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CNN Saturday Morning News

House Approves Bush's Patients' Bill of Rights

Aired August 04, 2001 - 07:10   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.
REA BLAKEY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush leaves Washington today for a month-long vacation. But before that, Mr. Bush will make a detour to Bethesda Naval Hospital for his first physical exam as president.

Yesterday the president went to the White House Rose Garden and gave a glowing progress report on his administration's first six months in office. He praised achievements on tax cuts, energy, and patients' bill of rights. The latter was passed Thursday by the Republican-controlled House.

CNN's Jonathan Karl reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bill is passed.

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By a narrow margin, the House approved a patients' bill of rights compromise President Bush brokered a day earlier with Republican Charlie Norwood. All but five Democrats voted against the bill, which passed after an impassioned plea from Congressman Norwood.

REP. CHARLIE NORWOOD (R), GEORGIA: Like it or not, we have to work with this president who has to sign this bill. I think my colleagues are deluding themselves, maybe, if they think we can force a bill down this president's throat. It is simply not going to happen with this honorable man from Texas.

KARL: The bill grants virtually all the patient protections demanded by Democrats, including access to specialists and emergency room care. But Democrats object to limits the legislation put son the right to sue an HMO. Before going to court, patients would have to take their cases to an independent review panel. In court, damages for pain and suffering would be limited to $1.5 million. Punitive damages would also be capped at $1.5 million.

Democrats said the bill tilts the legal process in favor of HMOs.

REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D), MINORITY LEADER: This is a stunning abdication of what we should be fighting to protect for the people that we represent. I defy any of us to go into a hospital room of someone who has been done in by bad decisions made by HMOs and health insurance companies and look them in the eye and say, I voted today to take away your rights.

KARL: But Republicans praised the president for taking a step towards a goal that has eluded advocates of patients' rights for six years, getting their bill signed into law.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), OHIO: And I think Dr. Norwood, working with the president, have found common ground that will give patients in America greater access to the courts, greater remedies, bringing greater accountability.

KARL (on camera): As the White House savored a victory in the House, Senator Ted Kennedy vowed to fight for the broader patients' bill of rights passed by the Senate. Kennedy warned Republicans they have won only a temporary victory.

Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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