Guest guest Posted June 29, 2001 Report Share Posted June 29, 2001 [_ASG] Look what I just found on iWon.com! This page was forwarded to you from the iWon Web site ( http://www.iwon.com) From: cialynne@... URL: http://news.iwon.com/home/news/news_article/0,11746,38004|top|06-29-2001::22:13|reuters,00.html Message: Take this BCBS.. and all the other insurance companies who dare to deny our right to quality of life! Woo Hoo.. it is only a matter of time now.. Legal notice: Trade names, trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Any republication or redistribution of the content contained herein or the Web page is expressly prohibited 5 > iWon : 5 > Top news : Defying Bush, Senate Passes Sweeping HMO Bill Provided by 5 > News home 5 > Top News 5 > National 5 > World 5 > Politics 5 > CBS News 5 > ReutersDefying Bush, Senate Passes Sweeping HMO BillJune 29, 2001 10:07 pm EST By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defying President Bush's veto threat, the Democrat-led Senate on Friday passed a landmark bill giving Americans sweeping new health care rights and the power to sue health maintenance organization and insurers if treatment is denied. Approved 59-36 after nearly two weeks of heated debate that pitted corporate America against trial lawyers, the Democrat-backed patients' bill of rights now goes to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives where it faces a protracted fight that may well reach into the 2002 congressional election. While welcoming last-minute changes to the measure, which would cover as many as 295 million Americans, Bush said in a statement: "I could not in good conscience sign this bill because it puts the interests of trial lawyers before the interest of patients." He stopped short, however, of using the word "veto." The Senate vote marked Bush's biggest legislative defeat since taking office in January, and a major setback for HMOs, insurers and large U.S. employers, which mounted a multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign warning that the legislation would lead to higher health care costs and increase the number of uninsured. For the Senate's new majority leader, South Dakota Democrat Tom Daschle, the vote was a political victory that could strengthen his hand in future fights with Bush on Medicare reform, energy policy and other legislative issues. "Now we aren't going to be able to win everything in the future. But we have demonstrated to the American people that there is an alternative to the Republicans and that there really are differences between the two parties," said Sen. Leahy, a Vermont Democrat. While the vote was a clear victory for Democrats, supporters of the bill failed to garner the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, and said they would work toward settling their differences with Republicans and the White House later in the legislative process. DEMOCRATIC VICTORY Democrats made the long-stalled patients' bill of rights their first priority after taking control of the Senate on June 5, drawing battle lines with Bush on legislation popular with the American public. Analysts said the outcome could affect elections next year and beyond, and many Republican lawmakers said privately they had the most to lose. Proposed by Democratic Sens. Kennedy of Massachusetts and of North Carolina and Republican Sen. McCain of Arizona, the bill would permit jury awards of up to $5 million in federal court and unlimited punitive damages under state law. Under a 1974 law that Democrats hope to overhaul, HMOs and insurers are shielded. The legislation would also ensure that all Americans with private or public health insurance have access to emergency care, medical specialists and clinical drug trials. Kennedy said the bill's passage "brings us a giant step closer to guaranteeing that millions of Americans will no longer be powerless when their HMOs overrule their doctor and deny needed care." In the final hours of debate, Democrats agreed to Republican demands to limit class action lawsuits against HMOs, to cap lawyers' fees, and to force patients with disputes to wait at least a month before going to court. Senate Democrats also backed amendments to limit the liability of employers and to give states leeway in meeting the proposed federal standards. AMAZON.COM TOP SELLING BOOKS 5 > 1. Prayer Of Jabezby Bruce H. Wilkinson 5 > 2. by McCullough 5 > 3. P is for Perilby Sue Grafton 5 > 4. Ghost Soldiersby Hampton Sides 5 > 5. Dance upon the Airby Nora 3 > Click here to email this page to a friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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