HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Addresses

Clash of Cultures—Personal Autonomy Versus Corporate Bondage: Henry Buchwald, S4396-S4399 [28AP]

Information Technologies for Healthcare—Government, Industry and Academia Working Together: Nancy R. Adams, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, S8893 [20JY]

Mental Health Struggles: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, E1179 [9JN]

Amendments

Death and dying: promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), H10889, H10890, H10891 [27OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans (H.R. 2116), S14114 [5NO]

Health: protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2723), H9535, H9564, H9604 [7OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1344), S8235, S8274, S8288, S8290 [12JY], S8318, S8388, S8390, S8394 [13JY], S8516, S8518, S8519, S8522, S8524, S8526, S8527 [14JY], S8535, S8655, S8658, S8663, S8665 [15JY]

Immigration: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses willing to practice in underserved areas (H.R. 441), S13062, S13064, S13065 [22OC], H11321 [2NO]

Analyses

Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act (H.R. 441): Technical Amendment, H11322 [2NO]

Seniors Safety Act (S. 751), S3497-S3499 [25MR]

Appointments

Conferees: H.R. 2116, Veterans' Millennium Health Care Act, S14202 [5NO], H11678 [8NO]

Articles and editorials

Assault on America's Health Care, S12098 [6OC]

Beyond the Horror Stories, Good News About Managed Care, S8604 [15JY]

Black Doctors' Organization Pulls Convention From Seattle, Considers Baltimore, E466 [17MR]

Common-Sense Compromise on Health Care, H2361 [27AP], H2958 [11MY], H3159 [13MY], H3281 [18MY]

Court To Hear HMO Bonuses Case, E1985 [29SE]

Crowd Tells of Health Care Horror Stories, H684 [23FE]

Darla Wants Her Rights, E1753 [5AU]

Deep Medicare Cuts Draw Blood at Teaching Hospitals—Top Med Centers Take Largest Hit—Survival of Fittest, H9014 [29SE]

Don't Kill the Pain-Relief Bill, S14776 [18NO]

Dr. Middleton Lambright, Overcame Racial Barriers, H4715 [22JN]

GOP Leaders Order Hyde To Kill Bill on Doctor Bargaining, S13600 [1NO]

Hands Tied, Judges Rue Law That Limits H.M.O. Liability, S8544 [15JY]

Hearing Loss Touches a Younger Generation; With Rise in Noise, More Seeking Help, S2500-S2502 [10MR]

Helen Feinberg, 84—Social Activist, Spanish Civil War Nurse, E575 [25MR]

HMOs Will Drop 327,000 Medicare Beneficiaries Next Year, S8736 [16JY]

Holding Managed Care Accountable, E1642 [22JY]

Hospital Errors Kill Thousands of Patients Each Year, H8931 [28SE]

Hospitals in Crisis, H9017 [29SE]

Kill the Pain, Not the Patients—Congress Should Allow Doctors To Use Controlled Drugs for Aggressive Pain Treatment Instead of Suicide, S14777 [18NO]

Lawsuits Have Little Effect on Premiums, S8545 [15JY]

Managed Care Needs Immediate Overhaul, S8596 [15JY]

Medicare Cuts Hit Big Centers—Teaching Costs Lower Immunity, H9016 [29SE]

Medicare Reductions Threatening Hospitals, H9013 [29SE]

Money Versus Reform, S8567 [15JY]

New York Hospitals Braced for Cuts, S5168 [12MY]

Now and Tomorrow—A Hawaiian Social Worker in Wai'anae Brings Together Her Work and Culture, E2338 [10NO]

Origin of HIV-1—UAB Researchers Lead Discovery Efforts, H5155 [30JN]

Patients Face Big Bills as Insurers Deny Emergency Claims, H2955 [11MY], H3157 [13MY], H3279 [18MY]

Reconstructing Lives, E2449 [18NO]

Retired Friends Tending to the People's Needs, E2294 [8NO]

She Heals Tortured Souls—Thanks to the Dedicated Work of Dr. Inge Genefke, the Lives of Tens of Thousands Have Been Salvaged, E1623 [22JY]

Suicide Bill's Deep Flaws, H10882 [27OC]

Taking Care—Small Employers Offer Health Benefits To Lure Workers in Kansas City, S8581-S8583 [15JY]

Teaching Hospitals Battling Cutbacks in Medicare Money, S5167 [12MY]

Teaching Hospitals in Trouble, H9015 [29SE]

Teaching Hospitals Say Medicare Cuts Have Them Bleeding Red Ink, S4883 [6MY], E892 [6MY]

Teaching Hospitals—Battling Cutbacks in Medicare Money, H9015 [29SE]

Tribute to Myroslaw M. Hreshchyshyn, E1516 [12JY]

UIC To Cut Hospital Jobs—Seek Merger, H9013 [29SE]

When Hospitals Get Sick, H9013 [29SE]

While Covering Uninsured, Let's Fix Managed Care, H9398 [5OC]

Wissman Set Examples Both Unique and Universal, E1225 [10JN]

World War II Veteran Soldiers On, Alone—Active-Duty Doctor, 80, Salutes His Generation, E2390 [16NO]

Bills and resolutions

American Psychological Association: condemn published study relative to sexual relationships between adults and children (see H. Con. Res. 107), H3086 [12MY]

Armed Forces: improve TRICARE program (see S. 350), S1144 [3FE] (see H.R. 1547), H2299 [22AP]

———increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps (see S. 238), S344 [19JA]

———protect confidentiality of communications between dependents of members and professionals relative to sexual or domestic abuse services (see H.R. 1847), H3295 [18MY]

Children and youth: provide grants for professionals in violence prevention training (see S. 981), S4887 [6MY]

Courts: allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals (see S. 237), S344 [19JA]

Crime: establish demonstration projects to provide specialized assistance to victims of sexual assault and interpersonal violence in hospital emergency rooms (see H.R. 3287), H11853 [9NO]

———training of students relative to identification and referral of victims of domestic violence (see S. 198), S343 [19JA]

———training to identify, address, and prevent domestic violence (see H.R. 3317), H11954 [10NO]

Death and dying: promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (see S. 1272), S7527 [23JN] (see H.R. 2260), H4615 [17JN]

———promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), consideration (see H. Res. 339), H10723 [21OC]

Dentistry: prohibit licensing discrimination by States on the basis of nonresidency (see H.R. 553), H418 [3FE]

Dept. of HHS: make additional payments to certain home health agencies with high-cost patients and provide for an interest-free grace period for repayment of overpayments (see H.R. 1917), H3604 [25MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: enhance the assurance of efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction in the furnishing of health care to veterans (see S. 1956), S14806 [18NO]

———improve allocation of health care resources (see H.R. 24), H225 [6JA]

———improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans (see H.R. 2116), H4023 [9JN]

———improve programs providing counseling and treatment for sexual trauma experienced by veterans (see S. 1579), S10779 [13SE] (see H.R. 1799), H3169 [13MY]

