Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company
The New
York Times
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May 5, 2000, Friday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 26; Column
6; Editorial Desk
LENGTH: 149 words
HEADLINE: Patient Rights Iceberg
BODY:
To the Editor:
Re "The Impact of
Health Care Reviews" (editorial, May 1), warning about the agreement by
Congressional conferees on external review, a key component of the
patients' bill of rights: As you point out, "the agreement
ducks the issue of costs," but external review is just the tip of the iceberg.
If Congress passes a patients' bill of rights that
allows people to sue their health maintenance organizations and their employers
(which the House version would do), it will cost the health care system even
more. Premiums will increase as health plans pass along to employers and
employees the costs of protecting themselves against lawsuits.
Worse,
more Americans will lose their insurance as employers are forced to drop
benefits for fear of lawsuits that could bankrupt their businesses.
DAN DANNER
Chmn., Health Benefits Coalition
Washington, May 3, 2000
http://www.nytimes.com
LOAD-DATE: May 5,
2000 
