[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     HONORING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF FALLON COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN

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                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fallon Community 
Health Plan and to congratulate the men and women of that organization 
on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary.
  Fallon Community Health Plan was created in 1977 in Worcester, 
Massachusetts, largely though the work of the physicians of Fallon 
Clinic. The Clinic itself, the first group practice in central 
Massachusetts, was founded in 1929, the vision of John Fallon, M.D. The 
doctors of that group have provided high quality and compassionate 
medical care to several generations of area residents, and have a 
uniquely cooperative relationship with the Health Plan.
  While mergers and consolidations have generally ruled the health care 
world in the last few years, Fallon Community Health Plan has continued 
as a locally-controlled, not-for-profit plan, one that truly lives up 
to the word ``community'' in its name. In 1988, the Fallon Clinic and 
Health Plan partnered to establish the Fallon Foundation. With the help 
of community members, local businesses, and public officials, Fallon 
Foundation promotes a healthy community through grants and other 
resources dedicated to direct services, education, and research. Fallon 
Community Health Plan is a valued civic partner in Worcester and other 
cities and towns of central Massachusetts.
  Fallon Community Health Plan has four times been rated the number one 
health maintenance organization in the entire country. It has long been 
looked to as a model of innovative and affordable health coverage. It 
consistently scores highly in measures of quality of medical outcomes. 
Fallon Community Health Plan was also one of the five original health 
plans to enroll Medicare beneficiaries, demonstrating how more 
comprehensive care than Medicare alone provides could be delivered to 
Medicare eligibles at an affordable cost. The Health Plan continues to 
participate in the Medicare+Choice program and its Fallon Senior Plan 
has an accreditation status of ``excellent'' from the National 
Committee for Quality Assurance. It is also a partner with the Federal 
Government in PACE, a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, 
and is in fact the only health maintenance organization in the country 
with such a program.
  Fallon Community Health Plan is a relatively small health care 
organization whose national influence far exceeds its size. We in 
Worcester are proud of its success and the contributions it makes to 
our community. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate the people of 
Fallon Community Health Plan for twenty-five years of service.

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