———make pay adjustments for nurses and certain other health-care professionals in the same manner as Federal employees and allow locality pay adjustments for those employees (see S. 1399), S8874 [20JY] (see H.R. 1216), H1595 [23MR]

Disabled: improve service systems for individuals with developmental disabilities (see S. 1809), S13258 [27OC]

Diseases: efforts to prevent transmission of HIV (see H.R. 2405), H5178 [30JN]

Drugs: registration requirements for practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs for maintenance or detoxification treatment (see S. 324), S1076 [28JA] (see H.R. 2634), H6598 [29JY]

Education: establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas (see S. 236), S344 [19JA]

———make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health profession loan programs (see S. 235), S344 [19JA]

———make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program (see S. 233), S344 [19JA]

———revise and extend certain programs for physical and occupational therapy (see S. 114), S341 [19JA]

ERISA: ensure choice of physicians (see H.R. 2275), H4615 [17JN]

———provide that participants in disability insurance plans are entitled to judicial review of certain benefit determinations (see H.R. 1773), H3085 [12MY]

Federal employees: authorize the use of clinical social workers to conduct evaluations to determine work-related emotional and mental illnesses (see S. 230), S344 [19JA]

———health benefits coverage for hearing aids and examinations (see H.R. 2321), H4822 [23JN]

———health benefits coverage of services by chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, and midwifes (see H.R. 2360), H4912 [24JN]

———treatment of Government physicians' comparability allowances as basic pay for retirement purposes (see H.R. 207), H239 [7JA]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 1890), H3460 [20MY]

Health: allow access to drugs and medical devices recommended and provided by health care practitioners that are not approved by the FDA (see S. 1955), S14805 [18NO] (see H.R. 2635), H6598 [29JY]

———application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (see H.R. 1304), H1800 [25MR]

———assure coverage of emergency services under group health plans and health insurance (see H.R. 904), H889 [2MR]

———assure that funds provided for State emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens are used to reimburse hospitals and their related providers that treat undocumented aliens (see H.R. 2205), H4340 [15JN]

———continue coverage of custodial care for certain individuals under the military health care system (see H.R. 3286), H11853 [9NO]

———ensure availability of adequate frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for biomedical telemetry (see H.R. 2379), H5091 [29JN]

———establish certain requirements for managed care plans (see H.R. 3259), H11703 [8NO]

———establish medical education trust fund (see H.R. 2771), H7883 [5AU]

———establish standards to improve children's health quality in managed care plans and other health plans (see S. 636), S2729 [16MR] (see H.R. 1661), H2635 [4MY]

———importance of education, early detection, and treatment in the prevention of breast cancer (see H. Res. 278), H7885 [5AU]

———improve access to dentistry programs in underserved areas and health professional shortage areas (see S. 1035), S5264 [13MY] (see H.R. 1920), H3604 [25MY]

———improve Federal enforcement against health care fraud and abuse (see H.R. 308), H242 [7JA]

———limit medical malpractice claims (see H.R. 2242), H4470 [16JN]

———permit individuals to continue health plan coverage during participation in approved clinical studies (see S. 117), S341 [19JA] (see H.R. 2769), H7883 [5AU]

———prohibit discrimination or retaliation against health care workers who report unsafe conditions and practices (see H.R. 137), H236 [7JA]

———protect the privacy of personally identifiable health information (see H.R. 1941), H3605 [25MY] (see H.R. 2878), H8375 [15SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see S. 6), S337 (see S. 240), S344 [19JA] (see S. 300), S895 [22JA] (see S. 326), S1076 [28JA] (see S. 374), S1258 [4FE] (see S. 479), S2008 [25FE] (see S. 1256), S7325 [21JN] (see S. 1344), S8266 [12JY] (see H.R. 358), H268 [19JA] (see H.R. 448), H375 [2FE] (see H.R. 719), H642 [11FE] (see H.R. 1133), H1334 [16MR] (see H.R. 2723), H7881 [5AU] (see H.R. 2824), H8098 [9SE] (see H.R. 2926), H8628 [23SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 358), consideration (see H. Res. 197), H3711 [27MY] (see H. Res. 310), H8967 [28SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2723), consideration (see H. Res. 323), H9409 [5OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and preserve against preemption of certain State causes of action (see H.R. 216), H239 [7JA]

———provide access, ensure privacy, and impose penalties on unauthorized use of certain health information (see H.R. 1057), H1162 [10MR]

———regulatory burdens on home health agencies (see H. Con. Res. 79), H1802 [25MR]

———require insurance coverage of bone mass measurements and inform women concerning reproductive and post-menopausal health care choices (see H.R. 925), H890 [2MR]

———require managed care organizations to contract with providers in medically underserved areas (see H.R. 1860), H3391 [19MY]

Health care facilities: assure availability of a non-emergency department physician in certain hospitals (see H.R. 567), H419 [3FE]

———protect rights of residents of federally funded facilities (see S. 750), S3440 [25MR]

Health Professions Education Partnership Act: applicability to the Health Education Assistance Program (see H.R. 2148), H4127 [10JN]

Health Professions Education Partnerships Act: technical corrections relative to the Health Education Assistance Loan Program (see S. 833), S3914 [20AP]

Immigration: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses willing to practice in underserved areas (see S. 455), S1926 [24FE] (see H.R. 414), H271 [19JA] (see H.R. 441), H374 [2FE]

Information services: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (see S. 1445), S9378 [27JY] (see H.R. 2627), H6582 [27JY]

Insurance: coverage and treatment of emergency services under health plans (see S. 517), S2209 [3MR] (see H.R. 2045), H3858 [8JN]

———coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (see S. 585), S2575 [11MR]

———coverage of long-term care services (see H.R. 2691), H6963 [3AU]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (see S. 115), S341 [19JA] (see H.R. 383), H270 [19JA] (see H.R. 1911), H3503 [24MY]

———disclose limitations placed on medical care services to plan participants that would otherwise be protected under State law (see H.R. 2113), H4023 [9JN]

———ensure access to information relative to plan coverage, managed care procedures, health care providers, and quality medical care (see H.R. 2046), H3858 [8JN]

———ensure coverage of emergency ambulance services (see H.R. 1777), H3086 [12MY]

———ensure that women can designate an obstetrician or gynecologist as their primary care providers (see S. 697), S3246 [24MR]

———establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient (see S. 265), S750 [20JA] (see S. 794), S3695 [14AP] (see H.R. 989), H1012 [4MR]

———require group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide independent review of adverse coverage determinations (see H.R. 2309), H4735 [22JN]

———require group health plans to provide access to unrestricted medical advice (see H.R. 2043), H3858 [8JN]

———require group health plans to provide coverage of pediatric care (see H.R. 2044), H3858 [8JN]

———require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists (see S. 836), S3914 [20AP] (see H.R. 1806), H3170 [13MY] (see H.R. 2041), H3858 [8JN]

