GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ACTION ALERT
Quick Senate Contacts Needed in Support of the Patients’ Bill of Rights!
June 20, 2001
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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
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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
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