Few realities are more frightening than the thought of a health plan failing our children, our parents, our spouses, us. It happens every day in this country, yet too many patients still lack the most basic protections. The Internet petition drive launched here today gives everyone who cares about health care the chance to let Congress know they will not accept phony substitutes in place of real reform. Patients DO NOT want insurance companies arbitrarily overruling their doctor s medical judgment about how long to stay in the hospital. They DO NOT want insurance companies punishing doctors and nurses who report quality problems.
Patients DO want to see an outside specialist when their plan can t meet their needs.
They DO want to hold managed care plans accountable through truly independent reviews and, if that fails, legal remedies. The health care and insurance industry would have you believe these basic protections are too costly. They say these basic quality standards would so threaten industry profits that fewer people would have health care. Well I say to all of you, the choice between poor quality health care and no health care is no choice at all. It s time for every member of Congress to act with courage and put patients before profits.