Medicaid: allow fraud control units to investigate and prosecute fraud in Medicare and other Federal programs and elder abuse in residential facilities (see S. 1417), S9072 [22JY] (see H.R. 3045), H9645 [7OC]

———coverage of community-based attendant services (see S. 1935), S14612 [16NO]

———coverage of services provided by nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists (see S. 863), S4109 [22AP] (see H.R. 1514), H2272 [21AP]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 180), S343 [19JA]

———definition of audiologist (see H.R. 1068), H1162 [10MR]

———require criminal background checks on drivers providing medical assistance transportation services (see H.R. 2828), H8098 [9SE]

———require prorating of beneficiary contributions relative to partial coverage for nursing facility services during a month (see H.R. 2852), H8289 [14SE]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (see S. 210), S343 [19JA]

Medicare: accelerate payments to hospitals relative to costs of graduate medical education for Medicare+Choice enrollees (see H.R. 2989), H9076 [30SE]

———administrative fee for submission of paper rather than electronic claims (see H.R. 2114), H4023 [9JN]

———allow certain organizations to purchase home-care services from self-employed caregivers through home-care referral agencies (see H.R. 3041), H9645 [7OC]

———combat fraud and abuse relative to partial hospitalization services (see H.R. 1543), H2299 [22AP]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (see S. 1231), S7218 [17JN] (see S. 1451), S9529 [28JY] (see H.R. 2229), H4341 [15JN] (see H.R. 3461), H12791 [18NO]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse in home health service payments (see S. 255), S749 [20JA]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education (see H.R. 1224), H1596 [23MR]

———coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 1890), H3460 [20MY]

———coverage of chiropractic services under Medicare+Choice program (see S. Con. Res. 32), S5424 [17MY] (see H. Con. Res. 62), H1473 [18MR]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (see S. 660), S2935 [18MR] (see H.R. 1187), H1471 [18MR]

———coverage of vision rehabilitation services (see H.R. 2870), H8374 [15SE]

———designate certain diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes education services (see H.R. 3003), H9303 [4OC]

———eliminate reduction in payment amounts to home health agencies and provide for an interest-free grace period for repayment of overpayments (see H.R. 2618), H6582 [27JY]

———ensure proper payment of approved nursing and paramedical education programs (see S. 1025), S5155 [12MY] (see H.R. 1483), H2201 [20AP]

———ensure reimbursement for certain ambulance services and improve the efficiency of the emergency medical system (see S. 911), S4432 [29AP] (see H.R. 2831), H8099 [9SE]

———establish a demonstration project to provide beneficiaries greater information on various courses of treatment for certain diseases or injuries (see H.R. 1544), H2299 [22AP]

———exclude small rural providers from the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see S. 1601), S11053 [16SE]

———exempt certain beneficiaries from financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services (see H.R. 1837), H3294 [18MY]

———exempt financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services (see S. 472), S2007 [25FE]

———exempt financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services and develop and implement a classification system to vary the limitations (see H.R. 1736), H2920 [6MY]

———expand the use of competitive bidding (see H.R. 1900), H3460 [20MY]

———extend community nursing organization demonstration projects (see S. 1550), S10390 [5AU] (see H.R. 1999), H3710 [27MY]

———graduate medical education payments (see S. 541), S2274 [4MR] (see S. 1023), S5155 [12MY] (see S. 1631), S11362 [23SE] (see H.R. 1222), H1595 [23MR] (see H.R. 1785), H3086 [12MY]

———implement budget neutrality adjustment factor in determining payment rates for Medicare+Choice organizations (see H.R. 2419), H5332 [1JY]

———improve access to health insurance by offering certain individuals a Medicare buy-in option (see S. 202), S343 [19JA]

———improve and streamline the physician self-referral law (see H.R. 2650), H6598 [29JY]

———improve the interim payment system for home health services (see S. 1574), S10729 [10SE]

———increase payments for physician services provided in health professional shortage areas in Alaska and Hawaii (see S. 1476), S10117 [3AU] (see H.R. 2967), H8967 [28SE]

———increase payments to providers for case manager services in rural areas (see H.R. 1646), H2545 [29AP]

———increase the number of physicians that complete fellowships in geriatric medicine and psychiatry (see S. 1628), S11362 [23SE]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see S. 1263), S7452 [22JN] (see H.R. 2241), H4470 [16JN]

———make refinements in the prospective payment system for outpatient hospital services (see H.R. 2979), H9076 [30SE]

———modify restrictions on physician self-referral (see H.R. 2651), H6598 [29JY]

———payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs (see S. 391), S1367 [8FE] (see H.R. 1579), H2372 [27AP]

———payments to hospitals that have graduate medical education programs in critical need specialty areas (see H.R. 1645), H2545 [29AP]

———permit certain skilled nursing facilities to participate in the 3-year transition period under the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility services (see S. 1742), S12783 [18OC]

———prohibit collection of data from home health agencies under the OASIS data collection program from non-Medicare patients (see H.R. 2246), H4470 [16JN]

———provide for a Doctors' Bill of Rights (see H.R. 3300), H11953 [10NO]

———provide for independent case managers for home health services (see H.R. 746), H643 [11FE]

———provide greater equity to home health agencies and ensure access to medically necessary home health services (see H.R. 2628), H6582 [27JY]

———provide more equitable payments to home health agencies (see S. 1358), S8373 [13JY] (see H.R. 2546), H5750 [16JY]

———provide that geographic reclassifications of hospitals from one urban area to another do not result in lower wage indexes (see S. 1890), S14407 [9NO]

———reduce financial liability of physicians providing certain care under Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 1375), H1866 [12AP]

———reform purchasing, payment, and administrative requirements (see H.R. 2115), H4023 [9JN]

———regulatory burdens on home health agencies (see S. Con. Res. 47), S8952 [21JY]

———reimburse hospitals for psychologist, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner training costs (see H.R. 2794), H7884 [5AU]

———reimburse hospitals for psychologist training costs (see H.R. 1140), H1335 [16MR]

———reimbursement for chiropractic services (see H.R. 1046), H1069 [9MR]

———reimbursement for nurse-midwife services and free-standing birth centers (see H.R. 2817), H7996 [8SE]

———remove the sunset and numerical limitation on participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account plans (see H.R. 2068), H3858 [8JN] (see H.R. 2173), H4128 [10JN]

———repeal interim payment system, eliminate mandatory reduction under the prospective payment system, and continue periodic interim payments for home health services (see H.R. 2361), H4912 [24JN]

———repeal the financial limitation on rehabilitation services (see H.R. 1385), H1971 [13AP]

———require Dept. of HHS study on mortality and adverse outcome rates of patients receiving anesthesia services (see S. 818), S3776 [15AP] (see H.R. 632), H537 [9FE] (see H.R. 2002), H3710 [27MY]

———require disclosure of staffing and performance data, provide whistleblower protection to employees, and review impact of proposed mergers and acquisitions relative to Medicare providers (see S. 966), S4792 [5MY]

