Backed by the White House, a trio of senators on Tuesday unveiled a plan to let patients sue health plans but limit such cases to federal courts. Supporters hailed the latest version of the patients' bill of rights as a bipartisan compromise that President Bush would sign, despite barbs from insurers and rival lawmakers vowing to push their own plans. Patients want care when it's necessary. President Bush, who had threatened to veto another Senate plan earlier this year, backed Tuesday's plan. Specifically, the bill forces insurers to pay for reasonable emergency room treatments, access to specialists, visits to obstetrician-gynecologists and other patient care.
Patients can sue plans that deny such care, but in federal court only.
Patients must first take their cases to independent medical reviewers. Rivals denounced the provisions, which they say would keep patients out of state courts that are used to dealing with such issues and don't place as many restrictions on damages. The bill would apply to all 170 million Americans covered by individual, work-issued plans or certain state and local government plans. Similar state laws would not be overridden by the federal law, backers said. Senate and House GOP leaders say they are reviewing the plan, despite the Bush endorsement.