[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 165 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROTECTING PATIENTS TRANSPORTATION TO CARE ACT

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                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 21, 2020

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3935, the 
Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act. I'm proud to have 
advanced this bipartisan bill out of my Health Subcommittee and I'm 
pleased to support it on the Floor.
  The Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act introduced by 
Representatives Buddy Carter and Tony Cardenas requires states to offer 
a non-emergency medical transportation benefit. Our Committee also 
heard from Representative Sanford Bishop about this legislation during 
our Members' Day panel.
  Medicaid's coverage of transportation to health services is a 
lifeline for patients, especially those who live in rural or 
underserved areas.
  Over half of Medicaid transportation services are used by patients 
with the highest burden of chronic diseases, including those diagnosed 
with cancer, HIV, mental illness, substance abuse, and end-stage renal 
disease.
  Without this help, patients cannot access the chemotherapy, dialysis, 
and other services that allow them to remain at home and out of the 
hospital.
  Medicaid transportation has been a mandatory Medicaid benefit by 
regulation since the Medicaid program's inception in 1966. This bill 
codifies and protects the benefit.
  I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.

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