Quick Senate Contacts Needed in Support of the Patients’ Bill of Rights!

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ACTION ALERT

Quick Senate Contacts Needed in Support of the Patients’ Bill of Rights!

June 20, 2001

Patient Bill of Rights

The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001, S. 1052/H.R. 2563

The Senate passed its version of the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001, S. 1052, on June 29, 2001 by a vote of 59 to 36. It was sponsored by Senators John McCain (N-AZ), John Edwards (D-NC), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

The House of Representatives passed its version of the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001, H.R. 2563, on August 2, 2001 by a vote of 226 to 203. It was sponsored by Representatives Greg Ganske (R-IA), John Dingell (D-MI), Charlie Norwood (R-GA), and Marion Berry (D-AR).

As the versions of the bills passed by both houses of Congress are not identical, a conference committee will be convened to reconcile the differences. Members of both the House and the Senate will be appointed to serve on the committee. If an agreement is reached by the conference committee, the compromise legislation will be reported out and sent back to the House of Representatives and the Senate for an "up or down" vote, as no amendments are permitted on conference reports. If the compromise legislation is passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Bill will be sent to the President. The President has two options-- sign the Bill into law or veto it. If vetoed, the House of Representatives and the Senate may vote to override. In both bodies, a two-thirds majority is required to override the veto. If Congress can muster the votes necessary to override the veto, the measure becomes law. Unfortunately, at printing, the conference committee had not yet begun to meet.

NASW supports the measure as passed by the Senate. The House version is much weaker in several important areas including damage caps, the right to sue, employer liability, states' rights, and scope. NASW will be working throughout the conference process to see that the Senate provisions prevail in the final compromise.

The Senate is expected to begin debate on S. 872, the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, the week of June 18th!

Also known as the McCain, Kennedy, Edwards Patients’ Bill of Rights legislation, this critical bill is expected to come to the Senate floor this week!

ACTION NEEDED

Call, email, fax, or write your Senator and urge him/her to support the McCain, Kennedy, Edwards Patients’ Rights legislation and to oppose any weakening amendments.

To be most effective, contacts should be made by Friday, June 29th, but the sooner, the better.

As always, faxing a copy of your letter to your Senator would be the most effective means of communicating your position but sending an email will also get NASW’s position to Capitol Hill.

TAKE ACTION NOW

What is Congress Web

If you would like to call, mail or fax your Senators all of their offices may be reached through the Capitol Switchboard 202-225-312. Once connected to your Senator’s office, ask for the staff person who handles the Patients’ Bill of Rights.

FAX numbers may be obtained from each individual Senate office via his/her website or telephone.

Thank you for your continued advocacy for issues important to NASW.

BILL SUMMARY

S. 872, the Bipartisan Patient Protection Act:

Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to health care coverage.

Requires group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage, to conduct utilization review activities in connection with the provision of benefits under such plans or coverage only in accordance with an approved utilization review program.

Requires health plans and insurers to offer consumers: (1) more care options; and (2) greater access to patient information.

Restricts interference by health plans and insurers with the doctor-patient relationship.

Prohibits health plans and insurers from discriminating against a licensed health care professional with respect to participation or indemnification.

Requires health plans and insurers to comply with patient protection requirements of this Act.

FEEDBACK/QUESTIONS:

Francesca Fierro O’Reilly
Government Relations & Political Action
National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street, NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002
Ph: 800-638-8799, ext. 336 or 202-336-8336
Fax: 202-336-8311
Email: fforeilly@naswdc.org

TAKE ACTION NOW

What is Congress Web

http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/alerts/2001/062001.asp

4/8/2013