|
| Date: |
October 5, 1999 |
| Contact: |
Dave Lemmon, Director of Communications
Robert Meissner, Deputy Director of Communications
Bryan Fisher, Press Secretary
202-628-3030 |
Industry Exploitation of Uninsured To Defeat Patient Protections Shameful,' According to Consumer Watchdog Group
Statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA "In the next few days we have the opportunity to establish real protections for consumers in managed care plans, but the insurance industry is pulling out all the stops to defeat passage of this important legislation. In addition to their multi-million dollar advertising and lobbying efforts, the industry has sunken so low that they are exploiting the plight of the uninsured in a last-ditch effort to kill patient protections.
"Those of us who have been in the trenches over the years to expand coverage for the millions of Americans who are uninsured know that the industry has a terrible record on this issue. In every major effort over the last 20 years to expand coverage for uninsured Americans, the insurance and HMO industry has either been silent or led the fight against such proposals."It is shameful that when the industry finally recognizes the plight of the uninsured, they use the uninsured as a shield to fend off legislation that would protect all Americans.
"While the industry claims they care about the uninsured, they truly care about the defeat of managed care patient protections. Let them put the millions of dollars in advertising, lobbying and consulting fees they have spent to defeat patient protections into advertising, lobbying and consulting to expand coverage for the 44 million Americans who are uninsured. Then we will know they are as serious about helping the uninsured as they are about defeating patient protections."
###
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.
1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org
|
