[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 129 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 2, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2127) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, this Member rises today in support of the 
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Unfortunately, H.R. 2127 
eliminates funding for this office.
  Rural areas have vastly different health care needs than other parts 
of the country. The Office of Rural Health Policy provides many forms 
of assistance to rural communities and health care providers. For 
example, it directly assists rural communities through the provision of 
telemedicine grants and rural outreach grants. The telemedicine grants 
administered by the Office of Rural Health Policy make it possible for 
rural providers to initiate telemedicine systems now rather than wait 
for urban-based systems to eventually extend such services later. It 
also administers the important rural health outreach grant program. 
These grants are perhaps the most effective of any rural health grants 
because they require organizations within rural areas to work together 
to improve and strengthen the provision of health care.
  The Office of Rural Health Policy also produces important annual 
reports through the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health. The 
most recent report focused on the impact of Medicare reimbursement 
policies on rural health providers.
  Finally, the Office of Rural Health Policy supports research centers 
that address rural health policy problems. This research assists rural 
providers and policy makers on a local, State and Federal level in 
determining the best course of action to take to ensure that rural 
communities have adequate health care available.
  Mr. Chairman, the Office of Rural Health Policy is not an unnecessary 
bureaucracy, but an important organization that works to improve 
available health care in rural areas. This Member urges his colleagues 
to support the continuation of this office in conference.


                          ____________________