THE MANAGED CARE REFORM DEBATE: COMPARISON CHART

(Statement of Congressman Pete Stark)

Within days, we should have a real managed care debate on the floor of the House of Representatives. There is now a bipartisan consensus bill, HR 2723, that has the support of more than 20 Republicans and virtually all of the Democrats that will be debated on the House floor. I am an original cosponsor of this important legislation.

In the upcoming debate, you can expect at least three different bills to be on the floor.

HR 2723,The Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Reform Bill (the Norwood/Dingell bill): This bill encompasses the key provisions from the original Democratic Patients' Bill of Rights. Most importantly, it contains the ERISA provision that would hold health plans accountable for medical decision making. This change in health plan liability is a vital component of real reform.

HR 2824, The Coburn/Shadegg Bill: Very similar in structure to the Bipartisan bill listed above, however, this bill falls far short on the provision of holding health plans accountable for medical decision making. It would cap non-economic damages, cap or prohibit punitives in certain situations, and would require that an external appeal entity certify harm before a case would be allowed to go to court.

HR 2926, The Boehner Bill: Introduced recently, this one includes absolutely no health plan liability provisions. It also fails to cover the entire spectrum of private insurance leaving the individual market out of any reforms amongst other shortfalls. The bill also includes a number of expensive/controversial provisions that are "poison pills" to many members of Congress.

Attached please find a comparison chart of the four major managed care reform proposals currently introduced in the House of Representatives. I hope this information proves useful.