January 20, 2000

Dear Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Lott:

    We are writing to respectfully request you to direct the Republican conferees on H.R. 2990, the managed care reform bill, to convene public meetings of the conferees as soon as Congress returns to session, and to work with Democrats on the conference committee to report an effective bipartisan reform promptly for action by the full House and Senate.

    The Senate acted on managed care reform in July.   The House companion bill was passed on October 6, but appointment of conferees was delayed until November 3.  It is now 11 weeks since conferees were appointed.   House Democratic conferees wrote to Speaker Hastert on November 5, requesting that Republican conferees begin bipartisan negotiations, but there has been no reply to their letter.  There has been no meeting of the conferees, nor have Republican staff been directed to begin discussions with Democratic staff.

    During the time that the conferees have failed to act, hundreds of thousands of Americans have suffered from health plan abuses.  There is no excuse for further delay.  We look forward to your response, and to prompt positive action on this important legislation.

Sincerely,

 
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