Battle Rages In Congress Over Patients' Rights.(Patients bill of Rights)(Brief Article)

National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management, June, 2001 by BROSTOFF, STEVEN

With President George W. Bush threatening to veto any legislation that subjects employers and health plans to extensive litigation, the debate over a patients' bill of rights heated up both in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives last week. The main bone of contention remains the extent to which patients would be able to sue their employers and health plans over adverse coverage decisions that cause death or significant harm.

The Washington-based Health Insurance Association of America released a study last week arguing that S. 872--the legislation introduced by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz.--amounts to a "pot of gold" for trial lawyers. The legislation would subject insurers and employers to virtually unlimited damages,...

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