The Senate Republican-sponsored S. 889, the Bipartisan Patients’ Bill of Rights Act of 2001, sponsored by Senators William Frist (R TN), John Breaux (D LA), fails to permit patients to hold HMOs accountable in court for denial of necessary care. HMO's/health insurance companies are the only industry in this country who are exempt from being held accountable for the decisions they make. They enjoy the same status as foreign diplomats.

The bill that Bush supports provides absolute protection for the insurance companies, the patrons of the Republican party. Bush wants to move all liability to the federal courts, where there are no punitive damages and an on going waiting list to have cases heard. In other words if they can't beat you one way they'll beat you another. An interesting position, for the party who promotes local and state control, and now wants to federalize something that constitutionally has always been under the states jurisdiction.

HMO's are running a major ad campaign to discourage support for this bill. Saying that it will cause an increase in premiums. However, they increased their premiums last year by 9%, which had nothing to do with a patients rights bill. They raise their premiums all the time!

Senate Republican leaders have worked closely with the Health Benefits Coalition -- comprised of HMOs, insurance companies and employer groups -- in pursing their legislative strategy of opposing outside accountability for HMO decision-makers. In the 1997-98 election cycle, managed care companies and insurers -- led by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna and Prudential -- contributed $1.49 million in soft money to national Republican Party committees. Representatives or members of allied business groups, including the Business Roundtable, National Federation of Independent Business, National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and National Restaurant Association, gave millions more in soft money to Republican committees. It is worth noting that not one Medical Association supports the Republican-sponsored bill.

The League of Women Voters, Public Citizen and many other non partisan organizations support S. 283, the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001, sponsored by Senators John
McCain (R AZ), John Edwards (D NC) and Edward Kennedy (D MA).

The majority of the protections in the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001, already exist for medicare beneficiaries. More than 200 organizations endorse S.283, including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the National Association of Children's Hospitals, the National Partnership for Women and Families, the American Small Business Alliance, Families USA, the AFL-CIO, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the Consumers' Union, and other groups representing doctors, nurses, women, children, persons with disabilities, health care professionals, and consumer advocates.

Even with such broad and diverse support Senate Republicans continue to ignore the voices of the people and instead pursue a strategy of delay and denial.

ACTION NEEDED

1. CALL YOUR SENATORS AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT S. 283. You can reach your
Senators through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121. You can also use the "Locate Your Rep" link below to email them.

2. THANK COSPONSORS AND URGE THEM TO OPPOSE WEAKENING AMENDMENTS. You can
reach your Senators through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121.
To see a list of co-sponsors see the following link:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:SN00283:@@@P

THE MESSAGE
1. The Senate must act NOW to pass real managed care reform. The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001 Act, S. 283, will establish essential health care protections for consumers. S. 283 is needed to provide genuine patient protections and real managed care reform.
2. Please oppose bills such as S. 889 that do not provide real managed care reform.

For more information also visit League of Women Voters at:
http://www.capwiz.com/lwv/issues/bills/?bill=38129

Health Care in America

The United States is virtually the only industrial country in the world that has failed to achieve a universal health coverage plan. It is a disgrace, and should be a top priority for congress. Many people have long felt that health care is a basic right, and that Americans, like people in other industrialized nations, should be guaranteed health coverage - "to promote the general welfare" of the people. This is not a "communist plot".

Conservatives have condemned any suggestion of social reform, screaming "Communism" and "Socialism", as far back as President's Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt. They vilified the attempts of Eleanor Roosevelt, Florence Kelly, and other brave reformers to improve the deplorable living, and economic conditions during the depression era, calling some of the most successful projects, and reforms of the century, "communist plots".

For conservatives to raise the argument of "socialism" to fight social reform, or federally subsidized programs, it is apparent that they have forgotten what the preamble to our Constitution says:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common deface, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

America's failure to provide health care, and education is disgraceful and immoral. Yes immoral, morals are not just about matters of personal conduct, or words written on a piece of paper in a Bible, but about matters that affect the welfare of our country and it's people. Especially considering the "federally subsidized programs" in corporate welfare and pork-barrel spending. Amazingly enough, conservatives have no problem with this type of subsidy.

Simply stated, the conservatives deplore the idea of any federally subsidized, or national plan to improve anything. And it has nothing to do with being "compassionate".

Bush's Patient's Rights' Work