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H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act STATEMENT "Coburn-Shadegg" Substitute October 7, 1999 The advocates of this substitute are going to talk about one and only one subject this morning: trial lawyers.They want you to ignore all the other issues this substitute fails to address. Our bill -- the Norwood-Dingell-Ganske bill -- guarantees that your health plan will give you the prescription medications you need. Their bill doesn’t. Our bill guarantees that you’ll be able to get into an approved clinical trial if you’re dealing with a life-threatening disease such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s. Their bill doesn’t. Our bill guarantees that the doctor can be an advocate for the patient, through the internal and external appeal of a plan’s decision, without fear of being terminated by the HMO. Their bill allows the HMO to punish your doctor. Our bill guarantees that you’ll be told when your insurance company offers financial rewards to health care providers for not referring you to a specialist, or for giving you cheaper but less effective treatment. Their bill allows HMOs to keep you in the dark. These aren’t the only differences between these substitutes. Others will address further issues in more detail. In the end, the Coburn-Shadegg substitute is no substitute for real managed care reform. | |
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