Congress is finally close to ironing out a Patients' Bill of Rights. The timing couldn't be worse
By David S. Ortiz
Talk about making the patient sicker with the wrong prescription. After yearsof wrangling, Congress seems poised to hammer out a Patients' Bill of Rights, and it couldn't come at a worse time for corporations.
Besides worries that the legislation won't adequately protect companies from
lawsuits, the cost of providing health care to employees already rose by double digits this year and is likely to follow suit in 2002. On top of that is the fear
rates will skyrocket further, as insurers try to recoup record losses associated
with last month's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
Drawing Battle Lines
The bills are now in conference committee, where differences between the
House and Senate versions were to be worked out this fall. But as of press time neither side had named any committee members. Now, with attention
shifted toward combating terrorism, restoring the Pentagon and rebuilding parts of New York's financial district, action on the issue could be postponed until