[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page S11449]]



            EXPANDING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR CALIFORNIANS

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I commend the Senate for 
approving last night, at my urging, H.R. 3056, which makes a small 
change in Federal law to enable a California county that operates a 
Medicaid managed care plan to provide services to Medicaid 
beneficiaries in another county. This bill, introduced by Congressman 
Frank Riggs, is needed because the Health Care Financing Administration 
concluded that current law limits coverage under these county-operated 
plans solely to the county in which an organization operates.
  This bill was requested by Solano and Napa Counties in California so 
that Solano County could expand its Health Partnership Plan to Napa 
County, thus providing care to 12,000 individuals. Currently, these 
Medicaid beneficiaries have ``hit or miss'' health care. Some are 
refused care by private physicians. The health care they do get is 
inconsistent and unreliable. Many end up in emergency rooms when 
illnesses are exacerbated and care is expensive. When Solano started 
its plan, emergency room visits were cut in half the first year because 
Medicaid beneficiaries were linked up with a primary care physician. 
This resulted in major savings.
  In short, this bill will mean more access, more care and better 
health.
  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill could save up 
to $500,000 per year.
  The bill is supported by Gov. Pete Wilson, the California Department 
of Health Services, and the Solano and Napa County Boards of 
Supervisors.
  I thank Senators Lott, Daschle, Roth, and Moynihan for their help in 
moving this legislation and I urge my colleagues to support it.

                          ____________________