Letter: Democrats will fight for patients’ bill of rights

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 10:04 a.m.

For years, more and more Americans have been forced to have insurance company bureaucrats make medical decisions for them, by being subjected too often to denied care, delayed procedures and restricted access to specialists. Almost every Nevadan has a friend, colleague or acquaintance with an HMO nightmare story to tell.

A five-year David and Goliath battle has pitted wealthy insurance companies against vulnerable American consumers, but we now have a chance to finally pass a real patients' bill of rights.

It is impressive that less than a month after taking control of the U.S. Senate, Nevada's own Harry Reid and Democrats were able to pass a strong bill that empowers consumers and holds HMOs accountable for negligence.

But thanks to some aggressive 11th-hour arm-twisting by President Bush, the House of Representatives has countered with toothless, watered-down, impostor legislation, which benefits HMOs and stacks the deck against patients and their medical health.

Fortunately, we've yet to hear the last word on this issue. When Congress returns from August recess, the battle will be joined again, as the effort to reconcile the House and the Senate bills begins. Democrats will continue to make the case for a real patients' bill of rights, and we will not rest until we have legislation that puts the people's interests ahead of the special interests.

LIZ CARRASCO