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PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 1, 2000
PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS EVENT
DATE:
March 2, 2000
LOCATION:
Presidential Hall - OEOB 450
BRIEFING TIME:
10:15am - 10:30am
EVENT TIME:
10:35am - 11:20am
FROM:
Bruce Reed, Mary Beth Cahill, Chris Jennings
I.
PURPOSE
Today, you will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House last
fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable, Patients' Bill of Rights.
II.
BACKGROUND
Today, you will urge the Congress to move quickly to report to Congress a strong,
enforceable, Patients' Bill of Rights and underscore your belief that the Norwood-Dingell
bill is a strong basis for final legislation and should not be watered down. Joined by
bipartisan members of Congress, including Representatives Norwood, Dingell, Ganske,
and Berry as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy, Chafee, and Graham, you will urge the
Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of rights that provides critical patient
protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans accountable for
decisions that harm patients.
THE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS'
BILL OF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over
200 health care provider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal
currently being considered that includes critical protections such as:
Guaranteed access to needed health care specialists;
Access to emergency room services when and where the need arises;
Continuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in
care if their providers are dropped;
Access to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals
process; to address health plan grievances;
Assurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and
An enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been
harmed as a result of a health plan's actions.
THE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND
PROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. You will underscore your belief that the
bill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:
Leave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic
protections and oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only
covers self-insured health plans);
Fail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and
cardiologists;
Fail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having
to abruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;
Fail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room
care when and where the need arises;
Construct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;
Fail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans
accountable when they make harmful decisions.
REFUSAL TO SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT REPRESENTS AN
EMPTY PROMISE. Today, you will reiterate your refusal to enact legislation that does
not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health plans and include
meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other than the
Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient
protections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.
OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE
ENACTED THIS YEAR. You will underscore your optimism that a strong Patients'
Bill of Rights will be enacted this year. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, you will
highlight your belief that the momentum for this legislation is undeniable. You believe
that the Congress will respond the will of the public and pass a strong enforceable
Patients' Bill of Rights this year.
III.
PARTICIPANTS
Briefing Participants:
Secretary Alexis Herman
Secretary Donna Shalala
Bruce Reed
Chuck Brain
Mary Beth Cahill
Loretta Ucelli
Chris Jennings
Sam Afridi
Stage Participants:
Secretary Alexis Herman
Secretary Donna Shalala
Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL)
Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR)
Rep. Greg Ganske (R-IA)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Connie Morrella (R-MD)
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Members of Congress Pending:
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
9 Doctors and Nurses from Patients' Bill of Rights Coalition organizations
Program Participants:
YOU
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Representative John Dingell (D-MI)
Representative Charles Norwood (R-GA)
Dr. Mary Herald, Internist/Endocronologist Westfield, NJ
IV.
PRESS PLAN
Open Press.
V.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
-
Secretary Shalala, Secretary Herman, and Members of Congress are announced onto
the stage.
-
YOU are announced onto the stage, accompanied by Senator Edward Kennedy,
Senator Arlen Specter, Representative John Dingell, Representative Charles
Norwood, and Dr. Mary Herald.
-
Dr. Mary Herald is announced to the podium, makes brief remarks and introduces
YOU.
-
YOU make remarks and introduce Representative Charles Norwood.
-
Representative Charles Norwood makes remarks and introduces Representative John
Dingell.
-
Representative John Dingell makes remarks and introduces Senator Arlen Specter.
-
Senator Arlen Specter makes remarks and introduces Senator Edward Kennedy.
-
Senator Edward Kennedy makes remarks.
-
YOU work a ropeline and depart.
VI. REMARKS
To be provided by speechwriting.
Final 3/1/00 10:00 pm
Sam Afridi
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
REMARKS ON PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
THE WHITE HOUSE
March 2, 2000
Acknowledge: Dr. Herald; Secretary Shalala; Secretary Herman; Sen. Kennedy; Sen.
Spector; Rep. Norwood; Rep. Dingell; Sen. Graham; Sen. Chaffee; Rep. Ganske; Rep. Berry;
Rep. Morella; Rep. DeLauro; the doctors and nurses who stand with us today and who know
what a difference a meaningful Patients' Bill of Rights will make to quality health care; the
Patients' Bill of Rights Coalition-representing not only our nation's top health, consumer and
provider organizations-but also the breadth of support and the consensus for action.
Dr. Herald shared some powerful testimony. But the fact is, Dr. Herald's story isn't
unique. For more than two years, we've heard health care professionals like Dr. Herald tell us
just how vital patient protections are to their job of providing the best possible care. For more
than two years, we've heard heart-wrenching accounts from families across our nation who were
denied the basic patient protections they need. And for more than two years, we've teamed up
together to answer the call and pass a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights.
We've worked for legislation that reflects our values and restores trust and accountability
in the health care system. Legislation that says plain and simple: You have the right to the
nearest emergency room care. You have the right to see a specialist. You have the right to know
you can't be forced to switch doctors in the middle of treatment-such as a pregnancy or
chemotherapy. You have the right to hold your health care plan accountable if it causes you or a
loved one great harm.
Along the way, we have taken all the steps that we can through executive action to
provide these protections to patients. We have extended patient safeguards to more than 85
million Americans who get their health care through federal plans. And we have provided
similar patient protections to every child covered under the Children's Health Insurance
Program. Many states are making progress, too.
