[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 1, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8543-S8544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
        Burr, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Bond, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Snowe, Mr. 
        Jeffords, Mr. Talent, Mr. Bingaman, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Murray, 
        Mr. Chafee, Mr. Reed, Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 3771. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide 
additional authorizations of appropriations for the health centers 
program under section 330 of such Act; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Health Centers 
Renewal Act with my colleagues, Senators Kennedy, DeWine, Dodd, Burr, 
Harkin, Bond, Mikulski, Snowe, Jeffords, Talent, Bingaman, Collins, 
Murray, Chafee, Reed, Smith, and Clinton.
  The health centers program was established more than 40 years ago and 
it has been successful in providing access to quality, comprehensive 
primary health care services throughout the country to a large number 
of uninsured or underinsured people, including children, parents and 
the elderly. Health centers are located at sites within medically 
underserved areas and provide care to those who have limited or no 
access to health insurance. Health centers are a critical component of 
our Nation's health care safety net, providing quality health care to 
over 15 million underserved individuals in the United States.
  These health centers include community health centers which are 
local, not-for profit 501(c) (3) corporations that provide community-
oriented primary and preventive health care and are governed by boards 
of directors that are composed of at least 51 percent health centers 
users, to ensure that the patients and the community are represented.
  In my home State of Utah, community health centers serve 84,578 
patients and provided almost 305,000 patient visits in 2005.
  As I travel throughout Utah, I hear nothing but positive remarks 
about the vital work of community health centers. I would like to share 
some of the comments that I have received from Utahns with my 
colleagues.
  Midtown Community Health Center in Ogden, UT just opened a very 
impressive new center which will enable patients in that community to 
receive the latest care for a range of illnesses such as diabetes, 
hypertension and asthma. These illnesses are costly and often require 
monthly visits, laboratory tests and expensive medication. One of the 
patients at Midtown who has diabetes and hypertension, stated that she 
would not have anywhere to go to monitor her diabetes if Midtown didn't 
exist. She describes Midtown as a ``Godsend'' and said that without her 
health care provided by Dr. Gregoire, she would be in serious financial 
debt and would have to choose between housing and food or health care. 
'
  Another Utah health center has a family that comes into the clinic 
with a son who is bipolar. The boy's mother called very distraught 
because they were having problems affording his medicines and his 
illness had created other concerns within their family. The woman's new 
husband thought discipline was the solution to the child's mood swings. 
The community health center referred the boy to its mental health 
worker, who in addition to providing counseling, was able to get his 
medication for him at a reduced price. The mother thanked the mental 
health worker and she said just having someone to talk to who 
understood the boy's condition was helpful to her and her family.
  Bottom line, community centers have made a tremendous difference for 
Utah's residents with limited or no health insurance. And these 
examples are not unique to Utah--patients across the country have had 
similar experiences with community health centers.
  Due to the difference that health centers have made in so many lives, 
Congress has consistently increased funding for them since 2001 in 
order to meet President Bush's goal to have 1,200 new or expanded 
centers and an additional 6.1 million patients served by 2006. 
Currently, the additional funding has provided service to 4 million 
additional patients and has added new or expanded facilities in well 
over 750 communities nationwide. By reauthorizing this program, we will 
allow health centers to provide lowcost health care to many more 
uninsured and underinsured individuals.
  The legislation that we are introducing today will reauthorize the 
health center program for 5 more years at the fiscal year 2007 funding 
level of $1.963 billion, which is the administration's fiscal year 2007 
budget request for the health centers program.
  Utah health centers have made a tremendous difference in the lives of 
many--66 percent of patients come from Utah's urban areas and 27 
percent are from the rural regions in Utah. Ninety-six percent of 
Utah's health center patients lived below 200 percent of the Federal 
poverty level and health centers have made a tremendous difference in 
their lives. In fact, for most, these health centers serve as a vital 
component of the health care safety net for the medically underserved 
and uninsured. In rural areas, health centers are often the only health 
care provider for many miles.
  Midtown Community Health Center coordinates a free comprehensive 
screening clinic for women on an annual basis. In 2006, over 250 women 
received pap smears, breast examinations, diabetes screening, 
cholesterol screening and depression screening. Many of the low-income, 
uninsured women served had not received preventive care in many years. 
One woman who attended the event had experienced irregular vaginal 
bleeding for several months. She had tried to find a medical provider 
but was unsuccessful

[[Page S8544]]

due to a lack of health insurance and financial concerns. She came to 
Midtown Community Health Center with an enlarged uterus, a uterine mass 
and anemia. A Midtown medical provider arranged for an emergency 
ultrasound and removal of the tumor within 3 weeks. The patient is 
improving and being treated by Midtown for anemia and irregular 
menstrual periods.
