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Senate kills HMO
liability provision
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Release Date:
07/16/99
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The Senate voted to kill a
provision in the Patient's Bill of Rights
legislation that would have enabled patients to
sue their health plans. The right to sue
threatened to increase costs to small business
owners and employees and would expose employers
to greater liability.
The failed
provision, which has been backed by the trial
lawyer lobby and the White House, was defeated
by a 53-47 margin. On Wednesday, the Senate
voted down a provision that would have extended
new federal mandates on HMOs, affecting 161
million Americans who already have coverage and
threatening to exclude many more without
coverage.
An amendment to the Patient's
Bill of Rights legislation, introduced by Sen.
Susan Collins, R-Maine, calls for a new tax
deduction for providing long-term care to the
elderly and would establish new mandates for ER
access and access to obstetricians and other
specialists. Collins' measures would affect the
48 million Americans under federally regulated
health plans.
President Clinton has
announced his intention to veto the legislation
that is emerging from this week's debate over
health care reform. Clinton backs measures that
would increase the costs of health care for
small business owners and increase the numbers
of
uninsured.
7.16.1999
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