———require governing boards of national accrediting entities to have public representation and open meetings (see H.R. 2174), H4128 [10JN]

———restore access to home health services and protect the program from financial loss while preserving the due process rights of home health agencies (see S. 1414), S9072 [22JY]

———restrictions on services provided by clinical psychologists or social workers in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 181), S343 [19JA]

———revise interim payment system to home health agencies for home health services (see S. 1310), S7931 [30JN] (see H.R. 2492), H5456 [13JY] (see H.R. 2744), H7882 [5AU]

———revise payment amounts to home health agencies (see H.R. 2240), H4470 [16JN]

———revise regulations on participating hospitals relative to nurse anesthetists' services (see S. 866), S4109 [22AP] (see H.R. 804), H716 [23FE]

———standardize clinical practice guidelines to improve delivery of services (see H.R. 2069), H3859 [8JN]

Medicare/Medicaid: ensure that individuals enjoy the right to be free from restraint (see H.R. 3010), H9303 [4OC]

———expand and clarify requirements regarding advance directives to ensure that an individual's health care decisions are observed (see S. 628), S2729 [16MR] (see H.R. 1149), H1406 [17MR]

———surety bond requirements for home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, and others (see H.R. 2325), H4822 [23JN]

Mental health: provide equitable health insurance coverage for certain biologically-based mental illnesses and prohibit limits on hospital stays and outpatient visits (see S. 796), S3695 [14AP]

———recognize the significance to society of issues relating to mental illness and express full support for the White House Conference on Mental Health (see H. Res. 133), H1802 [25MR]

Mental Health Advisory Committee: establish (see H. Res. 19), H244 [7JA]

National Academies of Practice: grant Federal charter (see S. 234), S344 [19JA]

National Cancer Institute: require that membership of advisory bodies include individuals who are knowledgeable in complementary and alternative medicine (see H.R. 2092), H4022 [9JN]

National Health Corps Loan Repayment Program: count fellowship training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry as obligated service (see S. 1630), S11362 [23SE]

Native Americans: improve services and facilities of Federal Indian health programs and encourage maximum participation of Indians in such programs (see H.R. 3397), H12108 [16NO]

OPM: develop classification standards for physician assistants in Federal agencies (see S. 909), S4432 [29AP] (see H.R. 1697), H2809 [5MY]

OSHA: issue regulations to eliminate or minimize the significant risk of needlestick injury to health care workers (see S. 1140), S6049 [26MY] (see H.R. 1899), H3460 [20MY]

Public safety officers: establish national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (see S. 39), S339 [19JA] (see H.R. 46), H226 [6JA]

Research: require that patients be informed of certain referral fees if such patients are referred to clinical trials (see S. 1267), S7526 [23JN]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services (see S. 980), S4887 [6MY] (see S. 1757), S12931 [20OC] (see H.R. 1344), H1801 [25MR]

———provide practitioners with training in preventive health care (see S. 179), S343 [19JA]

Senior citizens: prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (see S. 751), S3440 [25MR] (see H.R. 1862), H3391 [19MY]

Social Security: extend rural Advanced Life Support intercept services to other areas (see H.R. 2711), H7025 [4AU]

———provide a safe harbor under the anti-kickback statute for hospital restocking of certain ambulance drugs and supplies (see H.R. 557), H418 [3FE]

Taxation: allow physicians and dentists to use the cash basis of accounting for income tax purposes (see H.R. 1004), H1012 [4MR]

———expand types of equipment which may be acquired with tax-exempt financing by volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service organizations (see H.R. 1229), H1596 [23MR]

———permit the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by certain organizations providing rescue and emergency medical services (see H.R. 718), H642 [11FE]

———provide tax credit for caregivers (see H.R. 2458), H5334 [1JY]

———treatment of individuals requiring home based custodial care (see H.R. 586), H459 [4FE]

———treatment of primary health providers in health professional shortage areas (see S. 1864), S13972 [4NO] (see H.R. 385), H270 [19JA] (see H.R. 1704), H2810 [5MY]

———treatment of scholarships received under the National Health Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program (see S. 288), S850 [21JA] (see H.R. 1414), H2053 [14AP]

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences: ensure the equitable treatment of graduates (see H.R. 2272), H4615 [17JN]

———terminate (see S. 126), S341 [19JA]

Veterans: health care funding (see H. Con. Res. 225), H11954 (see H. Con. Res. 226), H11955 [10NO]

Veterans Health Administration: ensure pay parity between dentists and physicians (see H.R. 2660), H6759 [30JY]

———revise certain provisions relative to the appointment of professional psychologists (see S. 239), S344 [19JA]

Veterinarians: authorize additional special pay for individuals in the Armed Forces and the Public Health Service (see S. 450), S1925 [24FE]

Women: allow direct access to obstetrician-gynecologists (see H. Res. 164), H2920 [6MY]

Briefs

Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act treatment of legal accountability for actions by health insurance companies and HMO's: Gardner, Carton, & Douglas (law firm), H8953-H8957 [28SE]

Comparisons

Goodrich Case—The True Facts That Aetna Didn't Tell You, E201-E203 [10FE]

Conference reports

Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (H.R. 2116), H11976-H12002 [16NO]

Court documents

Reduce financial liability of physicians providing certain care under Medicare+Choice program: U.S. Seventh Circuit Court, E1160 [8JN]

Court documents—Impeachment trial

Barbara Battalino's testimony relative to lying under oath about sex in a civil case, S1303 [6FE]

Descriptions

Promoting Responsible Managed Care Act (S. 374), S1273 [4FE]

Excerpts

Mastectomy provisions of Republican Patients' Bill of Rights legislation of the 105th Congress, S8450-S8454 [14JY]

Explanations

National Violence Prevention Initiative, S10738-S10741 [10SE]

Senator McCain's Votes on Patients' Bill of Rights, S8611 [15JY]

Interviews

Controversy over competitive bidding in Medicare: Uwe Reinhardt and Donna E. Shalala, Sec. of HHS, E1052 [20MY]

Letters

Allow certain patients a transition period between their current physician and a physician participating in the patient's managed care group: Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, S8579 [15JY]

Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act: Alan R. Nelson, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, H7975 [8SE]

———American Academy of Family Physicians, H7974 [8SE]

———Andrew L. Stern, Service Employees International Union, H7976 [8SE]

———Beverly L. Malone, American Nurses Association, H9477 [6OC]

———Carmen Delgado Votaw, Alliance for Children and Families, H7981 [8SE]

———Charlotte J. Fraas, American Federation of Teachers, H7978 [8SE]

———David A. Bussard, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, H7981 [8SE]

———Donna Ford, American Counseling Association, H7982 [8SE]

———E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr., AMA, H7973 [8SE]

———Elizabeth Burns, H9503 [6OC]

———Eugene A. Oliveri, American Osteopathic Association, H7977, H7982 [8SE]

