House leaders are in a struggle to defeat the bill and to pass one that contains a less expansive right to sue health maintenance organizations.

Like every major candidate, he also favors the right to sue health maintenance organizations.

Patients would also receive new rights to sue insurance companies and health maintenance organizations that improperly deny claims or cause injuries.

The bill would make it easier for patients to sue health maintenance organizations and insurance companies for injuries caused by denying care.

The bill would define a wide range of patients' rights and would give patients a limited right to sue health maintenance organizations in federal court.

Would have allowed patients to sue health maintenance organizations if they are denied necessary treatment or care.

Among other things, it provides patients with the right to sue health maintenance organizations for mistreatment.

That bill has a more expansive right to sue health maintenance organizations.

The House version, but not the Senate's, would also allow injured patients to sue insurers and health maintenance organizations.

He voted "yes" on allowing individuals to sue health maintenance organizations, but under federal rules and limited award in August 2001.