[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 41 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 41

   Directing the Congress to enact legislation by October 2005 that 
    provides access to comprehensive health care for all Americans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 30, 2003

Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. Corzine, and Mr. Feingold) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Directing the Congress to enact legislation by October 2005 that 
    provides access to comprehensive health care for all Americans.

Whereas the United States has the most expensive health care system in the world 
        in terms of absolute costs, per capita costs, and percentage of gross 
        domestic product (GDP);
Whereas, despite being first in spending, the World Health Organization has 
        ranked the United States 37th among all nations in terms of meeting the 
        needs of its people;
Whereas 42,000,000 Americans, including 8,000,000 children, are uninsured;
Whereas tens of millions more Americans are inadequately insured, including 
        medicare beneficiaries who lack access to prescription drug coverage and 
        long term care coverage;
Whereas racial, income, and ethnic disparities in access to care threaten 
        communities across the country, particularly communities of color;
Whereas health care costs continue to increase, jeopardizing the health security 
        of working families and small businesses;
Whereas dollars that could be spent on health care are being used for 
        administrative costs instead of patient needs;
Whereas the current health care system too often puts the bottom line ahead of 
        patient care and threatens safety net providers who treat the uninsured 
        and poorly insured; and
Whereas any health care reform must ensure that health care providers and 
        practitioners are able to provide patients with the quality care they 
        need: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress shall enact legislation by October 2005 to guarantee that 
every person in the United States, regardless of income, age, or 
employment or health status, has access to health care that--
            (1) is affordable to individuals and families, businesses 
        and taxpayers and that removes financial barriers to needed 
        care;
            (2) is as cost efficient as possible, spending the maximum 
        amount of dollars on direct patient care;
            (3) provides comprehensive benefits, including benefits for 
        mental health and long term care services;
            (4) promotes prevention and early intervention;
            (5) includes parity for mental health and other services;
            (6) eliminates disparities in access to quality health 
        care;
            (7) addresses the needs of people with special health care 
        needs and underserved populations in rural and urban areas;
            (8) promotes quality and better health outcomes;
            (9) addresses the need to have adequate numbers of 
        qualified health care caregivers, practitioners, and providers 
        to guarantee timely access to quality care;
            (10) provides adequate and timely payments in order to 
        guarantee access to providers;
            (11) fosters a strong network of health care facilities, 
        including safety net providers;
            (12) ensures continuity of coverage and continuity of care;
            (13) maximizes consumer choice of health care providers and 
        practitioners; and
            (14) is easy for patients, providers and practitioners to 
        use and reduces paperwork.
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