[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 234 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 234

  Recognizing the importance of preserving the survival of essential 
                            urban hospitals.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2003

Ms. Kilpatrick (for herself, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Stark, 
 Mr. Owens, Mr. Hoeffel, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Carson of Indiana, 
 Mr. Waxman, Ms. Lee, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Kildee) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance of preserving the survival of essential 
                            urban hospitals.

Whereas mission-driven urban hospitals provide the majority of care to cities' 
        poor, low-income, sick, uninsured, and elderly populations and patients 
        throughout the country;
Whereas the country relies on the specialized services provided by urban 
        hospitals, including trauma and burn care, transplants, and neo-natal 
        care;
Whereas the overwhelming majority of patients of many urban hospitals are 
        covered by Medicare or Medicaid or have no insurance at all;
Whereas these hospitals rely on Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) 
        payments, Indirect Medical Education (IME) payments, bad debt, wage 
        index adjustments, and Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) 
        payments for their survival;
Whereas on average, urban hospitals, particularly urban hospitals that treat a 
        significant number of low-income, uninsured, and elderly patients, have 
        unsustainable negative operating margins;
Whereas urban hospitals proudly provide some of these most difficult services in 
        some of the most challenging environments; and
Whereas ensuring the financial viability of these essential hospitals is 
        critical to maintaining the pillars of America's health care safety-net, 
        urban hospitals: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress should provide adequate Medicare and Medicaid 
reimbursement to ensure the continued viability of these safety-net 
urban hospitals.
                                 <all>