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CNN Live At Daybreak

Battle for Patients Bill of Rights Rages on Capitol Hill

Aired June 19, 2001 - 08:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go to Washington: years of controversy over patients' rights and their HMOs. The Senate considers two competing bills today. The Democrats hope to use their slim majority to pass their bill, but the Republicans have their own measure. And it is backed by President Bush.

CNN's Kelly Wallace is at the White House this morning with both sides -- good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

LIN: What's the story on each of these bills? What does each offer?

WALLACE: Well, you know, it's interesting, there are a lot of similarities between the two bills. Both would allow patients freer access to specialists and emergency room care. The biggest difference is over the right to sue your HMO. The bill favored by Democratic leaders would allow you to sue in state and federal court and would cap federal punitive damages at $5 million.

Well, the bill favored by most Republicans would only allow lawsuits in federal court and would cap damages -- federal pain-and- suffering damages at $500,000. So expect to hear two arguments over the weeks ahead: Republicans saying the Democratic plan would lead to frivolous lawsuits, jacking up health care costs and forcing some businesses to no longer provide health care coverage to their employees, while Democrats will say their plan will do so such thing.

They point to the example of states that already have patients bill of rights on the book, and they say they have not led to an increase in lawsuits -- Carol.

LIN: So, Kelly, let's explore a "What if?" What if the Democrat's plan actually passes and it ends up on the president's desk. Is he going to veto it?

WALLACE: Well, the president has said if that bill in its current form does make its way to his desk, he will veto it. But Democratic lawmakers believe that the president, if he gets that bill, that he will be forced politically to sign it.

Well, some Republicans disagree. And they think the president could score some political points by vetoing a bill that the president and Republicans believe benefits too much the trial lawyers -- Carol.

LIN: So, Kelly, what's your assessment? Where do you think this debate stands?

WALLACE: Well, clearly, both sides say that they want a patients bill of rights this year. You have Democrats now controlling the Senate. They're saying that they have the votes in the Senate and in the House of Representatives to get a bill.

Clearly, there's both sides saying there's going to be room for compromise. So what we're likely to see is maybe some compromise over lawsuits in state and federal court and over the size of that cap on damages. So it looks like there will be some possible compromise. But, again, the president is saying that if this bill comes in its current form, he'll veto it. And it seems that Republicans believe he could score some political points even vetoing a bill that many Americans want to see on the books.

LIN: The debate continues. Thank you very much, Kelly Wallace, reporting live from the White House.

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