Patients' Bill Of Rights Could Pass In 2001 - Brief Article

Healthcare Financial Management, April, 2001

Congress could pass a patients' bill of rights this year, according to two congressional leaders who were quoted in the March 1 issue of Lawyers Weekly USA. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) and Rep. Charles Norwood (R-Ga.) were quoted as saying they expect the Bush administration to drop its opposition to law-suits brought against HMOs in state courts.

President Bush has said he wants lawsuits against HMOs limited to Federal court, a position that Rep. Norwood said he expects the administration to reconsider because it preempts state law, which Rep. Norwood says the president does not want to do. Legislation introduced in Congress allows lawsuits to be brought in state court if they involve a medical dispute, but limits lawsuits that involve coverage disputes to Federal court. Both congressmen said they expect the final bill to include this distinction.