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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (167354)	8/3/2001 1:19:08 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

House Approves Patients' Rights Bill Thursday, August 02, 2001 In a victory for Republicans and the White House, the House passed patients' rights legislation Thursday that included HMO liability limitations agreed upon one day earlier by Bush and Rep. Charles Norwood, R-Ga. Shortly before the 226-203 vote, the House rewrote the bill to include the compromise. If the bill becomes law, all Americans with insurance will be guaranteed coverage for emergency room care, treatment by medical specialists and access to government-sponsored clinical trials. Patients denied coverage could appeal the ruling to an outside, independent expert and would be guaranteed a timely verdict. After the vote, Repbulicans cheered and chanted "Nor-wood, Nor-wood" above the din of the packed chamber. The lawmaker had spent Wednesday negotiating limitations on HMO liability with Bush. "Like it or not we have to work with this president, who has to sign this bill," Norwood said. Bush said after the Wednesday meeting that he intended to thank Norwood for being "realistic and reasonable." Under the bill as passed, patients could sue for punitive damages only in cases in which an HMO had disobeyed an appeals board ruling, and even then they could not seek more than $1.5 million. Lawsuits can be brought in state courts, but only under uniform federal rules. Democrats had favored allowing state courts to use their own rules for lawsuits; state courts are generally more favorable to plaintiffs. Democrats attacked the change as a concession to HMOs at the expense of patients. "I'm amazed at how much in league with the HMOs and insurance companies the Republicans are," Minority Leader Rep. Dick Gephardt said. At one point, Gephardt's voice rose and his face grew red as he said, "In the name of God ... vote against this bill." The vote sets up compromise talks with the Senate. The Senate has passed a version of the bill with patient protections identical to the version passed by the House but without liability limitations and without imposing federal standards on state courts. Bush has threatened to veto the Senate version if it comes before him. Asked if Republicans had left themselves room to compromise further in final negotiations, Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., replied, "There has to be." He said Bush would "remain engaged throughout the process" and called on the Democratic-controlled Senate not to "torpedo this thing." In daylong debate on the House floor, Republicans heaped praise on Norwood — and defended him from criticism by Democrats who had worked closely with him for years. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., reading earlier glowing statements of praise from Democrats, added sarcastically, "That's yesterday. Today they'll have you think he's become Dr. Kevorkian," the suicide doctor. The Associated Press contributed to this report. foxnews.com