But no state law and no executive action, can do what Congress alone has the power to
accomplish. Only federal legislation can assure that all Americans in all plans get the patient
protections they need. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Norwood, Congressman
Dingell-and the other members here--the House of Representatives passed such a bill-with the
support of 275 members, including 68 Republicans.
Later today, a conference committee will meet to take up the legislation. Many of the
conferees don't reflect the will of the majority-and I'm concerned about that. But I believe all
of the conferees have a clear responsibility to ratify these rights and to do it now.
1
The American people demand a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. Congress
must deliver a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights.
I want to be clear. The Norwood-Dingell bill is the only bipartisan patients protection
bill on the table. And, so far, it is the only bill that can make its way to my desk. I will not sign
legislation that is a Patients' Bill of Rights in name only.
It is not a real Patients' Bill of Rights if it denies people the right to see a specialist--if it
fails to guarantee access to the nearest emergency room care--if it denies the right to stay with a
health care provider throughout a medical treatment.
It is not a real Patients' Bill of Rights if it has a weak appeals process that's tilted against
patients--if it doesn't include a strong enforcement mechanism to hold a health plan accountable-
-or if it leaves more than 100 million people out. We need a bill that covers all Americans-not
one that provides cover for the special interests.
This is not a partisan issue anywhere in the country-and it shouldn't be in Washington,
D.C. The Norwood-Dingell legislation has the endorsement of more than 300 health care and
consumer groups across our country. And it has the support of the American people and a
bipartisan majority of their elected representatives in Congress.
So as the conferees get down to business, I ask them to listen to those voices. To hear the
stories of people on the front-line like Dr. Herald. And then I ask them to reach across party
lines and get this done.
Through the years, we've worked together to pass bipartisan health care legislation that's
made a real difference in people's lives. Four years ago, we enacted legislation to help more
Americans carry their health care from job to job. Two years ago, we passed the Children's
Health Insurance Program to provide health care to millions of kids. Now's the time to provide
patient protections that every family deserves. Now's the time for Congress to act. And I'll
make a deal: Send me a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights today. And I'll send you an
invitation to the signing ceremony tomorrow.
Now it's my privilege to present the sponsor of the Norwood-Dingell bill-a leader in the
fight for patients rights. He's a long-time dentist-and we thank him for applying his knowledge
of the trade to make sure the Patients' Bill of Rights has teeth. Congressman Charlie Norwood.
[following remarks of Senator Kennedy, you will close the program]
Thank you Senator Kennedy-and I want to thank everyone for all they said. Take a
good look around. We have Republicans and Democrats. Members from the House and Senate.
Doctors and nurses. With their words and by their presence, they have spoken with one voice.
No more excuses, it's time for action. The American people have waited long enough for a
strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. Let's get it done.
###
2
EVENT:
PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS EVENT
DATE:
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2000
TIME:
10:35 AM-11:25 AM
LOCATION:
SOUTH LAWN (Alt. Weather Location: Room 450, OEOB)
PARTICIPANTS:
Dr. Mary Harold
The President
Rep. Norwood
Rep. Dingell
Sen. Specter
Sen. Kennedy
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ATTENDING (10):
Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL)
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR)
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)
Rep. Greg Ganske (R-IA)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Connie Morrella (R-MD)
Rep. Charles Norwood (R-GA)
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS PENDING (3):
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
DRAFT: STATEMENT BY MARY HERALD
Good morning, Mr. President, Members of Congress, Secretaries Shalala and Herman, and other
distinguished guests.
Everyone is here today to make a stand for the rights of managed care patients everywhere to
receive the high quality health care that we deserve. As a physician, I feel especially strongly
about this subject.
Mr. President, I care for patients every day who desperately need the protection that a strong,
enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights would provide them when they are at their most vulnerable -
when they are ill, and worried about their families, and frightened for themselves. The last thing
they need is to have to worry about whether their managed care plan will be willing to provide
them with the health care they need. But too many people that pass through my hospital are
forced to battle with their health plans at the same time they are fighting to recover from an
illness.
Mr. President, everyone seems to be in favor of passing a Patients' Bill of Rights. But it won't
do any good to pass a bill that is not meaningful. We need to make sure that the patient
protections we provide people are real.
I am an endocrinologist, and most of my patients are diabetic. I can tell you from experience that
there is nothing more critical than being able to maintain a constant level of care for these
patients by providers who are appropriately trained to care for them. But some of my patients are
not allowed to come to me without being continually referred by their primary care providers.
This causes delays in treatment that often exacerbate their illness and increase costs. The
Norwood-Dingell bill would change that. The bill passed by the Senate would not.
Some of my patients need pituitary gland surgery - a particularly complicated type of
neurosurgery. But many times, the surgeons participating in the patient's health plan don't have
the appropriate expertise to perform the surgery safely. This leaves my patients with the choice
of paying out of pocket for the procedure when health plan providers can't meet their needs or
risking their health by going to a surgeon that can't treat them appropriately. No one should have
to make that decision - and the Norwood-Dingell bill would ensure that patients wouldn't have
to. The Senate bill would force them to choose.
