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Patients' Bill of Rights
With Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.)
Thursday, June 28, 2001; 2:30 p.m.
EDT
The Democratic-sponsored patients' bill of rights is currently being argued in the Senate, but if passed, will President Bush go through with his veto threat? What will happen to the bill in the House?
Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) will be online to take questions and comments on the patients bill of rights and politics in general.
The transcript follows.
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Sen. Jon Corzine: This is an issue that has been debated for a while and it is time to move forward to protect patients' rights. We need to be certain and those involved in the process need to be responsible That is what the debate is about and I think we will get to a positive conclusion on it.
Sparta, N.J.:
If business does not like this legislation, what is there to prevent a company from not offering health care coverage?
Sen. Jon Corzine: The marketplace is the most important constraint. Businesses that don't offer health insurance are at a competitive disadvantage. As we are debating and going forward we are giving companies a chance that they are not 100 percent liable if they opt to have an outside administrative director in regard to health care problems, even if they self insure.
There is no reason for business to be concerned with liability issues unless they take up the decisions that now HMOs and insurance companies deal with. If they try and preempt doctors, then they will be held liable. But here is no reason for them to be fearful if they organize a system of outside administrators, HMO, etc. Or they operate within the restraints with the patients bill of rights.
Laurel, Md.:
Why should my employer be liable if my HMO malperforms?
Rather than blame employers for choosing bad HMOs why don't we just close down the poor health companies?
Sen. Jon Corzine: The assumption is wrong. The employer will not be liable. The HMO is the administrator of the program. It is only if the company makes the decision in regards to health care that they would be held liable.
Grifton, N.C.:
As a new senator, does the shift in control (from GOP to Democrats) make a big difference in your day-to-day work and achievements? And do you anticipate any other party switchers soon? Thanks
Sen. Jon Corzine: The fact that we have spent the last two weeks debating the patients' bill of rights is a direct result of the change. Democratic leadership has prioritized patient care over other issues and brought it to the floor in a way that will bring it to conclusion in the senate. That would not be the case if Trent Lott was still Majority Leader.
For me personally as a senator, I will have greater ability to participate in debates and I will have greater opportunity to fully present issues that I would want debated in committee and get to the floor. Two pieces of legislation I am working on are banning racial profiling and banning driving while using a hand held cell phone. I was also able to work with Sen. Kennedy on the education bill. I was able to include an amendment on financial literacy as a part of the educational bill. I am quite proud of this. Those things would not have had a brief or positive conclusion in the switch in power had not occurred.
Alexandria, Va.:
This is off topic, but do you have a comment on today's Microsoft ruling?
Sen. Jon Corzine: think the focus of the ruling which concerned the apparent bias of the judge is consistent with what a lot of people from whatever perspective you had on the anti-trust issues was a reality. I think everyone, whether you are Microsoft or an indigene migrant worker, ought to have equal treatment and justice under the law. I hope that the powerful will take comfort in the ruling will remember this when similar principles are applied in less visible and economically focused fact situations.
New York, N.Y.:
Good afternoon, Senator Corzine. Can you address the charges that the Senate's version of the Patient's Bill of Rights Act could increase the amount of uninsured Americans by discouraging HMOs from putting themselves in the position of being subject to litigation? If this is true, it seems like a flaw. How can this be addressed?
Sen. Jon Corzine: I think first and foremost those insurance companies and HMOs that are trying to make medical decisions should be help liable just as doctors, nurses and others are. If they are going to withdraw from the insurance market because they do not wasn't to be help accountable for their actions than I think the public will be well served because other companies who are prepared to be held accountable will fill that gap. We have seen no evidence in specific states, where litigation or liability issues have been imposed with states patients bill of rights, having led to a diminution of the insured.
Reston, Va.:
Hello, Senator. Despite the public approval of the Patients' Bill of Rights, it does nothing to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. I seem to remember your own statements during the campaign about broader health reforms. When will the Senate examine the benefits of a national health plan, especially from the point of view that the best national plan is locally controlled (with less federal intervention) and should be more fiscally disciplined, both concepts embraced by conservatives? And, incidentally, do you have any thoughts on states like Massachusetts and Maryland who are fed up waiting for federal action and moving ahead with progressive, comprehensive, cost-savings but benefit-expanding health care reform efforts? Thanks.
Sen. Jon Corzine: The irony of this debate is that those who most resist universal access at healthcare are the ones who are raising the issue that we will create a greater number of uninsured by implementing a patients' bill of rights. If their hearts are in the issue, they should join forces with those of us who support universal access as soon as this debate is done and take up the steps that will quickly lead to universal access. I have a proposal. Paul Wellstone has a proposal. There are a host of initiatives tied up in committee that will seek to address the uninsured. I stand ready to work with anyone on that subject.
Sen. Jon Corzine: Ten years of debate on a patients' bill of rights is enough. It is time to guarantee access for everyone insured, specialized treatments and a fair procedure for redress of appeals in our health care system. Fundamentally doctors and patients ought to be making the judgements on people's health care procedures. That is what this bill does and it is time for it to pass.
washingtonpost.com:
That was our last question today. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
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