Fw: Patients' Bill of Rights

[Guest guest]

Debate continues on the Patients' Bill of Rights on the Senate floor as Republicans introduce various amendments including one to limit employer liability, which was defeated by a vote of 57 to 43. Another amendment was defeated in a 61 to 39 vote last night that would have pulled the bill from the floor.

House Republicans have also introduced their own White House sanctioned version of the PBOR. Under the Republican bill "a patient could sue a health maintenance organization in state court if the patient was injured becase the HMO refused to provide care ordered by an independent medical reviewer. Damages would be subject to any limits set by state law" (New York Times, June 27, 2001). Damages for pain and suffering would be limited to $500,000 with no punitive damages allowed.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has vowed to keep the Senate in session through the July 4 recess until the Kennedy/McCain/ bill is passed.

Attached is a detailed side-by-side comparison of the provisions in the Kennedy/McCain/ vs. Breaux/Frist bills as well as a sample letter if you wish to write to your members of Congress. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Diane E. Dorman, Sr. Dir. for Public PolicyNational Organization For Rare Disorders - Washington Office3907 Blackburn Lane, #22, Burtonsville, MD 20866Office/, Fax/, Cell/ddorman@...