Providers everywhere can tell you that there is nothing more devastating to a patient dealing with
the emotional and physical strains of chronic disease than having to sever your relationship with
a physician you have been seeing for months if not years. When a physician is dropped by a
health plan or when a health plan is dropped by an employer, patients need to know that their
care won't be dropped in midstream. It only adds another burden to a patient who should be
focusing solely on their condition and not having to evaluate by who and how their next
treatment is going to be delivered.
I've seen too many cases such as this in our current health care delivery system and I can't bear
the thought of seeing any more. We need to act now.
If I or my colleagues make a mistake, we can and should be held accountable. In our current
system, health plans aren't subject to that accountability. That is wrong. We need strong patient
protections and a fair independent appeals process in order to reduce litigation, but in those rare
cases where a health plan error causes a patient harm, they should be held accountable.
Mr. President, I am not a politician, and I don't know much about politics. I don't know anyone
who doesn't support passing a Patients' Bill of Rights. But I know - and so do the members of
Congress here with you today - the difference between a real Patients' Bill of Rights and one
that is a Bill of Rights in name only. We elect our representatives to respond to problems - not
just talk about them. I hope that the Congress as a whole can do what the House did last year and
put aside partisan politics to pass a long overdue Patients' Bill of Rights.
It is now my pleasure to introduce the man who has fought harder for the rights of patients than
anyone else, the President of the United States -- William Jefferson Clinton.
THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: WORKING FOR A STRONG,
ENFORCEABLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
March 2, 2000
Today, President Clinton will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House
last fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. He
will underscore his belief that the Norwood-Dingell bill is a strong basis for final legislation and
should not be watered down. Joined by bipartisan members of Congress, including
Representatives Norwood, Dingell, Ganske and Berry, as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy,
Chafee and Graham, the President will urge the Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of
rights that provides critical protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans
accountable for decisions that harm patients.
THE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS' BILL
OF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over 200 health care
provider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal currently being
considered that includes critical protections such as:
Guaranteed access to needed health care specialists;
Access to emergency room services when and where the need arises;
Continuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if
their providers are dropped;
Access to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process;
to address health plan grievances;
Assurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and
An enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been harmed as a
result of a health plan's actions.
THE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND
PROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. The President will underscore his belief that the
bill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:
Leave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic protections
and oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only covers self-insured
health plans);
Fail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and cardiologists;
Fail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having to
abruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;
Fail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room care
when and where the need arises;
Construct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;
Fail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans
accountable when they make harmful decisions.
PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT
REPRESENTS AN EMPTY PROMISE. Today, the President will reiterate his refusal to
enact legislation that does not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health
plans and include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other
than the Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient
protections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.
PRESIDENT CLINTON UNDERSCORES HIS OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG
PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED THIS YEAR. Today, President
Clinton will underscore his optimism that a strong Patients' Bill of Rights will be enacted this
year. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, the President will highlight his belief that the
momentum for this legislation is undeniable. He believes that the Congress will respond the will
of the public and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights this year.
CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO
PROMOTING PATIENTS' RIGHTS. The Administration has a long history of promoting
patients rights, and President Clinton has already extended many of these protections through
executive action to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans -
from Medicare and Medicaid, to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), to the
Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. The Administration's record on
patients' rights include:
Appointing a Quality Commission to examine potential quality concerns in the changing
health care industry. In 1997, the President created a non-partisan, broad-based
Commission on quality and charged them with developing a patients' bill of rights as
their first order of business. The Quality Commission released two seminal reports
focusing on patient protections and quality improvement.
Challenging Congress to Pass a Patients Bill of Rights. In October of 1997, the President
accepted the Commission's recommendation that all health plans should provide strong
patient protections and called on the Congress to pass a strong enforceable patients' bill
of rights. He also called on the Congress to make passing the patients' bill of rights a top
priority in his 1998, 1999, and 2000 State of the Union Addresses.
THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: WORKING FOR A STRONG,
ENFORCEABLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
March 2, 2000
Today, President Clinton will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House
last fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. He
will underscore his belief that the Norwood-Dingell bill is a strong basis for final legislation and
should not be watered down. Joined by bipartisan members of Congress, including
Representatives Norwood, Dingell. Ganske and Berry, as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy,
Chafee and Graham, the President will urge the Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of
rights that provides critical protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans
accountable for decisions that harm patients.
THE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS' BILL
OF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over 200 health care
provider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal currently being
considered that includes critical protections such as:
Guaranteed access to needed health care specialists;
Access to emergency room services when and where the need arises;
Continuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if
their providers are dropped;
Access to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process;
to address health plan grievances;
Assurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and
An enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been harmed as a
result of a health plan's actions.
THE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND
PROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. The President will underscore his belief that the
bill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:
Leave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic protections
and oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only covers self-insured
health plans);
Fail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and cardiologists;
Fail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having to
abruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;
Fail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room care
when and where the need arises;
Construct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;
Fail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans
accountable when they make harmful decisions.
PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT
REPRESENTS AN EMPTY PROMISE. Today, the President will reiterate his refusal to
enact legislation that does not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health
plans and include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other
than the Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient
protections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.
PRESIDENT CLINTON UNDERSCORES HIS OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG
PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED THIS YEAR. Today, President
Clinton will underscore his optimism that a strong Patients' Bill of Rights will be enacted this
year. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, the President will highlight his belief that the
momentum for this legislation is undeniable. He believes that the Congress will respond the will
of the public and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights this year.
CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO
PROMOTING PATIENTS' RIGHTS. The Administration has a long history of promoting
patients rights, and President Clinton has already extended many of these protections through
executive action to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans -
from Medicare and Medicaid, to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), to the
Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. The Administration's record on
patients' rights include:
Appointing a Quality Commission to examine potential quality concerns in the changing
health care industry. In 1997, the President created a non-partisan, broad-based
Commission on quality and charged them with developing a patients' bill of rights as
their first order of business. The Quality Commission released two seminal reports
focusing on patient protections and quality improvement.
Challenging Congress to Pass a Patients Bill of Rights. In October of 1997, the President
accepted the Commission's recommendation that all health plans should provide strong
patient protections and called on the Congress to pass a strong enforceable patients' bill
of rights. He also called on the Congress to make passing the patients' bill of rights a top
priority in his 1998, 1999, and 2000 State of the Union Addresses.
THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: WORKING FOR A STRONG,
ENFORCEABLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
March 2, 2000
Today, President Clinton will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House
last fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. He
will underscore his belief that the Norwood-Dingell bill is a strong basis for final legislation and
should not be watered down. Joined by bipartisan members of Congress, including
Representatives Norwood, Dingell, Ganske and Berry, as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy,
Chafee and Graham, the President will urge the Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of
rights that provides critical protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans
accountable for decisions that harm patients.
THE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS' BILL
OF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over 200 health care
provider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal currently being
considered that includes critical protections such as:
Guaranteed access to needed health care specialists;
Access to emergency room services when and where the need arises;
Continuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if
their providers are dropped;
Access to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process;
to address health plan grievances;
Assurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and
An enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been harmed as a
result of a health plan's actions.
THE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND
PROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. The President will underscore his belief that the
bill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:
Leave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic protections
and oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only covers self-insured
health plans);
Fail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and cardiologists;
Fail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having to
abruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;
Fail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room care
when and where the need arises;
Construct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;
Fail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans
accountable when they make harmful decisions.
PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT
REPRESENTS AN EMPTY PROMISE. Today, the President will reiterate his refusal to
enact legislation that does not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health
plans and include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other
than the Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient
protections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.
PRESIDENT CLINTON UNDERSCORES HIS OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG
PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED THIS YEAR. Today, President
Clinton will underscore his optimism that a strong Patients' Bill of Rights will be enacted this
year. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, the President will highlight his belief that the
momentum for this legislation is undeniable. He believes that the Congress will respond the will
of the public and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights this year.
CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO
PROMOTING PATIENTS' RIGHTS. The Administration has a long history of promoting
patients rights, and President Clinton has already extended many of these protections through
executive action to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans -
from Medicare and Medicaid, to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), to the
Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. The Administration's record on
patients' rights include:
Appointing a Quality Commission to examine potential quality concerns in the changing
health care industry. In 1997, the President created a non-partisan, broad-based
Commission on quality and charged them with developing a patients' bill of rights as
their first order of business. The Quality Commission released two seminal reports
focusing on patient protections and quality improvement.
Challenging Congress to Pass a Patients Bill of Rights. In October of 1997, the President
accepted the Commission's recommendation that all health plans should provide strong
patient protections and called on the Congress to pass a strong enforceable patients' bill
of rights. He also called on the Congress to make passing the patients' bill of rights a top
priority in his 1998, 1999, and 2000 State of the Union Addresses.
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"ocrText": "PBOR\nOF\nTHE UNITED PLEASE ahil STATES OF SAL\n4\nThe White House\nAmail\nIIIIIII\nsecurity\nmmm\nPHOTOCOPY\nPRESERVATION\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMarch 1, 2000\nPATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS EVENT\nDATE:\nMarch 2, 2000\nLOCATION:\nPresidential Hall - OEOB 450\nBRIEFING TIME:\n10:15am - 10:30am\nEVENT TIME:\n10:35am - 11:20am\nFROM:\nBruce Reed, Mary Beth Cahill, Chris Jennings\nI.\nPURPOSE\nToday, you will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House last\nfall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable, Patients' Bill of Rights.\nII.\nBACKGROUND\nToday, you will urge the Congress to move quickly to report to Congress a strong,\nenforceable, Patients' Bill of Rights and underscore your belief that the Norwood-Dingell\nbill is a strong basis for final legislation and should not be watered down. Joined by\nbipartisan members of Congress, including Representatives Norwood, Dingell, Ganske,\nand Berry as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy, Chafee, and Graham, you will urge the\nCongress to act now to pass a patients' bill of rights that provides critical patient\nprotections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans accountable for\ndecisions that harm patients.