The Patients’ Bill of Rights: Women’s Rights Under Managed Care and ERISA Preemption

Abstract

AbstractPublic concern over the perceived failure of managed care has led many to call for the increased accountability of managed care organizations (MCOs). In response, during his January 1998, State of the Union address, President Clinton outlined a Patients’ Bill of Rights that would guarantee patients certain protections against abuses by their health plans. Since January 1998, the Patients’ Bill of Rights has been entrenched in partisan politics. Consequently, the 105th Congress failed to enact a Patients’ Bill of Rights and the 106th Congress has passed two opposing versions of the Bill. At the time of publication, the two bills sat in a joint House Senate conference committee awaiting reconciliation.Although both sides support legislation increasing patient protections, Democrats and Republicans are divided over the issue of remedies for patients who have had their rights violated.