[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 241 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 241

To ensure all residents equal access to quality health care services if 
             a managed competition health plan is enacted.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 1993

Mr. Stark introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred 
                to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
To ensure all residents equal access to quality health care services if 
             a managed competition health plan is enacted.

Whereas over thirty-seven million Americans have no health insurance and 
        therefore inadequate access to necessary health care and tens of 
        millions more residents have inadequate health insurance;
Whereas one solution to the health care crisis in the United States of America 
        currently being considered would encourage competition between large 
        groups of providers (Accountable Health Plans or AHP's) to provide 
        health care to large groups of buyers (Health Insurance Purchasing 
        Cooperatives or HIPC's);
Whereas this proposed plan calls for the creation of a national health board 
        which would define a standard package of health benefits and HIPC's 
        would negotiate prices with competing AHP's which would compete on the 
        basis of price, and quality of services;
Whereas tens of millions of Americans will be unable to afford more than the 
        lowest bidding AHP in a given geographic area and will, de facto, be 
        locked into that plan (for example, there will be no real freedom of 
        choice for these individuals);
Whereas the lowest bidding AHP in a given HIPC is less likely to include 
        adequate numbers of higher quality providers (such as tertiary hospital 
        trauma centers, rehabilitation, and a full range of mental health 
        facilities);
Whereas the proposed plan would allow each State significant flexibility to 
        organize and manage the HIPC's and such flexibility may result in 
        quality differences between the State;
Whereas the health industry has traditionally avoided the Medicaid population, 
        the poor, the unemployed, and the chronically ill, assurances should be 
        provided to guarantee true equal access to quality health care to high-
        risk populations;
Whereas one of the members of the Alliance of Managed Competition has submitted 
        testimony to the House Committee on the District of Columbia stating 
        that it has many providers who do not want poor people in their waiting 
        rooms and therefore would not participate in a managed care operation 
        that included large numbers of Medicaid clients;
Whereas concern has been expressed by representatives of the disabled, 
        chronically ill, and high-risk populations that they will continue to 
        have unequal access to quality health care under managed competition 
        proposals;
Whereas approximately 25 percent of the population of this country still lives 
        in rural areas which have small hospitals or none at all and few, if 
        any, physicians, and concern has been expressed that rural residents 
        will not have universal access to quality health care;
Whereas most residents will feel secure and confident about health care reform 
        legislation when they have equal access to quality health care 
        regardless of income, place of residence, status of health, or 
        employment;
Whereas Members of Congress should not force millions of their constituents into 
        health care systems they themselves are unwilling to join; and
Whereas Members of Congress and their families who participate in the lowest 
        bidding AHP in their congressional district will provide an immediate 
        warning of quality problems, deficiencies, and underservice, and thus 
        will ensure that everyone, regardless of income, place of residence, 
        status of health, or employment will have access to quality health care: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That all Members of Congress 
and their families enroll in the lowest bidding AHP in their home of 
record.

                                 <all>