\nTHE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS'\nBILL OF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over\n200 health care provider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal\ncurrently being considered that includes critical protections such as:\nGuaranteed access to needed health care specialists;\nAccess to emergency room services when and where the need arises;\nContinuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in\ncare if their providers are dropped;\nAccess to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals\nprocess; to address health plan grievances;\nAssurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and\nAn enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been\nharmed as a result of a health plan's actions.\nTHE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND\nPROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. You will underscore your belief that the\nbill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:\nLeave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic\nprotections and oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only\ncovers self-insured health plans);\nFail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and\ncardiologists;\nFail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having\nto abruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;\nFail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room\ncare when and where the need arises;\nConstruct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;\nFail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans\naccountable when they make harmful decisions.\nREFUSAL TO SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT REPRESENTS AN\nEMPTY PROMISE. Today, you will reiterate your refusal to enact legislation that does\nnot provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health plans and include\nmeaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other than the\nNorwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient\nprotections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.\nOPTIMISM THAT A STRONG PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE\nENACTED THIS YEAR. You will underscore your optimism that a strong Patients'\nBill of Rights will be enacted this year. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, you will\nhighlight your belief that the momentum for this legislation is undeniable. You believe\nthat the Congress will respond the will of the public and pass a strong enforceable\nPatients' Bill of Rights this year.\nIII.\nPARTICIPANTS\nBriefing Participants:\nSecretary Alexis Herman\nSecretary Donna Shalala\nBruce Reed\nChuck Brain\nMary Beth Cahill\nLoretta Ucelli\nChris Jennings\nSam Afridi\nStage Participants:\nSecretary Alexis Herman\nSecretary Donna Shalala\nSen. Bob Graham (D-FL)\nRep. Marion Berry (D-AR)\nRep. Greg Ganske (R-IA)\nRep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)\nRep. Connie Morrella (R-MD)\nSen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)\nMembers of Congress Pending:\nSen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)\nSen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)\nRep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)\n9 Doctors and Nurses from Patients' Bill of Rights Coalition organizations\nProgram Participants:\nYOU\nSenator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)\nSenator Arlen Specter (R-PA)\nRepresentative John Dingell (D-MI)\nRepresentative Charles Norwood (R-GA)\nDr. Mary Herald, Internist/Endocronologist Westfield, NJ\nIV.\nPRESS PLAN\nOpen Press.\nV.\nSEQUENCE OF EVENTS\n-\nSecretary Shalala, Secretary Herman, and Members of Congress are announced onto\nthe stage.\n-\nYOU are announced onto the stage, accompanied by Senator Edward Kennedy,\nSenator Arlen Specter, Representative John Dingell, Representative Charles\nNorwood, and Dr. Mary Herald.\n-\nDr. Mary Herald is announced to the podium, makes brief remarks and introduces\nYOU.\n-\nYOU make remarks and introduce Representative Charles Norwood.\n-\nRepresentative Charles Norwood makes remarks and introduces Representative John\nDingell.\n-\nRepresentative John Dingell makes remarks and introduces Senator Arlen Specter.\n-\nSenator Arlen Specter makes remarks and introduces Senator Edward Kennedy.\n-\nSenator Edward Kennedy makes remarks.\n-\nYOU work a ropeline and depart.\nVI. REMARKS\nTo be provided by speechwriting.\nFinal 3/1/00 10:00 pm\nSam Afridi\nPRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON\nREMARKS ON PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nMarch 2, 2000\nAcknowledge: Dr. Herald; Secretary Shalala; Secretary Herman; Sen. Kennedy; Sen.\nSpector; Rep. Norwood; Rep. Dingell; Sen. Graham; Sen. Chaffee; Rep. Ganske; Rep. Berry;\nRep. Morella; Rep. DeLauro; the doctors and nurses who stand with us today and who know\nwhat a difference a meaningful Patients' Bill of Rights will make to quality health care; the\nPatients' Bill of Rights Coalition-representing not only our nation's top health, consumer and\nprovider organizations-but also the breadth of support and the consensus for action.\nDr. Herald shared some powerful testimony. But the fact is, Dr. Herald's story isn't\nunique. For more than two years, we've heard health care professionals like Dr. Herald tell us\njust how vital patient protections are to their job of providing the best possible care. For more\nthan two years, we've heard heart-wrenching accounts from families across our nation who were\ndenied the basic patient protections they need. And for more than two years, we've teamed up\ntogether to answer the call and pass a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights.\nWe've worked for legislation that reflects our values and restores trust and accountability\nin the health care system. Legislation that says plain and simple: You have the right to the\nnearest emergency room care. You have the right to see a specialist. You have the right to know\nyou can't be forced to switch doctors in the middle of treatment-such as a pregnancy or\nchemotherapy. You have the right to hold your health care plan accountable if it causes you or a\nloved one great harm.\nAlong the way, we have taken all the steps that we can through executive action to\nprovide these protections to patients. We have extended patient safeguards to more than 85\nmillion Americans who get their health care through federal plans. And we have provided\nsimilar patient protections to every child covered under the Children's Health Insurance\nProgram. Many states are making progress, too.\nBut no state law and no executive action, can do what Congress alone has the power to\naccomplish. Only federal legislation can assure that all Americans in all plans get the patient\nprotections they need. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Norwood, Congressman\nDingell-and the other members here--the House of Representatives passed such a bill-with the\nsupport of 275 members, including 68 Republicans.\nLater today, a conference committee will meet to take up the legislation. Many of the\nconferees don't reflect the will of the majority-and I'm concerned about that. But I believe all\nof the conferees have a clear responsibility to ratify these rights and to do it now.\n1\nThe American people demand a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. Congress\nmust deliver a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights.\nI want to be clear. The Norwood-Dingell bill is the only bipartisan patients protection\nbill on the table. And, so far, it is the only bill that can make its way to my desk. I will not sign\nlegislation that is a Patients' Bill of Rights in name only.