[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 485 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 485

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that any health 
 care reform legislation passed by Congress must ensure access to and 
            the continued advancement of medical technology.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 1994

  Mr. Ramstad (for himself and Mr. Valentine) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Energy and 
                      Commerce and Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that any health 
 care reform legislation passed by Congress must ensure access to and 
            the continued advancement of medical technology.

Whereas the United States enjoys high quality health care largely because 
        patients have access to the latest medical technology;
Whereas medical technology not only improves the health of the citizenry, but 
        also provides cost-effective delivery of care;
Whereas medical technology, the driving force behind advances in quality and 
        improved efficiency, must play an integral role in reforming the health 
        care delivery system;
Whereas substantial capital investment is needed to bring the full benefits and 
        cost-savings from technology to health care delivery;
Whereas the development of medical technology requires large investments in 
        research and development which are generated largely by the private 
        sector;
Whereas artificial health care spending limits in any form--whether they be 
        immediate price controls or controls that are triggered at a future 
        date--will discourage private investment and hinder the development of 
        medical technology;
Whereas the world depends on American innovation for the development of and 
        access to medical technology;
Whereas research and technology development related to information and computer 
        technology and application of those research results to the health care 
        industry are essential to achieving the cost savings necessary to pay 
        for health care reform;
Whereas innovation and competition, not price controls or rationing, are the key 
        to cost-control and high-quality health care; and
Whereas drug and therapy rationing would have unintended consequences and 
        actually lead to decreased competitiveness among suppliers and higher 
        costs for consumers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Medical Innovation 
Resolution''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that any legislation enacted to reform 
health care delivery in the United States must not include provisions 
such as price controls and limits on national health care expenditures 
that would restrict access to medical technology or hinder its 
development.
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