Editorial: Patient rights get second life
Monday, Oct. 16, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.
With elections nearing, Congress is close to wrapping up its business for this year so that its members can go home and campaign. Just as it did in 1999 and in the previous year, Congress likely will once again adjourn without passing a patient's bill of rights.
When President Clinton and other Democrats started championing a patient's bill of rights several years ago, Republican leaders in Congress dismissed this as partisan grandstanding. But these same Republican leaders conveniently omitted that there was a growing number of Republicans -- primarily in the House -- who also believed patients should have more protections, including the right to sue health insurers if they have prevented them from receiving needed care. For that matter, last year's vote in the House to approve a patient's bill of rights was decisive -- the final tally was 275-151. Unfortunately not enough Republican senators were willing to rebuff their leadership and overcome objections to the legislation.
So it's hard to blame the Clinton administration for announcing last week that it would use regulations to enact some of the patient protections that the Republican-controlled Senate has refused to pass. Not only would the new rules require HMOs to be more responsive when handling a claim, but they also would require that if a patient appeals a rejection of care, that patient should receive a fast and fair review by independent medical experts.
The new rules, however, won't include the right to sue an HMO. That's why it is essential that a meaningful patient's bill of rights become law. It is hoped that the Republican members of the Senate, in the waning days of this legislative session, can show the same backbone as their brethren in the House by standing up to the powerful insurance lobby and passing a patient's bill of rights.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Police arrest 2 more in fatal shooting of Metro officer
- Illness theory gaining ground for gambling addiction
- At CityCenter, it’s not your usual uniforms for workers
- Rebels wake up Sunday with top RPI
- Carl Icahn offers $156 million for Fontainebleau, outbids Penn National
- Ex-ACORN official gets probation for voter registration plan
- Woman dies in house fire in western valley
- Vegas-based Majestic Star Casino seeks bankruptcy
- Despite economy, swank of lawmaker’s fundraisers not in recession
- Report details events leading to officer’s fatal shooting
Blogs
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
And the Season 9 winner of Dancing With the Stars is …
Elsewhere
Sen. Steven Horsford parked in handicap spot for hours (12 Comments)
Now and Then
Rory in disguise ... with glasses
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Angle: I am better than all other Republicans against Harry Reid and here's why (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond within reach of Dancing With the Stars victory
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Doug Hampton's 15 minutes go national: "Nightline" transcript (6 Comments)
Elsewhere
Spike TV confirms Kimbo on TUF Finale (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
-
Thanks-Spinning with Z-Trip at Moon
Moon Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Food Drive at Coyote Ugly
Coyote Ugly | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Surfer Blood with ACoSA at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Ladies night at Feelgoods
Feelgoods
-
Canned food drive at Pure
PURE | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












