Ensign to introduce patient protection bill

Ensign, R-Nev., plans to introduce the Health Quality and Fairness Act in the House Tuesday.

"I spent a lot of time listening to people's fears and frustrations about the system and crafted this bill based on what I heard from them," Ensign said Monday.

His bill is modeled after legislation approved by Nevada lawmakers in 1997. Assembly Bill 156 protects patients dealing with HMOs.

The new legislation will offer patients improved access to emergency services, allow them to select an OB-GYN or pediatrician as a primary care provider and provide fast, objective appeals for denial of coverage.

Nevada State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Henry said Ensign's proposal doesn't go far enough in protecting patients.

Henry noted Monday's article in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call that said Ensign leads all members of the House in accepting donations from HMOs.

"How can Ensign talk about health care reform when he is being bankrolled by the very same people who want to block these changes?"

archive