The Patients’ Bill of Rights, legislation that would have allowed patients to sue HMOs for denying medically necessary care, dies in Congress after the managed care industry spends over $60 million lobbying against it. Despite bipartisan support and public outrage over HMO denials that …
George W. BushHealth Insurance Association of AmericaAmerican Association of Health PlansJohn McCainEdward Kennedy+1 morehealthcaremanaged-carelobbyingregulatory-captureinsurance-industry+1 more
President Clinton signs the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), bipartisan legislation that ostensibly addresses insurance portability between jobs but creates a regulatory framework that permits extensive healthcare industry data sharing while blocking more comprehensive …
Bill ClintonNancy KassebaumEdward KennedyHealth Insurance Association of AmericaAmerican Hospital Associationhealthcareinsurance-industryregulatory-capturedata-privacyportability
Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell declares the Clinton administration’s Health Security Act dead, with the bill never coming to a vote in either chamber of Congress. The failure represents a devastating defeat for comprehensive healthcare reform after an intense lobbying campaign by …
Bill ClintonHillary ClintonHealth insurance industryHealth Insurance Association of AmericaPharmaceutical Industryhealthcareregulatory-capturelobbyinginsurance-industrycorporate-power+1 more
President Reagan signs the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA), which includes the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requiring hospitals with emergency departments to screen and stabilize any patient regardless of ability to pay. While framed as …
Ronald ReaganAmerican Hospital AssociationHealth Insurance Association of AmericaPete Starkhealthcareunfunded-mandateemergency-carecost-shiftingregulatory-capture