[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  THE ACCESS TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1995 AND THE CHILDREN'S 
                       HEALTH EQUITY ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                      HON. BLANCHE LAMBERT LINCOLN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 7, 1995
  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Access to 
Children's Health Care Act of 1995 and the Children's Health Equity Act 
of 1995.
  The first bill will allow children's hospitals to qualify as 
federally qualified health centers [FQHC], Thus strengthening the vital 
safety net of services for low-income and underserved children with 
special health care needs.
  As the number of children in poverty has 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.
  The second bill, The Children's Health Equity Act of 1995, will 
require States that establish Medicaid managed care programs to 
continue enrolling children with special health care needs in 
traditional fee-for-service plans.
  Today, more and more States are moving to Medicaid managed care 
plans, which can potentially present problems for very sick or disabled 
children. Specifically, HMO-type plans can systematically deny care to 
very sick children by not having enough or any pediatric specialists on 
contract.
  This bill seeks to protect children with special health care needs by 
requiring States who adopt Medicaid managed care programs to keep such 
children enrolled in traditional fee-for-service programs. Most often, 
traditional Medicaid fee-for-service plans provide necessary access to 
pediatric specialists for children with special health care needs.
  I believe mainstreaming the Medicaid population holds many advantages 
for those enrolled in Medicaid. But we cannot put the children in the 
greatest need of access to specialty health care at additional risk of 
being denied necessary services.
  I urge my colleagues to take a serious look at these important bills 
to guarantee appropriate health care for the children in their 
districts with special health needs.


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