[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1081]]
  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO PERMIT REASONABLE COST REIMBURSEMENTS FOR 
 EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES PROVIDED BY FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS

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                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to permit 
reasonable cost reimbursements for emergency room services provided by 
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
  We are all well aware of the important role FQHCs play in our 
medically underserved communities. FQHCs exist in areas where economic, 
geographic, or cultural barriers limit access to primary health care, 
and they tailor their services to community needs.
  There are some FQHCs that go above and beyond the usual scope of 
services by not only providing primary and preventive care, but also 
meeting the emergency care needs in their communities. For these 
services, FQHCs are not currently eligible for reimbursement; they 
should be.
  A great example is the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center 
(WCCHC) in an underserved area of Oahu in Hawaii. The WCCHC is a 
community-owned and operated non-profit medical facility that serves an 
ever-growing population of approximately 50,000 residents. Around 
seventy percent of the WCCHC's patients live on incomes below the 
national poverty level. About seventy-five percent of all WCCHC 
patients do not have health insurance. Nearly fifty percent of the 
WCCHC's patients are of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
  The WCCHC--which has been recognized for service excellence both 
locally and nationally--runs the only emergency medical facility on the 
Waianae Coast. The nearest alternative site for emergency medical care 
is twenty miles away. I am sure you will agree that this is quite a 
lengthy journey to make in a critical situation where every second 
matters. The WCCHC emergency room provides patients with the care they 
need close to home, in a facility with which they are familiar, and 
with a staff that both patients and families know and trust. In 1999 
alone, the WCCHC emergency staff handled more than 12,000 cases.
  FQHCs like the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center that provide 
these vital services should be able to receive reasonable 
reimbursements for the emergency care of their patients. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.

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