[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 44 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Page 2108]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Federal Employees Health Care Protection Act of 
1998

October 23, 1998

    The Federal Employees Health Care Protection Act of 1998, H.R. 1836, 
that I have signed into law makes several critical improvements to the 
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). For example, it gives 
the Office of Personnel Management's Inspector General critical new 
debarment authority to crack down on fraudulent providers and, when 
necessary, to debar those who defraud the program; it contains essential 
new provisions to maintain and improve consumer choice, the hallmark of 
FEHBP, by allowing fee-for-service plans to rejoin FEHBP; it makes 
health care more affordable for certain Federal employees and retirees 
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Federal Reserve 
Board by allowing them to participate in the FEHBP; and finally, it 
ensures that certain Federal physicians who provide high quality 
services will receive appropriate compensation for their services, which 
is critical to attracting and maintaining a high quality Federal 
physician work force.
    I want to note, however, my objection to a provision in this 
legislation that appears to expand preemption of State law remedies for 
FEHBP enrollees who are injured as a result of wrongful benefit delay or 
denial by their plan. As I have consistently stated, I believe that a 
right without remedy is not a right at all. I strongly believe that 
Federal employees should have the right to legally enforceable remedies, 
including under State law, to protect them when health plans do not 
provide contractually obligated patient protections. I therefore want to 
clarify that my enactment of this legislation should in no way be 
construed to indicate my support for this preemption provision. I also 
would like to reiterate my disappointment that the Congress has 
adjourned without passing a Patients' Bill of Rights that would give new 
protections and remedies to all Americans, including Federal employees. 
Assuring that health plans provide needed patient protections and 
adequate remedies will be one of my top priorities for the next 
Congress.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 23, 1998.

Note: H.R. 1836, approved October 19, was assigned Public Law No. 105-
266. An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this statement. This item was not received in time for publication in 
the appropriate issue.