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Meeting with Clinton
pushes patient rights bill closer to
completion
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Release Date:
05/12/00
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Thursday, Congress moved
closer to completing the Patient Rights bill
after meeting with President Clinton.
Congressional committee leaders met to report on
the progress of negotiations for legislation
that would grant patients certain rights when
dealing with HMOs and other health
plans.
According to AP reports, committee
members had agreed on a crucial provision that
would allow patients to appeal denials of health
care coverage to an independent panel that would
have the power to override health plan decisions
if it deemed care was medically
necessary.
A Republican-crafted bill in
the Senate would cover 55 million Americans
whose health plans are not regulated by states
and does not expand the right for patients to
sue. Republicans also support expansion of
medical savings accounts, tax deductions and
other measures aimed at increasing health care
coverage. The House passed version, which is
favored by President Clinton, would cover 161
million Americans with private insurance and
expand patients' right to
sue.
5.12.00
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