  A 40-year-old man was working as a contractor when his boss noticed 
he was losing weight and took him to the hospital. He was diagnosed 
with tuberculosis and hepatitis C. He did not have health insurance and 
became homeless. The hospital referred him to Wasatch Homeless Health 
Care, Inc. where he entered the tuberculosis housing and treatment 
program.
  The Johnsons manage their own business in a small rural Utah town, 
but somehow health insurance coverage has always been difficult for 
them to purchase. Without the Wayne Community Health Center in 
Bicknell, the family could only seek medical care for emergencies.
  These stories are just some of real life experiences which illustrate 
how community health centers make a difference. They save lives. They 
provide preventive health care. They keep people out of hospitals. 
Community health centers are worth every cent that the Federal 
Government invests in them. I am pleased and proud to support them by 
introducing this legislation today.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation which not 
only provides individuals with important health care services but also 
ensures that the health centers providing these services will have the 
necessary support to continue providing health services.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is an honor to join Senator Hatch 
today in introducing this bill to reauthorize the health centers 
program. The Health Centers Renewal Act reauthorizes the community 
health center program through 2011. Its goal is to make sure that 
people across the Nation can obtain the care they need in their 
community, regardless of their ability to pay.
  What began in the 1960s as a neighborhood health center demonstration 
project at two sites--Columbia Point in Massachusetts and Mound Bayou 
in Mississippi--has flourished beyond expectation in the years since 
then. It has now grown to more than 1,000 community, migrant, and 
homeless health centers providing care in every State across the 
Nation. Health centers are the ``medical home'' today for over 15 
million patients--patients who are overwhelmingly low-income, uninsured 
and minorities. Without health centers in their community, most of 
these patients would have nowhere to turn for the health care they 
need.
  Health centers are truly democratic, and are operated in large part 
by the patients and communities they serve. We hear a great deal these 
days about moving toward ``consumer-directed'' health care but in most 
cases that's a code name for cost-shifting to patients. That's not true 
of health centers, which are truly consumer-directed. The requirement 
of a patient-majority for health centers' governing boards makes sure 
the community has a real voice in the services offered and that the 
needs of the community are met. This community focus has been essential 
to the program's success in reducing barriers to good health care and 
overcoming unfair health disparities.
  As the number of uninsured and underinsured persons grows each year, 
the need for health center services increases. More than 40 percent of 
health center patients have no health insurance and their ranks are 
increasing. Another 36 percent have coverage through Medicaid or CHIP, 
and cuts in these programs affect health centers as well. With the 
growing number of patients who rely on health centers, we must provide 
the funds needed to open new centers in areas that are underserved and 
to provide better funding to existing centers to meet the growing 
demand.
  Health centers fill a large void by providing quality, cost-effective 
care in medically underserved areas. Most health centers are located in 
rural areas or economically depressed inner cities, where poverty is 
high and the need is great. They truly are part of the community, 
providing not just health care, but good jobs and other programs that 
benefit the entire community.
  Community health centers have proven their value over the past four 
decades, and this bill will enable them to expand and grow in the years 
ahead, so that they can continue to provide the quality care that their 
patients and communities rely on.
  Ms. SNOWE. I am pleased to join with my colleagues in the 
introduction of the Health Centers Renewal Act. Today health centers 
are a critical part of our health care safety net, serving over 15 
million Americans.
  Community Health Centers, also known as federally qualified health 
centers, are the only source of primary and preventive services for 
many medically underserved. This is especially true for people living 
in rural areas, where provider shortages couple with high health care 
delivery costs to make access difficult for many individuals.
  The increasing role of health centers truly represents a bipartisan 
success story. Since 2001, the Congress has provided increased funding 
for health centers to improve and upgrade existing facilities, as well 
as to further expand the safety net these centers provide. That has 
supported the President's goal to provide 1,200 new or expanded 
centers, and is why today an additional four million Americans are now 
served by health centers.
  In my State of Maine, over 80,000 individuals are served by federally 
funded health centers. In fact, one in five uninsured, low-income 
Mainers relies on a health center for their primary care. In rural 
areas, 1 in 10 of our residents rely on a community health center for 
care.
  Today's health centers look very different from those of the past. 
They are providing comprehensive primary care, and have been moving 
forward to adopt new technology and practice models which will ensure 
care of the highest quality at modest cost. In fact, the Office of 
Management and Budget has recognized the health centers as one of the 
top 10 performing programs in the Federal Government.
  Community involvement has been key to this success. The requirement 
that patients and community play a major role in governance has been 
key to the success of these providers in addressing critical local 
health needs.
  There is much yet that must be done to improve our health care safety 
net, including reducing the disparities in care and outcomes which 
plague minority and poor populations. Health centers will play a vital 
role in meeting those challenges, and that is why I am pleased to 
support this vital legislation to enable their continued growth and 
support.
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