Bush Balks on Patients' Rights.(George W. Bush doesn't sign legislation passed by Senate)(Brief Article)

Best's Review, August, 2001 by Kelly, Dennis

Senate passes legislation that president says encourages litigation against health insurers; thrift director reluctantly makes way for successor.

The U.S. Senate passed a patients' rights bill that's closer to what President Bush wants to see, but not close enough for him to sign.

The Kennedy-McCain patients' rights bill passed by a 59-36 vote on June 29, after two weeks of debate and some amendments.

While the changes brought the bill closer to the principles Bush said he supports, the bill failed to address "the danger that excessive, unlimited litigation in state courts would drive up premium costs and cause many American families to lose their health insurance," Bush said in a statement.

"I could not in good conscience sign this...

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