PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

[This page contains information from the 108th, 107th, 106th, and 105th Congresses.]

H.R. 4628, "PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT OF 2004"
Introduced June 21, 2004

Under the Patients' Bill of Rights, patients will be guaranteed certain rights under their health insurance plans including: Basic standards for access to care, including clinical trials; The ability to gain access to their own doctor, and doctors able to communicate with the patient without fear of HMO retaliation; Medical decisions about patient care will be made by doctors according to sound medical principles, not HMO bureaucrats; A fair, independent external review process if needed care is denied by their HMO; The right to hold their health plan accountable if their HMO's negligent medical decision resulted in injury or harm. -- June 21, 2004, News Release by Ranking Member John D. Dingell

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION
56 Original Cosponsors	June 21 Dear Colleague (pdf)

Reaction and support:

107TH CONGRESS:

H.R. 2563, "THE BIPARTISAN PATIENT
PROTECTION ACT OF 2001"
Introduced July 19, 2001

Click here to learn the facts
about the House GOP Bill

Who SUPPORTS The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act?

• Bill Text and Status
  (Links to Thomas, Legislative Information on the Internet)

• January 29, 2002 -- to President George W. Bush regarding signing into law a Patients' Bill of Rights

• August 2, 2001 -- Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell

• August 1, 2001 -- Dear Colleague: "More than 800 groups support Ganske-Dingell-Norwood-Berry and they represent YOUR constituency" (pdf file)

• Summary

• Patient's Bill of Rights Legislative Comparison
  Text Format | PDF Format

• Changes Made to the Senate-passed Bill

• Bipartisan Changes Made During Floor Debate To McCain/Edwards Bipartisan Patient Protection Act (S. 1052)

ISSUE PAPERS:

Ganske-Dingell-Norwood-Berry Offers Iron-Clad Protections for Employers; Fletcher Does Not

Ganske-Dingell-Norwood-Berry (H.R. 2563) Protects Employers

Putting Responsibility Where It Belongs:  Protecting Employers

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H.R. 526, "THE BIPARTISAN PATIENT
PROTECTION ACT OF 2001"


Introduced February 8, 2001

Who SUPPORTS The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act?

• July 8, 2001 -- Congressman John D. Dingell Delivers Democratic Radio Response on Patients' Bill of Rights

Click here for the audio broadcast.  (Real Player basic is required to connect to this broadcast.  For a free download go to www.realplayer.com)

OUTLINE SUMMARY LIST OF SUPPORTERS STATEMENTS DEAR COLLEAGUE LTRS. RESPONSES TO CRITICISMS OF THE GANSKE-DINGELL LIABILITY PROVISION

BILL SUMMARY AND STATUS  (Links to Thomas, Legislative Information on the Internet) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE ISSUE PAPERS LEGISLATIVE COMPARISON Text Format | PDF Format

 

STATEMENTS

ISSUE PAPERS

• House GOP Appeals Process Protects HMO’s Not Patients

• The House GOP Bill – The Wrong Prescription for
  Protecting Patients; The Bipartisan Ganske-Dingell-Norwood Bill (H.R. 526) is the Only Bill That Truly Protects Patients

• House GOP Bill -- A Bill To Protect HMO's, Not Patients

• House GOP "Access" Proposal Reduces Access and Undermines Current Insurance Risk Pools

• The Devil is in the Details (Parts 1 and 2)

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTERS

July 2, 2001 -- Support the Ganske-Dingell-Norwood-Berry bill when it comes to the floor for a vote

May 22, 2001-- "The Patients' Bill of Rights: Protection for patients, not HMOs"

February 28, 2001 -- "Cosponsor the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001"

February 2001 -- "Join Us in Fighting for Patients"

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OUTLINE NARRATIVE DISCUSSION LETTERS RE: CONFERENCE LETTERS OF SUPPORT DEAR COLLEAGUE LTRS STATEMENTS THE MANAGED CARE REFORM DEBATE:  COMPARISON CHART COMPARISON OF HOUSE AND SENATE PATIENT PROTECTION LEGISLATION IN CONFERENCE

