[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26539]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. OLVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. OLVER. We often hear that America has the best health care system 
in the world; but the cold, hard facts don't agree. Between 1997 and 
2002, when researchers compared preventable deaths from diabetes, 
cancer and heart disease, among others, in 19 industrialized countries, 
the United States placed last, dead last. 75,000 lives could have been 
saved had the United States achieved just the average preventable death 
rate of its counterparts. Since 2002, another 75,000 deaths could have 
been prevented.
  The Affordable Health Care for America Act will reduce preventable 
deaths. H.R. 3962 completely bans preexisting condition exclusions by 
2013 and ends copays and deductibles for preventive care under Medicare 
and Medicaid. And H.R. 3962 will train many more primary care providers 
and pay them better for their service.
  Our current health care system is failing us. We need health reform 
now.

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