———Florence C. Kimball, Friends Committee on National Legislation, H7978 [8SE]

———Fran DuMelle, American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association, H7979 [8SE]

———Fran Visco, National Breast Cancer Coalition, H7979 [8SE]

———Gary and Marlene Rappaport, H9563 [7OC]

———George F. Sheldon, American College of Surgeons, H7975 [8SE]

———Gerald W. McEntee, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, H7979 [8SE]

———Jacqueline E. Fairbanks, Opticians Association of America, H7982 [8SE]

———Jodi Magee and Seymour L. Romney, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (organization), H7977 [8SE]

———Joel J. Alpert, American Academy of Pediatrics, H7976 [8SE]

———Judith L. Lichtman, Debra L. Ness, and Joanne L. Hustead, National Partnership for Women and Families, H7982 [8SE]

———Julia Scott, National Black Women's Health Project, H7979 [8SE]

———Kathryn M. Pontzer, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., H7983 [8SE]

———Kathy Thorton and Catherine Pinkerton, NETWORK (organization), H7974 [8SE]

———Kerrie Wilson, American Cancer Society, H7977 [8SE]

———Laurie Flynn, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, H7980 [8SE]

———Michael Bowers, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, H7983 [8SE]

———Nancey McCann and Camille S. Sorosiak, Patient Access Coalition, H7974 [8SE]

———Nancy Davenport-Ennis, National Patient Advocate Foundation, H7975 [8SE]

———Nancy Starnes, Paralysis Society of America, H7981 [8SE]

———Pat Conover, United Church of Christ, H7975 [8SE]

———Ralph W. Hale, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, H7976 [8SE]

———Richard A. Levinson, American Public Health Association, H7982 [8SE]

———Ronald Bronow, National Organization of Physicians Who Care, H7980 [8SE]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA Foundation, H7980 [8SE]

———Ronald S. Lepow, American Podiatric Medical Association, Inc., H7982 [8SE]

———Russ Newman, American Psychological Association, H7976 [8SE]

———S. Timothy Rose and John S. Zapp, American Dental Association, H7977 [8SE]

———Sandy Bernard, American Association of University Women, H7979 [8SE]

———several Kansas medical and legal associations, E2074 [12OC]

———Steven C. Johnson, Patients Who Care (organization), H7980 [8SE]

———Susan Gorin, National Association of School Psychologists, H7981 [8SE]

———Terre McFillen-Hall, Center for Patient Advocacy (organization), H7977 [8SE]

———Thomas W. Self, Linda P. Self, and Miles J. Zaremski, H9458-H9460, H9488-H9490 [6OC]

———William L. Rich, American Academy of Ophthalmology, H7978 [8SE]

Civil monetary penalties for false certification of eligibility for hospice care for Medicare beneficiaries: Karen Woods, Hospice Association of America, S14344 [9NO]

———Thomas A. Scully, Federation of American Health Systems, S14345 [9NO]

———Val J. Halamandaris, National Association for Home Care, S14344 [9NO]

Coverage and treatment of emergency services under health plans: Diane Canova, American Heart Association, S8244, S8248 [12JY]

———Donald W. Parsons, Kaiser Permanente (health maintenance organization), S8245 [12JY]

———John C. Moorhead, American College of Emergency Physicians, S8244 [12JY]

Decision-making process by managed care plans and HMO's relative to patients' care: Rosina B. Barker, Ivins, Phillips & Barker (law firm), S8345-S8347 [13JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs appropriations for veterans health care: Jacob J. Lew, OMB, S9738 [29JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Nurses Appreciation Act: Bobby L. Harnage, Sr., American Federation of Government Employees, S8879 [20JY]

———Majorie Vanderbilt, American Nurses Association, S8880 [20JY]

Drug Addiction Treatment Act: Alan I. Leshner, Dept. of HHS, S1091 [28JA]

Exemption of certain managed health care plans and HMO's from State regulations: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and Health Insurance Association of America, H8959 [28SE]

———Mary Nell Lehnhard and Jack Ericksen, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, H8959 [28SE]

Improve access to specialists for enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's: Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, S8487 [14JY]

———Cornelius Baker, National Association of People With AIDS, S8487 [14JY]

———Fran Visco, National Breast Cancer Coalition, S8487 [14JY]

———Graham Newson, American Academy of Pediatrics, S8486 [14JY]

———Gregg Haifley, Children's Defense Fund, S8486 [14JY]

———John Melvin, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, S8487 [14JY]

———Mike Dugan, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, S8488 [14JY]

———Robert Strohl and Pearl Moore, Oncology Nursing Society, S8488 [14JY]

Insurance coverage of approved clinical studies and prescription drugs and medical devices under health plans: Fran Visco, National Breast Cancer Coalition, S8456 [14JY]

———Judith L. Lichtman and Joanne L. Hustead, National Partnership for Women & Families, S8456 [14JY]

Insurance coverage of emergency services performed by a prudent layperson: Donald W. Parsons, Kaiser Permanente (health maintenance organization), S7687 [28JN]

Jury award relative to Aetna, Inc., medical treatment of David Goodrich prior to death: Jamie Court, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, E200 [10FE]

Legal accountability for actions by health insurance companies and HMO's: E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr., AMA, S8548 [15JY]

———Sara Rosenbaum and Rand Rosenblatt, H9594 [7OC]

———Thomas K. Zaucha, National Grocers Association, S8547 [15JY]

Managed Care Reform Act: E. Ratcliffe Anderson, Jr. AMA, H3160 [13MY], H3282 [18MY]

Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act: Brenda Doss, The Arc of the U.S. (organization), S14641 [16NO]

———John C. Bollinger, Paralyzed Veterans of America, S14641 [16NO]

———Justin Dart, Jr., S14641 [16NO]

———Linda Gonzales, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, S14641 [16NO]

———Paul Spooner and Mike Oxford, National Council on Independent Living, S14641 [16NO]

———Thomas H. Countee, Jr., National Spinal Cord Injury Association, S14642 [16NO]

Medicare Competitive Pricing Demonstration Project: Richard Hellman, Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City, S12192 [7OC]

Medicare coverage of outpatient prescription drugs: Marjorie Vanderbilt, American Nurses Association, S9680 [29JY]

Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act: Cara C. Bachenheimer, Health Industry Distributors Association, S7224 [17JN]

———Christina A. Metzler, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., S7225 [17JN]

———Horace B. Deets, AARP, S7225 [17JN]

———Roger Marzano, Pedorthic Footwear Association, S7225 [17JN]

Medicare Rehabilitation Benefit Improvement Act: Bruce Yarwood, American Health Care Association, S2020 [25FE]

———Carol Eller McCaffrey, S2019 [25FE]

———Christina A. Metzler, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., S2020 [25FE]

———Donna Geffner, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, S2018 [25FE]

———Larry Fronheiser, National Association of Rehabilitation Agencies, S2020 [25FE]

———Lisa Wade, American Physical Therapy Association, S2020 [25FE]

