[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2073-E2074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS MANAGED CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 2723) to 
     amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
     of 1974, title XXVII of the public Health Service Act, and 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect consumers in 
     managed care plans and other health coverage.

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased that on October 7, 1999, 
the House of Representatives passed the long-overdue Bipartisan 
Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act (H.R. 2723) by such a large 
margin. I truly believe that H.R. 2723 is good, common-sense 
legislation that will protect the interests of patients in contracts 
with health insurers. I am attaching a letter signed by representatives 
of the Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine, the Kansas Dental 
Association, the Kansas Medical Society, the Kansas Pharmacists 
Association, the Kansas State Nurses Association, the National 
Association of Social Workers--Kansas Chapter and the Kansas Trial 
Lawyers Association expressing support for H.R. 2723.
  I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2723 and supported passage, although I was 
very disappointed that the Republican leadership did not allow 
Representatives Norwood and Dingell to offer an amendment to pay for 
provisions in the managed care bill. Their amendment would have 
provided $7 billion in offsets for revenue losses estimated to result 
from increased deductions for higher medical premiums. I fully expect 
the conferees to offset this cost to gain my support for the final 
bill, and I am encouraged that the President has said that he will not 
sign the final bill unless it is fully offset.
  On October 6, 1999, I opposed final passage of H.R. 2990, the so-
called ``access'' bill. This bill was estimated by the Joint Committee 
on Taxation to cost $48.7 billion over 10 years with not offsets. 
Sponsors of H.R. 2990 claim that it will be paid for out of the 
projected budget surplus, which is based upon the assumption that 
Congress will abide by the spending caps enacted in the 1997 budget 
agreement. The Congressional Budget Office, however, has estimated that 
Congress has already voted to increase spending by at least $30 billion 
over the caps for fiscal year 2000, which will require tapping into the 
Social Security Trust Fund. I voted against H.R. 2990 because I made a 
commitment not to spend one penny of the Social Security surplus.
  Let me make one thing clear--I do not believe that legislation to 
protect patients and efforts to make health care more accessible are 
mutually exclusive. As a member of the Small Business Committee, I am 
working hard to expand health coverage to the 43 million Americans who 
lack it, since more than 60% of the uninsured have one thing in 
common--they are either self-employed, or their primary breadwinner is 
employed by a small business that cannot afford to provide health 
benefits.

[[Page E2074]]

  To this end, I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1496, the Small Business Access 
and Choice for Entrepreneurs Act. This legislation would do two things: 
1) Offer immediate 100% health insurance deductibility for the self-
employed; and 2) strengthen and expand Association Health Plans (AHPs) 
for small business owners. AHPs would allow small businesses and the 
self-employed to join together to obtain the same economics of scale, 
purchasing clout, and administrative efficiencies from which large 
health insurance purchasers currently benefit. AHPs will give small 
employers the ability to design more affordable benefit options, offer 
workers more choices, and promote greater competition in the health 
insurance market.
  I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to ensure 
adequate patient protections and access to health care for all 
Americans.

                               Kansas State Nurses Association

                                                  October 5, 1999.
     Congressman Dennis Moore,
     Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Moore: On behalf of organizations 
     concerned about health care in our state, we are writing to 
     ask your support of the bipartisan Consensus Managed Care 
     Improvement Act (HR 2723) by Charlie Norwood and others.
       It is our understanding that this important legislation 
     will be up for consideration the week of October 4. We ask 
     that you support this legislation because it provides the 
     best patient protection by addressing these important 
     elements:
        Allows patients to obtain the medical care they 
     need
        Protects nurses, physicians and other health care 
     professionals who advocate for their patients
        Holds health care plans accountable by removing 
     the ERISA preemption
        Has a strong external review component
        Determines ``medical necessity'' according to 
     generally accepted standards of medical practice by a prudent 
     physician
        Prohibits gag clauses and practices
        Provides accurate disclosure of costs and benefits
       Kansans, just like the majority of Americans, want strong 
     patient protections from managed care. H.R. 2723 represents 
     your best opportunity to provide these protections. Please 
     don't vary from this approach.
       Thank you,
           Respectfully Submitted,

                                                 Chip Wheelan,

                       Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine.

                                              Kevin Robertson,

                                        Kansas Dental Association.

                                              Jerry Slaughter,

                                           Kansas Medical Society.

                                                 Bob Williams,

                                   Kansas Pharmacists Association.

                                                Terri Roberts,

                                  Kansas State Nurses Association.

                                               Sky Westerlund,

           National Association of Social Workers, Kansas Chapter.

                                               Terry Humphrey,

                                 Kansas Trial Lawyers Association.

     

                          ____________________