HARMAN AIRS PATIENTS-RIGHTS AD ON TV

Rep. Jane Harman has launched a new 30-second television commercial in her
bid for the Democratic nomination in the governor's race. Following is a
text of the ad and an analysis by Dan Smith of The Bee Capitol Bureau.

VISUAL: Harman walks outside a medical clinic in Southern California.

HARMAN: My father built this family medical practice right here in Culver
City. Then, machines didn't answer phones and only doctors and patients
made medical decisions. It's an insult when women need permission to see
their own gynecologist. And it's permission to see a specialist. As a
mother of two school-aged kids, I want them treated by doctors who know
them. As governor, I'll fight for a patient's right to choose their own
doctor. HMOs must start putting people ahead of insurance company profits.

ANALYSIS: By taking on the managed care industry, Harman has picked a
popular target, particularly for women voters she is trying to attract.
Recent surveys have found half of all men and 70 percent of women are
frustrated with their health care.

But state lawmakers and Gov. Pete Wilson recently resolved the issues
mentioned in the ad. They approved a bill to allow managed-care clients to
go directly to gynecologists without a referral from their primary care
physician. And they approved another bill requiring managed health care
plans to give standing referrals to specialists for patients with chronic
ailments.

Checked-by: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)