[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     LEGISLATION TO ALLOW HEALTH PROVIDERS TO PAY FEES FOR INITIAL 
                             CERTIFICATIONS

                                 ______


                      HON. BLANCHE LAMBERT LINCOLN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 1995

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. Speaker, budget policies imposed by Congress have 
placed the American health care system in a catch-22. Hundreds of new 
specialized health treatment facilities stand idle today because of 
conflicting rules coming out of Washington.
  I rise today to introduce commonsense legislation that will restore 
order to the havoc wreaked upon health care providers by Washington. 
Here is the problem:
  No. 1, Republican budget policy encourages health care providers to 
reduce costs by establishing specialized facilities that segregate 
certain health treatments, such as rural health clinics and hospices, 
from the mainstream hospital population.
  No. 2, Medicare regulations require initial certification of new 
health treatment facilities in order to receive Government 
reimbursement for eligible treatment.
  No. 3, initial certifications of new health facilities are currently 
on hold in several States due to severe budget cuts imposed by the 
Republican-led Congress.
  No. 4, Federal rules do not provide any other means to pay for 
initial certifications.
  My legislation simply gives the States the authority to charge fees 
to health providers to cover the cost of inspections. If passed, an 
orderly system of initial inspections can resume and good, sensible 
health policy can go into effect.
  I have heard from representatives of many of the 41 health facilities 
in Arkansas which are standing idle and empty while awaiting initial 
certifications. All have stated they are more than willing to pay the 
cost of certification if it will help expedite the opening of these 
much-needed facilities.
  Robert Pear reported in the New York Times on November 25 that this 
particular problem was ``a case study of what might be in store for GOP 
plans after spending reductions.'' In the past 5 years, the number of 
hospices has more than doubled and the number of rural health clinics 
has more than quadrupled. Health facilities such as these are trying to 
meet the growing health care needs of our citizens at less cost to the 
American public. If these facilities are forced to stay closed because 
of bogus regulations and budget cuts by Congress, then it is the people 
who need health care who ultimately lose out.
  Mr. Speaker, let's not tie the hands of our health care providers who 
are trying to meet our requests. I urge my colleagues to support my 
commonsense solution to this problem and allow our health providers to 
care for America's patients.

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