———Nancy Garland, American Physical Therapy Association, S2019 [25FE]

———Peter Clendenin, National Association for the Support of Long Term Care, S2020 [25FE]

———Randall L. Rutta, Easter Seals (organization), S2020 [25FE]

National Health Corps Loan Repayment Program fellowship training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry: Daniel Perry, Alliance for Aging Research, S11366 [23SE]

———Joseph G. Ouslander, American Geriatrics Society, S11366 [23SE]

Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act: Beverly L. Malone, American Nurses Association, H3477 [24MY]

Pain Relief Promotion Act: John B. Neeld, Jr., American Society of Anesthesiologists, S7534 [23JN]

———Karen A. Davie, National Hospice Organization, S7534 [23JN]

———Richard Payne, H10881 [27OC]

———Richard S. Weiner, American Academy of Pain Management, S7534 [23JN]

———Robert Raben, Dept. of Justice, H10883 [27OC]

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act: Ann Allen, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, S12974 [21OC]

———Geri Marullo, American Nurses Association, S12868 [20OC]

———Ralph W. Hale, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, S12868, S12871 [20OC]

Participation in health plans by non-physician providers: Michael H. Kaufman, Preferred CommunityChoice PPO, Inc., S8555 [15JY]

Patient Abuse Prevention Act: Donna E. Shalala, Sec. of HHS, E1674 [28JY]

———Elma Holder, National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, S9393 [27JY]

———Sarah Greene Burger, National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, E1675 [28JY]

Prohibit financial incentives for physicians to rent office space to be used as comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities: D. McCarty Thornton, Dept. of HHS, E603 [12AP]

———Michael M. Hash, Dept. of HHS, E2446 [18NO]

Protection of enrollees in managed health care plans and HMO's, H4008 [9JN]

———Dolores Pavletich, S7283 [18JN]

———Karrie Craig, S7488 [23JN]

———Raymond and Marianne Eberhardt, S7283 [18JN]

———William J. Scanlon, GAO, S7435-S7437 [22JN]

Require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists: Ralph W. Hale, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, S8447, S8456, S8490 [14JY], S8606 [15JY]

———Robert W. Yelverton, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, S8447, S8455 [14JY], S8606 [15JY]

State and Federal roles in enacting consumer protections for group health plans: George Reider, Jr., and Kathleen Sebelius, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, S8230 [12JY]

———Republican Governors Association, S8465 [14JY], S8548 [15JY]

Tribute to Alice Gritsavage: Mark Clark, E1148 [7JN]

Lists

American Ambulance Association Stars of Life honorees, S5736 [20MY]

Court cases emphasizing ERISA's limitations on insurance company malpractice liability, S8549-S8551 [15JY]

Court cases where ERISA was not a barrier to HMO malpractice liability, S8549 [15JY]

Groups endorsing H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act, H7972 [8SE]

Groups supporting the Democratic Patients' Bill of Rights, S8223 [12JY]

Organizations endorsing H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act, H8453 [21SE], H8957 [28SE]

Patient Access Coalition, H7972 [8SE]

Memorandums

Drug Addiction Treatment Act: Donald R. Wesson, American Society of Addiction Medicine, S1092 [28JA]

Medicare Waste, Fraud, and Abuse: Health Care Financing Administration, E643 [14AP]

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Health Care Plans and HMO's: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, H9005-H9007 [29SE]

Motions

Death and dying: promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), H10898, H10902 [27OC]

Papers

Medical Necessity—The Real Issue in the Quality Debate, S1274 [4FE]

Urgent Need for a Drug Expert: Kenneth Hunter and Rinaldo DeNuzzo, E531 [23MR]

Press releases

Aetna Misled Congress About Facts of Goodrich Case—Investigations, Withdrawal of Federal Contracts Called for: Consumers for Quality Care (organization), E200 [10FE]

Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act: American Nurses Association, H7973 [8SE]

Despite State Managed Care Laws, Most People Still Go Unprotected: Families USA Foundation, S8468-S8470 [14JY]

Pain Relief Promotion Act: American Pain Foundation, H10882 [27OC]

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Health Care Plans and HMO's: Health Insurance Association of America, H9007 [29SE]

Proposals

Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans extension, E954 [13MY]

Medicare reimbursement for nurse-midwife services and free-standing birth centers, E1787 [5AU]

Remarks in House

Abortion: violence at abortion clinics, E172 [9FE]

Academy of Osseointegration: tribute, E206 [11FE]

Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans: extend, E954 [13MY]

Aetna, Inc.: jury award relative to medical treatment of David Goodrich prior to death, E200 [10FE]

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research: consider shortages of trained researchers who are members of priority populations when allocating training funds, H8918, H8919 [28SE]

———promote evidence-based clinical practices for examination and treatment of sexual assault victims and train health professionals in performance of medical evidentiary examinations, H8922 [28SE]

———require studies of financial and quality effects of increasing access to health care services, H8926-H8929 [28SE], E1999 [1OC]

American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin: tribute to Central Ohio chapter, E2113 [18OC]

American College of Radiology: anniversary, E1913 [21SE]

American College of Sports Medicine: completion of headquarters expansion, H1339, H1383 [17MR]

American Psychological Association: condemn published study relative to sexual relationships between adults and children, H2933 [11MY]

———condemn published study relative to sexual relationships between adults and children (H. Con. Res. 107), H5341, H5342, H5348 [12JY], H6431 [27JY], E1691 [30JY]

American Society of Transplantation: tribute, E665 [15AP]

Armed Forces: improve TRICARE program, H4077, H4082 [10JN]

Association of Philippine Physicians in Ohio: anniversary, E811 [29AP]

Bernton, Horace W.: Bell Atlantic Corp. Outstanding Leader Award recipient, E1400 [24JN]

Bethesda, MD: tribute to National Naval Medical Center staff, H7431 [5AU]

Carondelet Health System (organization): tribute to Community Outreach Network, E2528 [22NO]

Charlottesville, VA: tribute to Martha Jefferson Hospital Martha's Market event, H2522 [29AP]

Chicago, IL: tribute to community health centers, H5987 [20JY]

Clarence, NY: anniversary of Brothers of Mercy, E1407 [25JN]

Colleges and universities: academic health centers funding, E892 [6MY]

Council on Chiropractic Practice: health care services guidelines, E456 [17MR]

Dale City, VA: tribute to Dale City Civic Association award recipients, E108 [2FE]

Death and dying: promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), H8103 [13SE], H10121 [18OC], H10727, H10729 [25OC], H10864, H10876-H10903 [27OC], E2179 [25OC]

———promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), consideration (H. Res. 339), H10868-H10876 [27OC]

———promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), motion to recommit, H10902 [27OC]

———use of controlled substances by physicians, H10890, H10891 [27OC]

Dept. of HHS: make additional payments to certain home health agencies with high-cost patients and provide for an interest-free grace period for repayment of overpayments (H.R. 1917), H9968 [13OC], E1078 [25MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: improve allocation of health care resources, H2977 [11MY], H5990, H5992 [20JY], E1569 [16JY], E2192 [26OC]

