[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SIGNING THE DISCHARGE PETITION TO ALLOW DEBATE ON THE PATIENTS' BILL OF 
                                 RIGHTS

  (Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, today many of us are signing the discharge 
petition to bring a Patients' Bill of Rights to the floor for free and 
open debate. I know the American public want it. I certainly know my 
constituents want it.
  They want a restoration of the doctor-patient relationship so that 
doctors can determine medical necessity, so that doctors and their 
patients can make the medical decisions, so that health care plans are 
held accountable for their medical decisions or lack of decisions.
  I am certainly proud that I have able to take the first legislative 
action in the Congress on the subject by introducing in subcommittee an 
amendment to hold health care plans accountable for their medical 
decisions.
  The leadership has been holding the American public in the waiting 
room. This discharge petition will allow us to get out of the waiting 
room and get the health care that we Americans deserve.

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