader earlier that I was going to propound a unanimous 
consent request on behalf of myself and Senator Reid of Nevada.
  Very briefly--I will just take 30 seconds--this unanimous consent 
request will be the discharge of the Finance Committee and then to 
proceed immediately to a piece of legislation I introduced that would 
propose a moratorium on HMOs terminating any of their patients between 
now and over the next 4 or 5 months while we are out of session.
  I realize that there will be objection probably filed to this, or 
expressed on this.
  We have seen 400,000 people in the last number of months who have 
lost their HMOs--12,000 in my State over the last 3 weeks. When we are 
out of session, I am concerned that more of these people are going to 
be dropped.
  So for those reasons, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Finance Committee, on behalf of myself and Senator Reid, be discharged 
from consideration of S. 2562 and the Senate then proceed to its 
immediate consideration.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I appreciate 
the notification that the Senator was going to make this request.
  We have not had a chance to look at this legislation. I know there is 
interest in this area. I think next year we are going to have to do 
some work on it, and maybe we will even have some legislation in this 
area. But in view of the hour and the fact that we haven't had a chance 
really to review it, and the committee hasn't had a chance to act on 
it, I object at this time.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, if I may, very briefly, I will not take the 
time now, but before we adjourn, I would like to make some additional 
comments on this.
  My State and 21 other States are adversely affected. But I can only 
hope that there will not be more people asked to leave or pull out of 
these markets and cause the kind of disruption that these people feel.
  I will reserve time later to discuss it. But I thank the majority 
leader for his consideration and regret deeply that we cannot bring 
this bill up.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time?
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.

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