[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    IN SUPPORT OF ROWLAND-BILIRAKIS

  (Mr. PARKER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PARKER. Mr. Speaker, in the final analysis, the consensus health 
care bill, which passes the Congress, must include rural America. The 
Rowland-Bilirakis bill addresses the urban versus rural question by 
establishing and expanding community health centers in rural and 
innercity areas.
  Community health centers like private medical practices are staffed 
by physicians and other health care professionals. However, social 
services and public health education are provided.
  Establishing new centers will allow more residents, regardless of 
their financial or insurance status, to be served. Patients who can 
pay, will pay on a sliding scale.
  The centers will not offer episodic or second-class care. They will 
provide quality preventive and ongoing primary care, with referrals to 
local hospitals and specialty providers being allowed.
  Further, the bill will provide education and training with 
internships on site in realistic training environments.
  The community health care concept, with 1,200 centers already 
established, is a proven commodity which reduces the need for higher 
cost inpatient and emergency room treatments.
  I support the Rowland-Bilirakis community health care bill and 
believe that it provides the framework for implementing health care 
reform within a realistic timeframe and must be a part of the final 
health care reform product the Congress passes.

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