GOP Health Bill Would Gut Patient’s Rights

Brown, Ohioans Call On DeWine To Choose Children, Not HMOs

LORAIN COUNTY--Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County) and more than one hundred doctors, nurses, social workers, and other concerned residents from across Ohio wrote to Senator Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt today to express concerns about legislation under consideration by the Senate that would threaten health care coverage for more than 3 million Ohioans.

Senate bill 1955, which passed a Senate committee last month after a tie-breaking vote from DeWine, would override Ohio consumer-protection laws ensuring coverage of critical health care. It could be voted on by the full Senate as early as next week.

"This bill represents an assault by the insurance industry on the hard-earned patient protections that benefit us all," Brown said. "With this letter, we are putting the Republican leadership in Washington on notice--our health and safety must come first."

04/06/2006 / Permalink / Enzi Bill, Health Care, Seniors, (all tags)

Senate Bill Could Limit Health Care Coverage, Sherrod Warns at Weekend Events

Youngstown Community Health Center

News conference in Lima

Sherrod speaks with patients and health care professionals in Lima

Health professionals and patients join Sherrod to oppose Enzi Bill at Toledo event

Joined by health care professionals and patients, Sherrod spoke out in Youngstown, Lima, and Toledo last weekend against a Senate bill that would override Ohio laws ensuring coverage of critical health care.

Senate bill 1955, proposed by Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming, was approved by a Senate committee last month with support from Ohio Republican Senator Mike DeWine.

"We need legislation that will help employers and workers afford health care, not divert billions in tax dollars to industry coffers," Sherrod said. "And we can do that by curing Washington of its addiction to insurance industry money."

The bill would allow health insurers to drop coverage for health care needs including maternity care; breast, cervical, colon, and prostate cancer screenings; kidney dialysis; physicals, immunizations and other basic health care for children; mental health treatment; and emergency care.

Families USA, a national health care advocacy group, called the Enzi legislation one of the "most harmful anti-consumer bills in recent memory."

Sherrod co-wrote legislation that would help Ohio small businesses afford health care through tax credits, and enable them to buy into the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

"2006 is about change in Ohio," Sherrod said. "Do you stand up for Ohio families, or do you succumb to the temptations of Washington lobbyists and the insurance industry? Ohioans know where I stand."

04/03/2006 / Permalink / Enzi Bill, Health Care, Seniors, (all tags)

Brown Says Republican Health Bill Will Devastate Ohio Families

DAYTON, OH--Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County) today joined with local health care experts and area residents at the Drew Health Center to speak out against legislation approved by the Senate that would threaten health care coverage for more than 3 million Ohioans.

S. 1955 -- known as the "Enzi" bill -- passed the Senate earlier this month. Supported by Ohio Republican Senator Mike DeWine, the bill would override Ohio laws ensuring coverage of critical health care.

"This bill is part of the pay-to-play system plaguing Washington," Brown said. "The drug industry wrote the disastrous Medicare Part D program, and oil companies wrote an energy bill sending home heating bills through the roof. Now the insurance industry wants its turn at the trough."

03/25/2006 / Permalink / Enzi Bill, Health Care, Seniors, (all tags)

Brown Says Republican Health Bill Will Devastate Ohio Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, April 2, 2006

REPUBLICAN BILL IS MASSIVE GIVEAWAY TO INSURANCE INDUSTRY BROWN SAYS MEASURE WOULD DEVASTATE OHIO FAMILIES

TOLEDO--Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain County) today joined with health care experts and area residents at the Cordelia Martin Health Center to speak out against legislation approved by the Senate that would threaten health care coverage for more than 3 million Ohioans.

Senate bill 1955, proposed by Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming, was approved by a Senate committee last month with support from Ohio Republican Senator Mike DeWine. The bill would override Ohio laws ensuring coverage of critical health care.

"This bill is part of the pay-to-play system plaguing Washington," Brown said. "The drug industry wrote the disastrous Medicare Part D program, and oil companies wrote an energy bill sending home heating bills through the roof. Now the insurance industry wants its turn at the trough."

03/25/2006 / Permalink / Enzi Bill, Health Care, Seniors, (all tags)