LEXIS-NEXIS® Congressional Universe-Document

LEXIS-NEXIS® Congressional

June 22, 1999

SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY

LENGTH: 457 words

HEADLINE: TESTIMONY June 22, 1999 HENRY J. HYDE HOUSE JUDICIARY NEGOTIATING PROTECTION FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

BODY:
STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN HENRY J. HYDE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AT THE LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON H.R. 1304 THE "QUALITY HEALTH-CARE COALITION ACT OF 1999" JUNE 22, 1999 9:30 A.M. 2141 RAYBURN Today the Committee conducts a legislative hearing on H.R. 1304, the "Quality Health-Care Coalition Act of 1999." H.R. 1304 would allow doctors to negotiate jointly with HMOs and other insurers while enjoying the same antitrust exemption that labor unions currently have. Doctors believe that they do not have equal bargaining power when they negotiate with HMOs and other health insurers. They argue that HMOs and insurers have too much control over health care decisions and push for lower costs at the expense of the quality of care. I can understand their concerns. I used to be a practicing lawyer, and I would not have wanted an insurance company telling me how to run my cases. The doctor-patient relationship must be preserved, and I am concerned that it may be diminishing. On the other hand, almost everyone's life would be easier if they were exempt from the antitrust laws. Those who propose such an exemption start with a heavy presumption against them. Their case must be compelling to justify it. Those who oppose this legislation are concerned that it might lead to price-fixing and group boycotts by doctors. They are also concerned that it might lead to an explosion in the cost of medical care. I am aware of those concerns, and I have asked the Congressional Budget Office to give us an estimate of what this bill would do to health care costs. CBO has not yet completed that estimate, but it will be shared with Members when it arrives. Of course, I have been asked by both sides in this debate to take up their cause, and I want to tell both sides why I have been slow to do so. The quality of medical care is vital to all of us. When we or our loved ones are sick, we want only the best. This bill has the potential to affect that quality profoundly. Some of you think for the better, and some of you think for the worse. Quite frankly, I do not yet know which of you is right. Whatever we do on this issue, I want to make sure that we make health care better, not worse. So please bear with my caution as we move forward. I have called this hearing so that we can have a public airing of the issue. We have a good cross section of views represented here today, and I want to hear everyone's arguments to determine what we should do. I want to thank my colleague Tom Campbell for his work in this area and all of our other witnesses today. I think that we have someone from almost every corner of the country. We appreciate all of you coming. With that, I will turn to Mr. Conyers for an opening statement.

LOAD-DATE: June 23, 1999