[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       OPPOSE HEALTH ACT OF 2003

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice 
my opposition to H.R. 5, the so-called HEALTH Act of 2003.
  The acronym in the title of this bill supposedly stands for Help 
Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Healthcare. But close 
examination of the provisions of the bill leads me to the conclusion 
that the acronym instead spells Help Eviscerate Accountability by Law 
for Traumatic Harm.
  Supporters of this bill claim that medical malpractice premiums are 
out of control because of excessively high-damage awards in malpractice 
suits. But paid losses have tracked consistently with medical inflation 
rates for the last 3 decades. There simply is no explosion of paid 
losses.
  Furthermore, there is no provision in the bill, no provision, that 
requires insurers to lower their rates once the caps are in place.
  Supporters of this bill make it plain whom they care for: insurance 
companies. And it is also clear where the losses will be: people 
injured due to medical negligence.

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