[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 139 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONORING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF KAISER PERMANENTE MEDICAL CARE PROGRAM

                                 ______


                              HON. JAY KIM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 8, 1995

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Kaiser 
Permanente Medical Care Program on their 50th Anniversary.
  Fifty years ago, as World War II came to an end and thousands of 
defense workers moved from the shipyards and steel mill operations of 
Henry J. Kaiser and found work in other areas, many asked that they be 
able to continue their membership in the pre-paid group practice health 
plan which had been established by Henry J. Kaiser and Dr. Sidney 
Garfield in California and Oregon.
  As a result of community interest and need, the Kaiser Permanente 
Medical Care Program was opened to the public in 1945. In Southern 
California, the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program expanded from 
its initial site in Fontana, to the Los Angeles Harbor in 1950 and to 
metropolitan Los Angeles in 1951.
  Once established in Southern California, the Kaiser Permanente 
Medical Care Program grew rapidly as more and more people were 
attracted to its integrated system, comprehensive benefits, high 
quality and affordability In the mid-1960s the Kaiser Permanente 
Medical Center Program was brought to Orange County and now provides 
quality health are to 190,000 people and employees in the Orange County 
region.
  Now, after 50 years, the Southern California region of the Kaiser 
Permanente Medical Care Program now provides care to more than 2.1 
million Southern California residents at 10 major medical centers and 
more than 90 medical office buildings, and is offered by more than 
10,000 businesses between Bakersfield and San Diego.
  Since its inception, Kaiser Permanente has become an acknowledged and 
respected leader in the provision of quality, affordable health care, 
as well as an innovator in clinical research and the delivery of care 
to large numbers of patients.
  Relying on its founding principles of prepayment, comprehensive 
benefits, preventive care, group medical practice and integration of 
service and facilities, Kaiser Permanente has become a respected model 
for how affordable, high quality medical care can be provided.
  After 50 years of providing care to the Southern California 
community, and having become the Nation's largest private health care 
provider with more than 6 million members in 16 States and the District 
of Columbia, it is indeed worthy to note the golden anniversary of the 
Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program and its contributions to the 
health of our community and the Nation.


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