[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 25 (Friday, February 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E301-E302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CHARITY CARE FOR THE UNINSURED ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 8, 2007

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, there are more than 40 million uninsured 
Americans today--

[[Page E302]]

nearly a million in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Throughout the 
country, medical professionals and countless others have responded to 
the need of those who are seriously ill and cannot pay for a doctor, 
medicine, and other health costs. In many places, this help has come in 
the form of community free clinics.
  Community free clinics, particularly in Virginia, have helped people 
in communities come together to care for those in need. The health care 
``safety net'' for the poor, like the community free clinics in my 
congressional district, exists in communities across America, but often 
in widely varying degrees.
  I am pleased to introduce today the Charity Care for the Uninsured 
Act. While this legislation alone will not solve the problem of the 
uninsured. I believe it will help strengthen community ``safety nets,'' 
like the community free clinics in Virginia, for those in need and will 
allow doctors recognition for their willingness to give back to their 
communities.
  The Charity Care for the Uninsured Act would provide a personal 
income tax credit of up to $2,000 for doctors who provide between 25 
and 50 hours of uncompensated, pro bono charity care to the uninsured 
in a single calendar year. This legislation would encourage the many 
physicians who have treated patients who were not able to pay, either 
in their offices or in community clinics, to continue to do so.
  The Charity Care for the Uninsured Act also will help provide a 
valuable tool--a personal tax credit--to community clinics in 
recruiting physicians as well as helping motivate countless specialty 
doctors to take community clinic referrals. Free clinics have 
contributed to reduced emergency room, ER, utilization among the 
uninsured, helping save taxpayer dollars. A safety net in which the 
uninsured can access specialists and medications will improve their 
health and guard against catastrophic illnesses and trips to the ER.
  All of the cost savings and health benefits can be traced back to the 
commitment and the compassion of the doctors and community partners, 
and their concern for those who cannot afford insurance. The Charity 
Care for the Uninsured Act of 2007 recognizes and encourages these 
caring acts made to help those who need a helping hand. This 
legislation can be an important tool for communities as they seek to 
strengthen or build the health care safety net available their 
uninsured residents.

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