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NORWOOD CAUTIONS CONFEREES AGAINST FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS | |
| Washington, DC — – Five years of liability reform concessions to
the HMO lobby have resulted in the industry’s rejection of their own
proposals, according to U.S. Representative Charlie Norwood (R-GA),
co-author of the Norwood-Dingell managed care reform bill currently
embroiled in conference debate.
Norwood made the assertion today in light of the latest anti-reform attack ads funded by key front organizations for the HMO industry. The ads allege that the Norwood-Dingell bill would allow unlimited punitive damages, expose employers to vicarious liability from lawsuits against HMO’s, foster class-action lawsuits similar to on-going tobacco and asbestos litigation, and force employers to provide specific benefits. “That’s the same thing they said five years ago when we introduced the Patient Protection Act, HR2400, in the 104th Congress,” says Norwood. “We have addressed every one of their objections in the current bill, and it hasn’t made a dent in their rhetoric. If the conference committee attempts to overcome the points in these latest ads, they’ll end up with the exact same bill they have on their desk today.” Norwood says the House-passed bill already addresses everything the HMO lobby alleges in their ads: HMO
Objections
Norwood-Dingell Provisions Class-Action Lawsuits Bans Class-Action Lawsuits Employer Liability Under Shields Employers From All Liability Under Discretionary Authority Rules Discretionary Authority Rules Mandates Benefits Bans Benefit Mandates Norwood is calling on the Conference Committee to pass the liability
section of Norwood-Dingell exactly as written, with no further
compromises, in light of the industry’s latest ad campaign.
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