Congressman Ganske’s bill part of HMO debate

An Iowa Congressman is in the thick of the fight in Congress over whetherpatients should have the right to sue a Health Maintenance Organization or”H-M-O.” Congressman Greg Ganske, a republican from Des Moines, isco-sponsor of one bill which has bi-partisan support — and the support ofthree-hundred medical groups, including the American Medical Association.Opponents say giving patients the right to sue will cost millions, butGankse says it’ll cost only three to 12 cents per employee per monthGanske, who’s a plastic surgeon, says H-M-O abuses abound.The U-S House is debating at least three different versions of the patients’bill of rights today — a fight which is expected to last through tomorrow.