Families USA Statement on the Outcome of Patient Protection Debate in the Senate

HMOs, not doctors, will have the final say in patient care

Statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA:

"After spending millions of dollars on advertising, lobbying and in campaign contributions, the HMO and insurance industry won round one and was able to get the votes it needed to kill real patient protections on the floor of the United States Senate.

"It is a sad day for consumers across the United States. After a week of debate, HMOs, not doctors, will have the final say in patient care. After months of calls for action, HMOs will not be held accountable for wrongfully denying care that seriously harms or even kills patients. After poll after poll has said all Americans want patient protections, the pitiful protections that were passed apply to less than one in three Americans with employer sponsored coverage. And after all is said and done, the HMO industry was able to get the United States Senate to pass insurance industry protections, not patient protections.

"The American public has been frustrated with HMOs that deny care, that tell them they can't see the specialist they need, HMOs that tell them they can't get the drug they need to treat their illness. They believed the members of the United States Senate would put aside partisan politics and allow members to vote their conscience and protect consumers from managed care abuses.

"This, however, will not be the last word on patient protections because people across American will not let their families' health be dictated by the HMO and insurance industry."

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

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202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org