BILL SUMMARY AND STATUS  (Links to Thomas, Legislative Information on the Internet) H.R. 2723 AS PASSED THE HOUSE (Congressional Record, 10/07/99, pp. H9523-H9534) July 6, 2000:  Legal Analysis of the Senate Patients' Bill of Rights Legislation (pdf file) Nov. 3, 1999:  House appointed conferees. Oct. 15, 1999: Senate appointed conferees. For conference action, see H.R. 2990

LETTERS

• June 12, 2000 to Senator Nickles regarding the progress of the conference (pdf file)
• May 23, 2000 to Senator Nickles and summary of Democratic offer on liability, scope, and external appeals
• January 20, 2000 to House Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Lott requesting public meetings of the conferees on H.R. 2990, the managed care reform bill
• November 5, 2000 to House Speaker Hastert requesting the convening of the conference on H.R. 2990, the managed care reform bill
• October 1, 1999 to Chairman Dreier, House Committee on Rules, regarding the rule for consideration of H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999

STATEMENTS

• June 8, 2000 -- Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell
• March 2, 2000 --  Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Conference on Managed Care Reform
• March 2, 2000 --  Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell
• October 7, 1999 --  Statement of the Honorable John D. Dingell on Houghton Substitute to H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999
• October 7, 1999 --  Statement of the Honorable John D. Dingell on "Coburn-Shadegg" Substitute to H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999
• October 7, 1999 --  Statement of the Honorable John D. Dingell on Boehner Substitute to H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999
• October 6, 1999 --  Statement of the Honorable John D. Dingell during general debate on H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTERS

• October 4, 2000 -- "Patients' Bill of Rights Won't Jeopardize Coverage --Recent Census Data Show Opponents' Claims Aren't True--" (pdf)
• November 2, 1999 -- Motion to Instruct Conferees
• September 13, 1999 -- "Small Business Supports Managed Care Reform" (pdf)
• September 13, 1999 -- on H.R. 2723, "Business Roundtable Myth #5: ..." (pdf)
• September 13, 1999 -- on H.R. 2723, "Business Roundtable Myth #4: ..." (pdf)
• September 13, 1999 -- on H.R. 2723, "Business Roundtable Myth #3: ..." (pdf)
• September 13, 1999 -- on H.R. 2723 "Business Roundtable Myth #2: ..." (pdf)
• September 13, 1999 -- "Business Roundtable Myth #1: H.R. 2723 exposes all employers, large or small, to unlimited liability under differing state laws" (pdf)
• August 23, 1999 -- "Let's Pass Bipartisan Managed Care Reform" (pdf)

H.R. 358
"THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT"

SIDE-BY-SIDE (COMPARISON)

• Comparison of the Patient Protection Bills (Adobe PDF Format)
• Comparison of the Patient Protection Bills (Text)

STATEMENTS

• March 24, 1999 --  America's Health:  Protecting Patients' Access to Quality Care and Information

H.R. 3605/S. 1890

STATEMENTS SUMMARIES SECTION BY SECTION S. 1890, SENATE COMPANION MEASURE

LETTERS OF SUPPORT DEAR COLLEAGUE LTRS. LEGISLATION SIDE BY SIDE (COMPARISON) SUMMARY OF HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP PLAN

STATEMENTS

• September 15, 1998 -- Congressman John D. Dingell, Patients' Bill of Rights
• July 27, 1998 -- Oped of the Hon. John D. Dingell published in The Hill regarding the House Passed Managed-Care Reform Legislation
• July 23, 1998 -- Prepared Remarks of the Hon. John D. Dingell, Before the Committee on Rules Regarding H.R. 3605, the Patients' Bill of Rights
• July 16, 1998 -- Congressman John D. Dingell, Families USA Press Conference
• June 23, 1998 -- President Bill Clinton in Support of the Filing of a Discharge Petition for the Patients' Bill of Rights (pdf)
• April 29, 1998 -- Congressman John D. Dingell
• March 31, 1998 -- Congressman John D. Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998

LEGISLATION

• H.R. 3605, Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998
• S. 1890, Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998