[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE PATIENT NAVIGATOR, OUTREACH, AND CHRONIC DISEASE 
                         PREVENTION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2003

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I'm pleased to be joined by my 
Colleague from Ohio, Deborah Pryce, to introduce the Patient Navigator, 
Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2003.
  The existence of significant health disparities in this nation is 
undeniable. For years, research has told us that minorities and low-
income populations are the least likely to receive the health care they 
need to live a long, healthy life. We've done a very good job of 
identifying this problem--it's high time we do something to solve it.
  That's why I'm very excited about the bill we are introducing today 
and the strong support we've already received for it. The bill is 
supported by the American Cancer Society, the National Association of 
Community Health Centers, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, 
the National Hispanic Medical Association, the Intercultural Cancer 
Council and their Caucus, the National Council of La Raza, 100 Black 
Men of America, the National Rural Health Association, Dean and Betty 
Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, MHz Networks, Asian and Pacific Islander 
American Health Forum, Dia de la Mujer Latina, Inc., the Cancer 
Research and Prevention Foundation, and the National Patient Advocate 
Foundation.
  This bill addresses what I believe are the root causes of health 
disparities in minority and underserved communities: lack of access to 
health care in general--and particularly lack of access to prevention 
and early detection--as well as language and cultural barriers to care.
  The bottom line is: the only way to stay healthy is to see a doctor 
when you are healthy. Yes, there are a number of explanations for the 
higher rates of disease among minority populations, including higher 
rates of uninsured, reduced access to care, and lower quality of care. 
But all of these barriers point to the same underlying problem, 
minority patients are less likely to receive early screening and 
detection, so their disease is found at a much later stage and they 
have less chance of survival.
  The bill we're introducing today will ensure that all Americans, 
regardless of race, ethnicity, language, income, or geography, will 
have access to prevention screening and treatment, and that they will 
have an advocate at their side, helping them navigate through today's 
complicated health care system.
  It does this by building upon the existing infrastructure of the 
Consolidated Health Center program, the Indian Health Service, the 
Office of Rural Health Policy, and the National Cancer Institute.
  It creates model programs to ensure that people are educated about 
the importance of prevention screening and early detection. A key 
component of the proposal is year-round outreach to the target 
community, in a language that they can understand.
  It funds culturally and linguistically competent providers that reach 
out into the community, build their trust, build relationships, and 
educate the public, while providing prevention screenings and follow-up 
treatment.
  And it ensures that navigators are available to help patients make 
their way through the health care system--whether it's translating 
technical medical terminology, making sense of their insurance, making 
appointments for referral screenings, following-up to make sure the 
patient keeps that appointment, or even accompanying a patient to a 
referral appointment.
  The original concept for the legislation comes from Dr. Freeman's 
``navigator'' program, which he created while he was Director of 
Surgery at Harlem Hospital. Recently, I was fortunate to get to visit 
Dr. Huerta's local Cancer Preventorium, which replicates Dr. Freeman's 
navigator concept within a comprehensive model of prevention services. 
This bill will translate the work of Dr. Harold Freeman and Dr. Elmer 
Huerta into a legislative model for cancer and chronic disease 
prevention and treatment for minorities and underserved communities.
  The track record of these programs speaks for itself. It's very clear 
that these are not new ideas or new concepts, they're models that have 
been proven to work. And it's time that we take what's worked and use 
it to benefit underserved populations across the country. That's 
exactly what this legislation will do.

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