[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 26 (Monday, July 2, 2001)]
[Page 981]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Patients' Bill of Rights Legislation

June 27, 2001

    The bipartisan proposal introduced today by Representatives Ernie 
Fletcher, Collin Peterson, Nancy Johnson, and Richard Burr, along with 
Speaker Hastert and the chairmen of the three committees with 
jurisdiction, Chairmen Boehner, Tauzin, and Thomas, makes progress in 
our effort to provide patients with a strong and enforceable Patients' 
Bill of Rights.
    This proposal, like the legislation introduced by Senators Frist, 
Breaux, and Jeffords, is another example of a Patients' Bill of Rights 
that reflects the principles I laid out earlier this year. I am 
encouraged that the bill introduced today brings us significantly closer 
to enacting a good Patients' Bill of Rights.
    This legislation provides strong patient protections to all 
Americans. It ensures that patients have the right to an independent 
medical review when they have been denied medical care, and it holds 
health plans accountable by providing patients with meaningful, 
effective remedies when they have been harmed by a denial or delay in 
receiving such care.
    I am committed to providing patients with expanded remedies to hold 
their health plans accountable and believe we can do so while protecting 
workers and their families from costly litigation that would increase 
health care premiums and leave too many Americans without health 
insurance. This legislation introduced today provides patients with 
meaningful remedies while preserving uniformity and certainty for 
employers who voluntarily offer health care benefits for millions of 
Americans across the country.