\nIt is not a real Patients' Bill of Rights if it denies people the right to see a specialist--if it\nfails to guarantee access to the nearest emergency room care--if it denies the right to stay with a\nhealth care provider throughout a medical treatment.\nIt is not a real Patients' Bill of Rights if it has a weak appeals process that's tilted against\npatients--if it doesn't include a strong enforcement mechanism to hold a health plan accountable-\n-or if it leaves more than 100 million people out. We need a bill that covers all Americans-not\none that provides cover for the special interests.\nThis is not a partisan issue anywhere in the country-and it shouldn't be in Washington,\nD.C. The Norwood-Dingell legislation has the endorsement of more than 300 health care and\nconsumer groups across our country. And it has the support of the American people and a\nbipartisan majority of their elected representatives in Congress.\nSo as the conferees get down to business, I ask them to listen to those voices. To hear the\nstories of people on the front-line like Dr. Herald. And then I ask them to reach across party\nlines and get this done.\nThrough the years, we've worked together to pass bipartisan health care legislation that's\nmade a real difference in people's lives. Four years ago, we enacted legislation to help more\nAmericans carry their health care from job to job. Two years ago, we passed the Children's\nHealth Insurance Program to provide health care to millions of kids. Now's the time to provide\npatient protections that every family deserves. Now's the time for Congress to act. And I'll\nmake a deal: Send me a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights today. And I'll send you an\ninvitation to the signing ceremony tomorrow.\nNow it's my privilege to present the sponsor of the Norwood-Dingell bill-a leader in the\nfight for patients rights. He's a long-time dentist-and we thank him for applying his knowledge\nof the trade to make sure the Patients' Bill of Rights has teeth. Congressman Charlie Norwood.\n[following remarks of Senator Kennedy, you will close the program]\nThank you Senator Kennedy-and I want to thank everyone for all they said. Take a\ngood look around. We have Republicans and Democrats. Members from the House and Senate.\nDoctors and nurses. With their words and by their presence, they have spoken with one voice.\nNo more excuses, it's time for action. The American people have waited long enough for a\nstrong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. Let's get it done.\n###\n2\nEVENT:\nPATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS EVENT\nDATE:\nTHURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2000\nTIME:\n10:35 AM-11:25 AM\nLOCATION:\nSOUTH LAWN (Alt. Weather Location: Room 450, OEOB)\nPARTICIPANTS:\nDr. Mary Harold\nThe President\nRep. Norwood\nRep. Dingell\nSen. Specter\nSen. Kennedy\nMEMBERS OF CONGRESS ATTENDING (10):\nSen. Bob Graham (D-FL)\nSen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)\nSen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)\nRep. Marion Berry (D-AR)\nRep. John Dingell (D-MI)\nRep. Greg Ganske (R-IA)\nRep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)\nRep. Connie Morrella (R-MD)\nRep. Charles Norwood (R-GA)\nSen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)\nMEMBERS OF CONGRESS PENDING (3):\nSen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)\nSen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)\nRep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)\nDRAFT: STATEMENT BY MARY HERALD\nGood morning, Mr. President, Members of Congress, Secretaries Shalala and Herman, and other\ndistinguished guests.\nEveryone is here today to make a stand for the rights of managed care patients everywhere to\nreceive the high quality health care that we deserve. As a physician, I feel especially strongly\nabout this subject.\nMr. President, I care for patients every day who desperately need the protection that a strong,\nenforceable Patients' Bill of Rights would provide them when they are at their most vulnerable -\nwhen they are ill, and worried about their families, and frightened for themselves. The last thing\nthey need is to have to worry about whether their managed care plan will be willing to provide\nthem with the health care they need. But too many people that pass through my hospital are\nforced to battle with their health plans at the same time they are fighting to recover from an\nillness.\nMr. President, everyone seems to be in favor of passing a Patients' Bill of Rights. But it won't\ndo any good to pass a bill that is not meaningful. We need to make sure that the patient\nprotections we provide people are real.\nI am an endocrinologist, and most of my patients are diabetic. I can tell you from experience that\nthere is nothing more critical than being able to maintain a constant level of care for these\npatients by providers who are appropriately trained to care for them. But some of my patients are\nnot allowed to come to me without being continually referred by their primary care providers.\nThis causes delays in treatment that often exacerbate their illness and increase costs. The\nNorwood-Dingell bill would change that. The bill passed by the Senate would not.\nSome of my patients need pituitary gland surgery - a particularly complicated type of\nneurosurgery. But many times, the surgeons participating in the patient's health plan don't have\nthe appropriate expertise to perform the surgery safely. This leaves my patients with the choice\nof paying out of pocket for the procedure when health plan providers can't meet their needs or\nrisking their health by going to a surgeon that can't treat them appropriately. No one should have\nto make that decision - and the Norwood-Dingell bill would ensure that patients wouldn't have\nto. The Senate bill would force them to choose.\nProviders everywhere can tell you that there is nothing more devastating to a patient dealing with\nthe emotional and physical strains of chronic disease than having to sever your relationship with\na physician you have been seeing for months if not years. When a physician is dropped by a\nhealth plan or when a health plan is dropped by an employer, patients need to know that their\ncare won't be dropped in midstream. It only adds another burden to a patient who should be\nfocusing solely on their condition and not having to evaluate by who and how their next\ntreatment is going to be delivered.\nI've seen too many cases such as this in our current health care delivery system and I can't bear\nthe thought of seeing any more. We need to act now.\nIf I or my colleagues make a mistake, we can and should be held accountable. In our current\nsystem, health plans aren't subject to that accountability. That is wrong. We need strong patient\nprotections and a fair independent appeals process in order to reduce litigation, but in those rare\ncases where a health plan error causes a patient harm, they should be held accountable.\nMr. President, I am not a politician, and I don't know much about politics. I don't know anyone\nwho doesn't support passing a Patients' Bill of Rights. But I know - and so do the members of\nCongress here with you today - the difference between a real Patients' Bill of Rights and one\nthat is a Bill of Rights in name only. We elect our representatives to respond to problems - not\njust talk about them. I hope that the Congress as a whole can do what the House did last year and\nput aside partisan politics to pass a long overdue Patients' Bill of Rights.