Despite the threat of a veto from President Bush, the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate passed a Patients' Bill of Rights June 29, giving Americans much broader rights in managed care plans, including direct access to specialists such as obstetricians and pediatricians, as well as the right to go to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. Patients in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) also would have the right to appeal decisions to an independent review board and to sue insurers and HMOs over decisions that lead to injury or death.

Although the AFT supported a stronger version of the measure, the Senate produced legislation that will improve the quality of managed health care and "allow medical decisions to be made by medical professionals, not insurance profiteers," says AFT president Sandra Feldman.

At press time, GOP leaders in the House had delayed a vote on a similar patients' rights bill that is supported by the FPE/AFT and hundreds of labor, consumer and medical professions group. The Republican leadership prevented the vote when it became clear that they did not have enough votes to block the bill, which is overwhelmingly supported by the American public.

The White House and GOP leaders in Congress want to pass a weaker bill that provides little patient protection and no whistleblower protection.