ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS
Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member

"Last year, we passed a Patients’ Bill of Rights with resounding bipartisan support in the House, unfortunately, it became hopelessly mired in a partisan fight in the Senate.

"I’m now pleased to stand with members from both sides of the aisle and from both houses to unveil the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001. I would note that my good friend and colleague Charlie Norwood, who has spent so much time helping to perfect this bipartisan compromise legislation, has chosen not to co-sponsor the bill at this time so that he may advance his discussions with the Administration. Rest assured, Congressman Norwood and I will continue to wage our battle to protect patients’ rights together.

"Today, we are putting managed care organizations on notice – you will no longer have free rein where the health and well-being of Americans’ are concerned. Your bottom-line is not the answer to a healthier America.

"After four long years of working to pass patient protection legislation, I believe this is the year, and that this is the bill, that will get us to the Rose Garden.

"This bill includes all the important patient protections Americans have asked for time-and-again, like access to emergency care, access to specialty care and to clinical trials and anti-gag protections. However, there is an important compromise in the area of liability.

"We have taken into consideration the recent Supreme Court decisions on this matter, as well as concerns voiced by the employer community about the need to preserve the uniformity found in ERISA for benefits decisions, and devised a model where medically reviewable decisions that cause personal injury or death are heard in state courts, but non-medically reviewable decisions that cause personal injury or death would be heard in federal court.

"The diversity of the group of members who support this bill is a testament to the reasonableness of this approach. We have come a long way from the time when this issue was divided by partisan bickering, and I hope not to return.

"President Bush has mentioned his interest in passing a Patients’ Bill of Rights this Congress. I hope he recognizes that our bill is a workable compromise that can be quickly brought to the floor of the House and Senate and delivered to him for his signature."

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