[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 22 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              ACCESS TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1994

  (Ms. LAMBERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LAMBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Access to 
Children's Health Care Act of 1994. This bill will allow children's 
hospitals to qualify as federally qualified health centers [FQHC] by 
giving children's hospitals outpatient services exemptions to certain 
FQHC provisions. These provisions will strengthen the vital safety net 
of services for low income and underserved children with special health 
care needs.
  Children's hospitals provide almost half of all their care to poor 
children. As the number of children in poverty have grown and private 
coverage of dependents has declined, children's hospitals have 
increasingly become the primary care pediatrician and pediatric 
specialist for children. In addition, children's hospitals accept all 
children regardless of their ability to pay and substantially 
underwrite outpatient care.
  By allowing children's hospitals to qualify as FQHC's, the hospitals 
will receive reimbursement based on reasonable costs as defined by 
Medicaid.
  This bill has the support of the National Association of Community 
Health Centers, which recognizes the need to maintain and strengthen 
community resources. In addition, this legislation is a top priority 
for the National Association of Children's Hospitals and related 
institutions.
  Access to care is a vital part of health reform. This legislation is 
not only important within the context of the current Medicaid program, 
it also will assure that children's hospitals will be recognized as 
essential providers under reform proposals.
  I urge my colleagues to take a serious look at this proposal to 
guarantee appropriate health care access for the children in their 
districts with special health needs.

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