\nIt is now my pleasure to introduce the man who has fought harder for the rights of patients than\nanyone else, the President of the United States -- William Jefferson Clinton.\nTHE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: WORKING FOR A STRONG,\nENFORCEABLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS\nMarch 2, 2000\nToday, President Clinton will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House\nlast fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. He\nwill underscore his belief that the Norwood-Dingell bill is a strong basis for final legislation and\nshould not be watered down. Joined by bipartisan members of Congress, including\nRepresentatives Norwood, Dingell, Ganske and Berry, as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy,\nChafee and Graham, the President will urge the Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of\nrights that provides critical protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans\naccountable for decisions that harm patients.\nTHE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS' BILL\nOF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over 200 health care\nprovider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal currently being\nconsidered that includes critical protections such as:\nGuaranteed access to needed health care specialists;\nAccess to emergency room services when and where the need arises;\nContinuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if\ntheir providers are dropped;\nAccess to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process;\nto address health plan grievances;\nAssurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and\nAn enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been harmed as a\nresult of a health plan's actions.\nTHE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND\nPROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. The President will underscore his belief that the\nbill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:\nLeave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic protections\nand oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only covers self-insured\nhealth plans);\nFail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and cardiologists;\nFail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having to\nabruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;\nFail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room care\nwhen and where the need arises;\nConstruct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;\nFail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans\naccountable when they make harmful decisions.\nPRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT\nREPRESENTS AN EMPTY PROMISE. Today, the President will reiterate his refusal to\nenact legislation that does not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health\nplans and include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other\nthan the Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient\nprotections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.\nPRESIDENT CLINTON UNDERSCORES HIS OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG\nPATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED THIS YEAR. Today, President\nClinton will underscore his optimism that a strong Patients' Bill of Rights will be enacted this\nyear. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, the President will highlight his belief that the\nmomentum for this legislation is undeniable. He believes that the Congress will respond the will\nof the public and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights this year.\nCLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO\nPROMOTING PATIENTS' RIGHTS. The Administration has a long history of promoting\npatients rights, and President Clinton has already extended many of these protections through\nexecutive action to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans -\nfrom Medicare and Medicaid, to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), to the\nDepartment of Defense and the Veterans Administration. The Administration's record on\npatients' rights include:\nAppointing a Quality Commission to examine potential quality concerns in the changing\nhealth care industry. In 1997, the President created a non-partisan, broad-based\nCommission on quality and charged them with developing a patients' bill of rights as\ntheir first order of business. The Quality Commission released two seminal reports\nfocusing on patient protections and quality improvement.\nChallenging Congress to Pass a Patients Bill of Rights. In October of 1997, the President\naccepted the Commission's recommendation that all health plans should provide strong\npatient protections and called on the Congress to pass a strong enforceable patients' bill\nof rights. He also called on the Congress to make passing the patients' bill of rights a top\npriority in his 1998, 1999, and 2000 State of the Union Addresses.\nTHE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: WORKING FOR A STRONG,\nENFORCEABLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS\nMarch 2, 2000\nToday, President Clinton will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House\nlast fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. He\nwill underscore his belief that the Norwood-Dingell bill is a strong basis for final legislation and\nshould not be watered down. Joined by bipartisan members of Congress, including\nRepresentatives Norwood, Dingell. Ganske and Berry, as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy,\nChafee and Graham, the President will urge the Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of\nrights that provides critical protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans\naccountable for decisions that harm patients.\nTHE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS' BILL\nOF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over 200 health care\nprovider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal currently being\nconsidered that includes critical protections such as:\nGuaranteed access to needed health care specialists;\nAccess to emergency room services when and where the need arises;\nContinuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if\ntheir providers are dropped;\nAccess to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process;\nto address health plan grievances;\nAssurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and\nAn enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been harmed as a\nresult of a health plan's actions.\nTHE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND\nPROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. The President will underscore his belief that the\nbill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:\nLeave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic protections\nand oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only covers self-insured\nhealth plans);\nFail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and cardiologists;\nFail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having to\nabruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;\nFail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room care\nwhen and where the need arises;\nConstruct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;\nFail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans\naccountable when they make harmful decisions.\nPRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT\nREPRESENTS AN EMPTY PROMISE. Today, the President will reiterate his refusal to\nenact legislation that does not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health\nplans and include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other\nthan the Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient\nprotections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.\nPRESIDENT CLINTON UNDERSCORES HIS OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG\nPATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED THIS YEAR. Today, President\nClinton will underscore his optimism that a strong Patients' Bill of Rights will be enacted this\nyear. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, the President will highlight his belief that the\nmomentum for this legislation is undeniable. He believes that the Congress will respond the will\nof the public and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights this year.\nCLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO\nPROMOTING PATIENTS' RIGHTS. The Administration has a long history of promoting\npatients rights, and President Clinton has already extended many of these protections through\nexecutive action to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans -\nfrom Medicare and Medicaid, to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), to the\nDepartment of Defense and the Veterans Administration. The Administration's record on\npatients' rights include:\nAppointing a Quality Commission to examine potential quality concerns in the changing\nhealth care industry. In 1997, the President created a non-partisan, broad-based\nCommission on quality and charged them with developing a patients' bill of rights as\ntheir first order of business. The Quality Commission released two seminal reports\nfocusing on patient protections and quality improvement.\nChallenging Congress to Pass a Patients Bill of Rights. In October of 1997, the President\naccepted the Commission's recommendation that all health plans should provide strong\npatient protections and called on the Congress to pass a strong enforceable patients' bill\nof rights. He also called on the Congress to make passing the patients' bill of rights a top\npriority in his 1998, 1999, and 2000 State of the Union Addresses.\nTHE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION: WORKING FOR A STRONG,\nENFORCEABLE, PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS\nMarch 2, 2000\nToday, President Clinton will urge the Congress to learn from the bipartisan action of the House\nlast fall and move quickly to report to Congress a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. He\nwill underscore his belief that the Norwood-Dingell bill is a strong basis for final legislation and\nshould not be watered down. Joined by bipartisan members of Congress, including\nRepresentatives Norwood, Dingell, Ganske and Berry, as well as Senators Specter, Kennedy,\nChafee and Graham, the President will urge the Congress to act now to pass a patients' bill of\nrights that provides critical protections to all Americans in all health plans and holds health plans\naccountable for decisions that harm patients.\nTHE NORWOOD-DINGELL LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY REAL PATIENTS' BILL\nOF RIGHTS. The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights, endorsed by over 200 health care\nprovider and consumer advocacy groups, is the only bipartisan proposal currently being\nconsidered that includes critical protections such as:\nGuaranteed access to needed health care specialists;\nAccess to emergency room services when and where the need arises;\nContinuity of care protections so that patients will not have an abrupt transition in care if\ntheir providers are dropped;\nAccess to a fair, unbiased and timely internal and independent external appeals process;\nto address health plan grievances;\nAssurance that doctors and patients can openly discuss treatment options; and\nAn enforcement mechanism that ensures recourse for patients who have been harmed as a\nresult of a health plan's actions.\nTHE SENATE BILL IS A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IN NAME ONLY AND\nPROVIDES FEW REAL PROTECTIONS. The President will underscore his belief that the\nbill passed by the Senate is a Patients Bill of Rights in name only. It would:\nLeave more than 110 million Americans without the guarantee of any basic protections\nand oversee less that 10 percent of HMOs nationwide (as it only covers self-insured\nhealth plans);\nFail to provide access to necessary specialists, such as oncologists and cardiologists;\nFail to guarantee continuity of care protections leaving patients at risk of having to\nabruptly change doctors in the middle of treatment;\nFail to provide effective protection to assure patients access to emergency room care\nwhen and where the need arises;\nConstruct a weak, watered-down appeals process that is biased against patients;\nFail to provide strong enforcement mechanism for patients to hold health plans\naccountable when they make harmful decisions.\nPRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT SIGN A PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT\nREPRESENTS AN EMPTY PROMISE. Today, the President will reiterate his refusal to\nenact legislation that does not provide strong patient protections for all Americans in all health\nplans and include meaningful enforcement mechanisms. To date, there is no legislation other\nthan the Norwood-Dingell bill that meets the Administration's fundamental criteria: that patient\nprotections be real and that court enforced remedies be accessible and meaningful.\nPRESIDENT CLINTON UNDERSCORES HIS OPTIMISM THAT A STRONG\nPATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED THIS YEAR. Today, President\nClinton will underscore his optimism that a strong Patients' Bill of Rights will be enacted this\nyear. Citing the Norwood-Dingell legislation, the President will highlight his belief that the\nmomentum for this legislation is undeniable. He believes that the Congress will respond the will\nof the public and pass a strong enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights this year.\nCLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO\nPROMOTING PATIENTS' RIGHTS. The Administration has a long history of promoting\npatients rights, and President Clinton has already extended many of these protections through\nexecutive action to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans -\nfrom Medicare and Medicaid, to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), to the\nDepartment of Defense and the Veterans Administration. The Administration's record on\npatients' rights include:\nAppointing a Quality Commission to examine potential quality concerns in the changing\nhealth care industry. In 1997, the President created a non-partisan, broad-based\nCommission on quality and charged them with developing a patients' bill of rights as\ntheir first order of business. The Quality Commission released two seminal reports\nfocusing on patient protections and quality improvement.\nChallenging Congress to Pass a Patients Bill of Rights. In October of 1997, the President\naccepted the Commission's recommendation that all health plans should provide strong\npatient protections and called on the Congress to pass a strong enforceable patients' bill\nof rights. He also called on the Congress to make passing the patients' bill of rights a top\npriority in his 1998, 1999, and 2000 State of the Union Addresses."
}