Press Release September 16, 1998	Contact: Adrienne Mitchem, mitcad@consumer.org Kathleen McShea, mcshka@consumer.org, 202/462-6262 Consumers Union's Washington, DC Office

Consumers Union: Keep Up the Fight for Patient's Bill of Rights

WASHINGTON - Adrienne Mitchem, legislative counsel for the Washington, D.C. office of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, released the following statement commenting on the latest skirmish in the U.S. Senate over the Patient's Bill of Rights Act:

Given a golden opportunity today to provide patients enrolled in managed care plans to receive fair high-quality treatment, the Senate Republican leadership muffed it. By using political maneuvers on the Senate floor, they prevented Senators Tom Daschle and Ted Kennedy from even beginning the debate on managed care reform.

The choice was whether to stand with the 160 million Americans in managed care plans today who want to put patients before profits, or be beholden to powerful special interests who want to preserve the status quo. For consumers this choice is a "no brainer," yet the sad display of gamesmanship shows us who rules the day in the nation's capitol.

Time is running out and the Patients' Bill of Rights Act is too critical a piece of legislation for lawmakers to let it fall victim to political games. Safeguards established in the Patients' Bill of Rights Act will help ensure that all managed care enrollees receive quality health care.

Consumers Union urges Senators not to give up and keep up the fight to pass the Patients' Bill of Rights Act before this session of Congress expires.