July 9, 1999



PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
CALLING ON CONGRESS TO PASS A STRONG, ENFORCEABLE PATIENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS

“ Next week, the Senate has a historic opportunity to pass a real Patients’ Bill of Rights that puts patients’ needs above the bottom line...and puts politics aside for the good of our families.”
President Bill Clinton
July 9, 1999

Today, in Los Angeles, President Clinton urged the Senate to hold a full and fair debate next week to pass a strong, enforceable Patients’ Bill of Rights. While commending Senator Lott for agreeing to schedule a vote on this issue, the President criticized the Republican leadership bill as inadequate for failing to include critical protections for American families. The President also called on Congress to move forward on a plan to strengthen and modernize Medicare for the 21st Century.

Urging Congress to Pass a Strong, Enforceable Bill. More than a year and a half ago, President Clinton accepted the recommendations of a non-partisan quality commission and urged Congress to pass a Patients’ Bill of Rights to ensure that every health plan provides strong patient protections. Since then, thousands of doctors and nurses, over 200 medical and consumer groups, and many health care and public-sector unions have endorsed the President’s plan for patient protections. Today, the President called on the Senate to hold a full and fair debate next week and pass a patients’ bill of rights that includes critical protections such as:

President Clinton has already granted the protection of a Patients’ Bill of Rights to the 85 million Americans who get their health care through federal plans.

Republican Approach Leaves Millions Without Protections. The President emphasized that the current Republican plan would leave over 110 million Americans without basic protections, including:

Stressing the Urgency of Strengthening and Modernizing Medicare. President Clinton urged Congress to work with him in the coming weeks on his plan to strengthen and modernize Medicare for the 21st Century. The President’s plan would:



July 1999

July 28, 1999

July 27, 1999

July 26, 1999

July 20, 1999: Improve Teacher Quality

July 20, 1999: American Legal Community

July 22, 1999

July 16, 1999

July 15, 1999

July 14, 1999

July 13, 1999

July 12, 1999

July 9, 1999

July 2, 1999

July 1, 1999

July 30,1999


President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House | White House for Kids
White House History | White House Tours | Help
Privacy Statement

Help

Site Map

Graphic Version

T H E   W H I T E   H O U S E