———improve allocation of health care resources (H.R. 24), E17 [7JA]

———improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans (H.R. 2116), H4228 [15JN], H6845 [3AU], H8392-H8408 [21SE], H11944 [10NO], E1196 [9JN], E1784 [5AU], E1921 [22SE], E1956 [24SE], E2023 [4OC]

———improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans (H.R. 2116), conference report, H12046-H12056 [16NO], E2403 [16NO], E2435, E2453 [18NO], E2531 [22NO]

———improve programs providing counseling and treatment for sexual trauma experienced by veterans (H.R. 1799), E961 [14MY]

———make pay adjustments for nurses and certain other health-care professionals in the same manner as Federal employees and allow locality pay adjustments for those employees (H.R. 1216), E526 [23MR]

Diseases: cancer research funding, H2312 [27AP]

———efforts to prevent transmission of HIV, H12801 [18NO]

Dismond, Samuel R., Jr.: American Lung Association Individual Health Advocate of the Year award recipient for the Genesee Valley region of Michigan, E383 [10MR]

ERISA: provide that participants in disability insurance plans are entitled to judicial review of certain benefit determinations (H.R. 1773), H3063 [12MY]

Federal employees: health benefits coverage for hearing aids and examinations (H.R. 2321), E1372 [23JN]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: allow option of expanded dental, optometry, prenatal, infertility, or prescription drug benefits in lieu of contraceptive coverage, H5647 [15JY]

Florida: tribute to Miami-Dade County Fire and Rescue Team, E2269 [4NO]

———tribute to Project—Dentists Care, E1747 [5AU]

Formica, Palma E.: St. Peter's University Hospital and Muscular Dystrophy Association Woman of the Century award recipient, E2364 [11NO]

Genesee County Medical Society: observance of Patient Appreciation Day, E2132 [19OC], E2144 [20OC]

Haleyville, AL: tribute to 911/Heritage Festival, E1131 [27MY]

Haugh, Patricia: Wisconsin Outstanding Nurses of the Year Award recipient, E906 [10MY]

Health: application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (H.R. 1304), E2172 [25OC]

———encourage HMO's and health care plans to consult the National Practitioner Data Bank to determine physician qualifications, H9629 [7OC]

———ensure availability of adequate frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for biomedical telemetry (H.R. 2379), E1420 [29JN]

———improve access to specialists for enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H1572 [23MR]

———limit medical malpractice claims (H.R. 2242), E1290 [16JN]

———protect the privacy of personally identifiable health information (H.R. 1941), E1086 [25MY], E1105 [26MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H383, H410-H412 [3FE], H1571, H1572 [23MR], H3758-H3760 [7JN], H4212 [14JN], H4741, H4742, H4743, H4744, H4745, H4806-H4813 [23JN], H4830, H4831, H4832, H4883, H4885-H4888 [24JN], H4956 [25JN], H5060-H5064 [29JN], H5139-H5141, H5165 [30JN], H5354, H5355-H5360 [12JY], H5450-H5454 [13JY], H5464 [14JY], H5579 [15JY], H6587 [29JY], H6851, H6852, H6853, H6954-H6959 [3AU], H6969, H6970, H7237 [4AU], H8454-H8456 [21SE], H11378, H11381-H11390 [3NO], H11485, H11503 [4NO], H11715, H11844, H11846 [9NO], H12081-H12083, H12085 [16NO], H12113, H12114, H12115 [17NO], H12753 [18NO], E1728 [3AU], E1985 [29SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 358), H682-H689 [23FE], H1028 [9MR], H1077 [10MR], H1570, H1574 [23MR], H1848-H1855 [12AP], H2207 [21AP], H2456, H2464-H2466 [28AP], H2971-H2974 [11MY], H3685-H3690 [26MY], H4004-H4010 [9JN], E65 [19JA], E1752 [5AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 719), H1312-H1316 [16MR], H2357-H2362 [27AP], H2955-H2959 [11MY], H3156-H3160 [13MY], H3277-H3283 [18MY], H3396 [20MY], H4217 [14JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2723), H7966-H7983 [8SE], H8086-H8090 [9SE], H8157 [14SE], H8449-H8454 [21SE], H8876, H8877, H8945-H8959 [28SE], H8970, H8971, H8972, H9001-H9007 [29SE], H9175 [30SE], H9237 [1OC], H9294-H9296 [4OC], H9307, H9308, H9309, H9310, H9311, H9387-H9403 [5OC], H9414, H9415, H9416, H9417, H9474-H9502, H9503, H9504-H9508 [6OC], H9517, H9518, H9519, H9520, H9521, H9522, H9523-H9636 [7OC], H9648 [8OC], H9886 [12OC], H9906 [13OC], H11123 [28OC], H11567 [5NO], H11693-H11697 [8NO], E2071, E2072, E2073, E2074 [12OC], E2172 [25OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2723), consideration (H. Res. 323), H9418-H9431 [6OC], E2068 [7OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2824), H9503, H9504 [6OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2926), H9025 [30SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 326), H2971 [11MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1344), H5463 [14JY], H5826-H5829 [19JY]

———require managed care organizations to contract with providers in medically underserved areas (H.R. 1860), E1055 [20MY]

Health care facilities: provide payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs, H8933-H8937 [28SE], E1992 [29SE]

———teaching hospital funding, H9010-H9018 [29SE], E2307 [8NO]

HealthPlus of Michigan (business): American Lung Association Corporate Health Advocate award recipient for the Genesee Valley region of Michigan, E383 [10MR]

Houston, TX: tribute to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, E2449 [18NO]

Immigration: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses willing to practice in underserved areas (H.R. 441), H3474-H3478 [24MY], H11321-H11324 [2NO]

Information services: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (H.R. 2627), E1674 [28JY]

Insurance: coverage and treatment of emergency services under health plans, H4812 [23JN]

———coverage and treatment of emergency services under health plans (H.R. 2045), H8454 [21SE]

———coverage of long-term care services (H.R. 2691), E1728, E1733, E1736 [3AU]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (H.R. 383), H9638 [7OC]

———ensure coverage of emergency ambulance services (H.R. 1777), E943 [12MY]

———legal accountability for actions by health insurance companies and HMO's, H8945-H8951 [28SE], H9175 [30SE], H9307, H9308, H9309, H9311, H9392-H9403 [5OC], H9476, H9479-H9483, H9485-H9502 [6OC], H9520, H9522, H9554-H9629 [7OC], E1985 [29SE]

———require group health plans to provide access to unrestricted medical advice (H.R. 2043), H8454 [21SE]

———require group health plans to provide coverage of pediatric care (H.R. 2044), H3871 [9JN]

Kentucky Nurses Week: observance, E890 [6MY]

Landis, Richard: American Ambulance Association Star of Life award recipient, E971 [14MY]

