Republican doctors in the House revive Patients' Rights

The patients' bill of rights, which split Congress almost exactly along party lines last summer, has been unexpectedly resuscitated by a group of conservative Republican members of the House whose view of health care is different from their colleagues because they are health care workers--doctors and dentists.

The leaders include Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), a dentist, and Rep. Greg Ganske (R-Iowa), a surgeon. On four of the differences between the Patients' Bill of Rights and the weaker Republican alternative, the dissidents are close to the Democratic bill: ending the special exemption from lawsuits now enjoyed by HMOs, letting doctors rather than HMO bureaucrats decide what is "medically necessary," whistleblower protection and covering all 161 million Americans who have private health insurance instead of only the 48 million employed by big corporations that operate their own plans.

AFT pushes for Medicare drug coverage

The AFT and the AFL-CIO, along with patients and senior citizens organizations across the country, are pushing Congress to consider President Clinton's proposal for Medicare prescription drug coverage. Medicare was created at a time when drugs were rarely a major expense, so Medicare covers drugs only in the hospital and in a few outpatient situations. Prescription drug coverage is one of the uses for the federal budget surplus that Clinton says should come before tax cuts.

The proposal is opposed by pharmaceutical manufacturers who fear that Medicare would use its power in the market to force down prices. The Department of Veterans Affairs gets almost a 50 percent discount on drug prices. HMOs have also bargained their way to deep price cuts.

New Jersey passes safe needles bill

Health care unions fighting deadly needlestick injuries are making progress at both the state and federal levels as more people come to realize this serious threat can be stopped.

In New Jersey, both houses of the legislature gave unanimous approval to an anti-needlestick bill sponsored by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees/FNHP and other unions. At press time, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman had yet to sign the bill but she is expected to.

The bill would require New Jersey hospitals receiving Medicaid to use only safe needle devices. The state health commissioner will draw up criteria for choosing these devices. To make the final selection, each hospital will set up a committee at least half of whose members must be frontline health providers.

The bill gained momentum after a hearing in which health care workers including HPAE nurse Barbara Rosen described the ordeals they went through after being stuck with contaminated needles.

If the bill is signed, New Jersey will become the second state to pass a strong needle safety law, following California's lead. Maryland, Tennessee and Texas have passed laws that are helpful but not as strong. Sixteen other state legislatures have bills under consideration.

Spurred by action at the state level, Congress and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are also working on safe needle rules.

In Congress, safe needle bills have been filed in both the House and Senate. The House bill, introduced by U.S. Representatives Pete Stark (D-Calif.) and Marge Roukema (R-N.J.), has 82 co-sponsors. The Senate bill was introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Meanwhile, OSHA has announced it will move ahead on its own this fall.

Opposition from the American Hospital Association delayed progress for years. Safer needles are slightly more expensive. About 600,000 to 1 million health care workers suffer needlestick injuries each year, and 200 to 300 workers die. Many others suffer irreversible liver damage from hepatitis.

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