[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15151-15152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        MANAGED CARE LEGISLATION

  (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, some health plans systematically 
obstruct, delay and deny care. That is a fact.
  Earlier this year, Republicans and Democrats negotiated a bill that 
contains the minimum protections necessary to get health insurance back 
on track. Ganske-Dingell reminds HMOs that they are being paid to 
provide coverage, not excuses. And it contains a right to sue with 
enough teeth in it to deter health plans from cheating their enrollees, 
and enough definition to preclude frivolous lawsuits.
  Recourse in the courts is essential. If we tell HMOs that they are 
accountable, we must hold them accountable. Unfortunately, the Fletcher 
bill compromises away the two most important patient protections, 
leaving HMOs thrilled and consumers no better off. It provides a right 
to sue that cannot actually be exercised and a right to an external 
appeals process that simply cannot be trusted.
  We need to enact legislation that does not just sound like it 
protects patients but actually does protect patients. Ganske-Dingell 
fits that bill. I ask for House support.

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