[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 19183]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  SUPPORT THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

  (Mr. SANDLIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, insurance companies, there they go again, 
attempting to mislead and deceive the American public. Television ads 
that they are placing all across this country incorrectly state that a 
Patients' Bill of Rights will make insurance premiums skyrocket.
  Nothing could be further from the truth. Madam Speaker, the State of 
Texas enacted these protections that the insurance companies claim will 
increase premiums. The Texas experience proves that the insurance 
companies are dead wrong. One of those protections that is most often 
cited is the right to sue an HMO if treatment is denied.
  Texas enacted a similar provision in 1997. There have been 516 
complaints filed, half in favor of the patient, half in favor of the 
plan. Only three lawsuits have been filed, three lawsuits. That is 
hardly an explosion in a population of 20 million people.
  Texas has some of the lowest premium rates in the entire country, and 
a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that liability 
accounted for only 3 to 13 cents per person per month in premiums, 3 to 
13 cents. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats are working to put the needs of 
patients first. Let us enact a real Patients' Bill of Rights, not a 
bill of goods.

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