    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 4, 1999]
    [Pages 1983-1984]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Proposed
    Managed Care Improvement Legislation
    November 4, 1999

    Dear Mr. Speaker:
        I am writing to underscore my deep disappointment with the unusual
    procedure employed in naming participants to the joint House-Senate
    conference on H.R. 2723, the Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care
    Improvement Act of 1999. The decision to appoint members that fail to
    reflect the overwhelming vote of 275 to 151 on the Norwood-Dingell bill
    sends the wrong message to the American people, and the wrong messengers
    to the conference committee.
        The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights legislation is the only
    patient protections bill in this Congress that has received strong
    bipartisan support. Yet, out of the 13 Republican members appointed as
    conferees, only one voted for this legislation, and only one voted in
    favor of yesterday's successful motion in the House that instructed
    conferees to insist on including the provisions of the Norwood-Dingell
    bill.
        It is clear that the public longs for us to reach across party lines
    to address issues of national concern. There are few matters that are
    more important than enacting a strong Patients Bill of Rights. In this
    regard, I am asking you to use your authority under the House rules to
    expand the conference committee to include members who accurately
    reflect the will of the House.
        We need to make certain that the results of this conference will be
    in the public interest; as currently constituted, this committee is
    weighted heavily in favor of the special interests that oppose this
    bill. Over the years, we have worked together on drafting and passing
    bipartisan health care legislation, including the Health Insurance
    Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. I hope we can build on that
    record so that this Congress can respond to the public's need for
    patients' protections as our nation's health care delivery system
    undergoes change.

    [[Page 1984]]

            Sincerely,

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this letter.