[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2074-E2075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS MANAGED CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 7, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2723) to 
     amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
     of 1974, title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect consumers in 
     managed care plans and other health coverage.

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to share with my colleagues 
the stories of families in my District who have needlessly suffered in 
the absence of a real Patients' Bill of Rights.
  I want to share with you a story that happened to one of my 
constituents in what is believed to be the first real brittle bone 
disease case in Orange County that has gone to trial.
  Imagine this man's horror when his son was taken away and given to 
Child Protective Services because of alleged child abuse. This child 
was not abused, the child had an incurable disease that was mis-
diagnosed.
  It is unfathomable to me that the system, which is here to protect 
patients, would use outdated methods to diagnose this disease, have the 
patient suffer and not have Patient Protection Legislation for the 
worst case scenario to safeguard them from medical incompetency.

[[Page E2075]]

  Since I came to Congress, I have listened closely to the managed care 
reform debate. I have also read the newspapers, seen the polls, and 
continue to hear the horror stories.
  This past weekend, I did what every member of Congress should be 
doing; I heard from my constituents.
  I learned that my constituents do want reform and do want some type 
of ``Patients' Bill of Rights.'' They want Congress to initiate reform 
and to keep the interest of the patients in mind.
  My constituents believe that HMO's are the future of healthcare, but 
they want to make sure that care is put above profits.
  The Democratic Patients' Bill of Rights returns medical decisions 
back to America's families and their doctors. It is based on proposals 
endorsed by America's family doctors.
  Any bill we pass is going to affect each one of my constituents, 
millions of Americans, and thousands of Orange County residents. But 
only the Democratic bill will cover all 161 million Americans with 
private insurance.
  The American public cannot continue to afford the absence of Managed 
Care Reform. But the worst thing we could do is pass legislation that 
puts consumers in a worse situation than they are today.
  That is exactly what the Republican piecemeal managed care 
legislation would do. The Republican proposal is a minimalist bill that 
stops short of offering real Patient Protection Legislation.
  We need to pass Managed Care protection legislation and we need to 
pass it in this Congress.

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