"Today I voted for a bill to ensure that doctors, rather than insurance companies, would make decisions about a patient's care. I voted for a bill to ensure treatment for patients rather than tribute for trial lawyers. The bill I supported would protect patients by enabling individuals to appeal and gain relief when an HMO refuses to provide the health care the patient needs and deserves. At the same time, the plan would have limited the kind of excessive lawsuits that could greatly increase the number of Americans without health insurance. Already, 43 million people don't have health care coverage. I fear the Kennedy-McCain bill would make the problem even worse. I hope the Kennedy-McCain bill can be improved when it's reconciled with what the House passes in the near future."