Copyright 2000 Newsday, Inc.
Newsday (New York, NY)
July 1, 2000, Saturday NASSAU AND SUFFOLK
EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Page A04
LENGTH: 622 words
HEADLINE:
CONGRESS AT IMPASSE ON HEALTH MATTERS
BYLINE: By Elaine
S. Povich. WASHINGTON BUREAU
BODY:
Washington-With medical care topping most lists of voter concerns, Congress
hastily dealt with patient and doctor issues Friday before breaking for the
Independence Day vacation. But the actions were more symbolic than substantive.
The Senate approved a bill aimed at protecting patients in managed care
programs. The Republican amendment, approved 51 to 47, would give some managed
care patients limited rights to sue their providers. Democrats said it was too
weak and preferred a version that would let all 169 million patients who belong
to managed care programs sue the providers for malpractice or denial of care.
The vote was symbolic because the House and Senate already are trying to resolve
differences between so-called "patients bill of rights" bills passed last year
by both chambers. To date, the House-Senate conference has made no progress
despite months of consultations.
Democrats hoped to prod the conferees
with another vote, but Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) suggested it
wouldn't be helpful. "We want patients bill of rights reform, but we want it
done right," Lott said Friday, indicating he felt the Democrats' bill is not the
"right" way. "How many times do we have to vote on this issue?"
Senate
Minority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) said Republicans were hoping to "get
well" with the voters on this issue by their votes. "But they are not going to
get well at all," he said, calling the Republican version of the bill "a sham."
On the House-passed bill to give doctors the right to collectively
bargain with HMOs, which was approved in the early-morning hours Friday, Lott
was equally pessimistic about the chances the Senate would deal with the issue
this year.
"You know, I don't think we need more lawsuits in America.
And I don't think we need more, you know, labor unions in America," Lott told
reporters. "And I won't be trying to find a way to pass it, I'll tell you that."
The measure, approved by the House 276-136, was backed by the American Medical
Association but opposed by the managed care industry, which argues it would
drive up medical costs. It was sponsored by Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Calif.), who is
running for the Senate in California.
The apparent impasse on the health
issues gives politicians plenty to talk about during the week-long Fourth of
July recess next week, and if nothing is done by the end of the summer, there
will be still more talk on the campaign trail this fall.
Another medical
issue hung up between Congress and the White House is Medicare coverage of
prescription drugs. While insisting that prescription drug coverage is
important, Lott cautioned against the idea that it was on a " fast track."
"We're trying to deal with it now, but there's a lot of doubt in my mind about
whether there's a desire in a lot of camps in this city, Democrats in the House,
and in the White House to get the issue done," he said.
Democrats want a
broad plan to cover most Medicare recipients. Republicans and much of the
prescription drug industry prefer a slimmer bill. The House approved a
prescription drug bill last week, but the outlook in the Senate is uncertain.
In other areas, congressional action is equally uncertain. For example,
a bill to overhaul bankruptcy laws is stuck in conference and under a veto
threat from President Bill Clinton over several areas. Clinton has written that
he will not accept the bill unless a provision, sponsored by Sen. Charles
Schumer (D-N.Y.), is included that would prohibit those arrested protesting at
abortion clinics from declaring bankruptcy to
avoid paying fines. Republicans adamantly oppose that provision.
LOAD-DATE: July 1, 2000
