Patient Protection Legislation Coming Out of Senate Conference Will Protect Only One in Three Americans with Employer Based Coverage

Protections that Are There Are Weak At Best

Statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, on the Results of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Mark Up on Patient Protection Legislation

"Yesterday the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported out managed care legislation (S. 300) that will do little to protect America's consumers. The meager protection it does offer applies to only one out of three Americans who get their health coverage from their employer. Those odds may be good at the racetrack, but not where your health or that of your family is concerned.

"It is unfortunate that the Committee decided to adopt a counterfeit bill of rights, rather than a genuine one. Among the proposals the committee chose not to include: a true external appeal system for improper denial of care; access to out-of-network providers; access to prescription drugs not on a health plan's formulary; and a number of other basic protections that Americans have said time and again that they want.

"Under this legislation, a health plan that improperly delays or denies essential health care will never be held accountable for the harm it causes. It therefore will have no deterrent for scrimping on needed care.

"At this point in the debate, there is only one proposal out there that truly addresses the American public's concerns about managed care. The Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 (S.6) establishes common sense patient protections and will help restore America's trust in the health care system."

###

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