[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 44 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         CSIS HEALTH CARE FORUM

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, today I would like to share some thoughts 
on my experience of cohosting an educational forum on health care last 
month with the Center for Strategic and International Studies [CSIS]. 
CSIS is a very well-known think tank in town that in the past has 
primarily focused on international and foreign affairs-type issues. I 
have worked with this marvelous organization on various projects since 
I entered the Senate in 1978. They worked with me as I became engrossed 
in immigration reform, and I continue to work with them as a board 
member for their Strengthening of America Program.
  The Strengthening of America Program, cochaired by my friends and 
colleagues Senators Nunn and Domenici is the Center's domestic economic 
policy research and analysis program. Its mission is to analyze the 
economic impact of policies, which affect U.S. economic growth. The 
program launched its health care reform series to educate the public 
and private sectors about the economic consequences of health care 
reform.
  The health care forum, which I cohosted in Cheyenne, WY, marked the 
first in a four State health care reform series made possible with 
grants from the Houston Endowment and Carnegie Corporation of New York. 
These types of health care forums are so important as we begin the 
debate over health care reform in Congress. To build a strong stable 
consensus for any solution to the country's health care dilemma 
requires--as the first step--clear and open communications between 
policy leaders and the public. We are just beginning this type of 
communication and much more needs to be done. That is why I can't speak 
highly enough about CSIS and its various programs.

  The forum I cohosted with Dr. Anthony Smith, Vice President for 
Strategic Planning, CSIS is an excellent example of reaching out to the 
public to educate them on various aspects of health care reform. During 
our forum, we focused on issues relevant to Wyoming and other rural and 
frontier States. Other forums will focus on issues such as biomedical 
innovation, risk adjustment, and employer mandates.
  During the 4-hour session, a panel of experts from around the United 
States and an audience from around Wyoming assessed the issues 
policymakers confront concerning rural and frontier States. Speakers 
gave presentations on alternative delivery systems for frontier States, 
physician and hospital perspectives on frontier health care reform, and 
the role telemedicine might play in solving issues of access and 
quality.
  I was excited to learn that telemedicine, which links physicians and 
medical equipment via telephone lines to remote areas lacking medical 
services, could affect health care by drastically increasing access to 
all types of physicians including a variety of specialists while 
reducing costs and increasing the quality of medical care. Telemedicine 
has the potential of bringing a whole new era of medical delivery to 
Wyoming--especially to our most remote communities.
  In addition, we discussed that most existing health care plans fall 
short for effective reform of frontier areas, and that the President's 
plan is especially geared toward urban areas rather than for rural 
areas. This is something that Members from rural and frontier States 
have been struggling with since we began examining health care reform 
and the President's bill.
  As the health care debate heats up, the CSIS strengthening of America 
program will continue to educate the public on health care reform. I am 
so proud and pleased to be a part of this fine organization, and I wish 
them well as they continue with their health reform activities. We 
could never say we accomplished anything during these many months if we 
left the American public out of this debate. Including the public in 
the debate is essential if the country is to build a health care system 
that is affordable and meets the reasonable expectations of most 
Americans. CSIS is playing a critical role in this education process 
and I commend them on their endeavors.

                          ____________________