    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 31, 1998]
    [Page 480]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Patients' Bill of Rights Legislation
    March 31, 1998

    Dear __________:
        I am writing to commend you on the Patients' Bill of Rights Act of
    1998 that you are introducing today on behalf of the Democratic Caucuses
    of both Houses of Congress. This bill represents a critically important
    step towards enacting a long overdue ``Patients' Bill of Rights'' that
    Americans need to renew their confidence in the nation's rapidly
    changing health care system.
        States across the nation have already begun to enact reasonable
    patient protections. In fact, 44 states, including 28 of the 32 states
    with Republican Governors, have passed at least one of the protections
    that my Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality
    recommended, and that I endorsed last year. However, a patchwork of non-
    comprehensive state laws cannot provide Americans with adequate patient
    protections, particularly because state health care laws do not have
    jurisdiction over more than 100 million Americans. Federal standards are
    essential to assure that all patients get the protections they need.
        You have done a remarkable job bringing a broad-based coalition of
    Democrats together to move this important issue forward. I would
    particularly like to commend Senator Kennedy and Representative Dingell for
    their leadership in developing this legislation.
        The Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998 includes important patient
    protections, such as the right to emergency care wherever and whenever a
    medical emergency arises; the right to talk freely with doctors and
    nurses about all the medical options available, not only the cheapest;
    and the right to an internal and external appeals process that allows
    patients to address their concerns and grievances. I am particularly
    pleased that it includes every protection recommended by the Advisory
    Commission. This bill also improves on other patients' rights
    legislation before the Congress because it does not include expensive
    protections for health care providers that have the potential to
    increase premiums excessively.
        The bill you are introducing today provides a critical step towards
    developing bipartisan legislation that will pass the Congress. I look
    forward to working with the Congress to enact a ``Patients' Bill of
    Rights'' Act that I can sign into law this year.
        I am confident that, working in a bipartisan fashion, the Congress
    will produce a bill that achieves the important balance of providing
    patients the protections they need without undermining health care
    affordability. We must ensure that whether they have traditional care or
    managed care, Americans have access to quality care. Thank you again for
    your strong leadership and commitment to this end.
        Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: Identical letters were sent to Senate Minority Leader Thomas A.
    Daschle and House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt. An original was
    not available for verification of the content of this letter.