Lund, Keith: American Ambulance Association Star of Life Award recipient, E1007 [18MY]

Massachusetts: anniversary of Cape and Island Emergency Medical Services, E296 [25FE]

Medicaid: allow fraud control units to investigate and prosecute fraud in Medicare and other Federal programs and elder abuse in residential facilities (H.R. 3045), E2069 [7OC]

———coverage of services provided by nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists (H.R. 1514), H2208 [21AP]

———definition of audiologist (H.R. 1068), E420 [11MR]

Medicare: administrative fee for submission of paper rather than electronic claims (H.R. 2114), E1184, E1187 [9JN]

———allow beneficiaries to enter into private contracts for services, H638 [11FE]

———combat fraud and abuse relative to partial hospitalization services (H.R. 1543), E738 [22AP]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (H.R. 2229), E1258 [15JN]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (H.R. 3461), E2517 [19NO]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education, H12806 [18NO]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education (H.R. 1224), E524 [23MR]

———coverage of chiropractic services under Medicare+Choice program (H. Con. Res. 62), E501 [18MR]

———coverage of vision rehabilitation services (H.R. 2870), E1895 [17SE]

———eliminate reduction in payment amounts to certain health care facilities in Florida, H10155 [18OC]

———ensure proper payment of approved nursing and paramedical education programs, H12806 [18NO]

———establish a demonstration project to provide beneficiaries greater information on various courses of treatment for certain diseases or injuries (H.R. 1544), E742 [22AP]

———exempt certain beneficiaries from financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services (H.R. 1837), E1011 [18MY]

———exempt financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services and develop and implement a classification system to vary the limitations (H.R. 1736), E890 [6MY]

———expand the use of competitive bidding (H.R. 1900), E1051 [20MY]

———extend community nursing organization demonstration projects (H.R. 1999), E1118 [27MY]

———graduate medical education payments (H.R. 1222), E2085 [13OC]

———graduate medical education payments (H.R. 1785), H9966 [13OC], E946 [12MY]

———implement budget neutrality adjustment factor in determining payment rates for Medicare+Choice organizations (H.R. 2419), E1469 [1JY]

———improve and streamline the physician self-referral law (H.R. 2650), E1684 [30JY]

———increase payments to providers for case manager services in rural areas (H.R. 1646), E808 [29AP]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (H.R. 2241), H9966 [13OC], E1275 [16JN]

———make refinements in the prospective payment system for outpatient hospital services (H.R. 2979), E1995 [30SE]

———modify restrictions on physician self-referral (H.R. 2651), E1684 [30JY]

———payment rates for Medicare+Choice organizations, H10229 [19OC]

———payments to hospitals that have graduate medical education programs in critical need specialty areas (H.R. 1645), E810 [29AP]

———prohibit financial incentives for physicians to rent office space to be used as a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility, E2446 [18NO]

———prohibit financial incentives for physicians to rent office space to be used as comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, E603 [12AP]

———prohibit privatization, H1271 [16MR], H1340 [17MR]

———provide greater equity to home health agencies and ensure access to medically necessary home health services (H.R. 2628), E1673 [28JY]

———reduce financial liability of physicians providing certain care under Medicare+Choice program (H.R. 1375), E604 [12AP], E1159 [8JN]

———reform payment system for home health services, H1050 [9MR]

———reimbursement for nurse-midwife services and free-standing birth centers, E1787 [5AU]

———require Dept. of HHS study on mortality and adverse outcome rates of patients receiving anesthesia services (H.R. 2002), E1132 [27MY]

———require governing boards of national accrediting entities to have public representation and open meetings (H.R. 2174), E1220 [10JN]

———revise interim payment system to home health agencies for home health services, H9971 [13OC]

———revise payment amounts to home health agencies (H.R. 2240), E1291 [16JN]

———standardize clinical practice guidelines to improve delivery of services (H.R. 2069), E1166 [8JN]

Medicare/Medicaid: expand and clarify requirements regarding advance directives to ensure that an individual's health care decisions are observed (H.R. 1149), E499 [18MR]

———surety bond requirements for home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, and others (H.R. 2325), E1375 [23JN]

Meisner, Mary: Colorado County Nurse Association, Inc., Florence Award recipient, E2363 [11NO]

Mennonite College of Nursing: anniversary, E1138 [7JN]

Mental health: recognize the significance to society of issues relating to mental illness and express full support for the White House Conference on Mental Health (H. Res. 133), H3744 [7JN]

Mental Health Month: observance, E886 [6MY]

Miami, FL: tribute to Columbia Deering Hospital's Senior Friends Chapter, E1020 [19MY]

Miami-Dade Community College: observance of Nurse Day at Medical Center, E607 [12AP]

Michigan College of Emergency Physicians: anniversary, E1609 [20JY]

Montgomery County, TX: anniversary of Montgomery County Hospital District Emergency Medical Service, E694 [20AP]

National Hospital Week: observance, H2522 [29AP], E936 [12MY]

National Nurses Week: observance, H2772 [5MY], E875 [5MY], E906 [10MY]

Native Americans: improve services and facilities of Federal Indian health programs and encourage maximum participation of Indians in such programs (H.R. 3397), E2397 [16NO]

New York University: tribute to School of Medicine Child Study Center, E516 [23MR]

Occupational Therapy Month: observance, H3438 [20MY], E680 [15AP], E716 [21AP], E808 [29AP]

Onondaga County, NY: reduction in infant mortality rates, H1456 [18MR]

OperationSmile (organization): tribute to humanitarian efforts focusing on correcting facial deformities of underprivileged children, E605 [12AP]

OSHA: issue regulations to eliminate or minimize the significant risk of needlestick injury to health care workers (H.R. 1899), E1049 [20MY]

Peerless, Sidney: American Jewish Committee Community Service Award recipient, E1908 [21SE]

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine: anniversary, E28 [7JA]

Praeger, Sandy: Kansas Medical Society Dr. Nathan Davis Award recipient, H6024 [21JY]

Public safety officers: establish national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (H.R. 46), H1879-H1881, H1896 [13AP], E646 [14AP], E688 [19AP]

Ridgewood, NJ: tribute to Valley Hospital for sponsorship of National Cancer Survivors Day, E1228 [10JN]

Rural areas: promote access to health care services, H543 [10FE]

———promote and improve access to health care services, H1722 [25MR], H12808 [18NO]

———promote and improve access to health care services (H.R. 1344), E2085 [13OC]

Salinas Valley Memorial Health Care System: tribute to contributions to health care in the People's Republic of China, E311 [2MR]

Senior citizens: prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (H.R. 1862), E1031 [19MY]

Sequoia Community Health Foundation, Inc.: anniversary, E576 [25MR]

Social Security: extend rural Advanced Life Support intercept services to other areas (H.R. 2711), E1748 [5AU]

Stacey, Rulon: American College of Health Care Executives Young Health Care Executive of the Year award recipient, E378 [10MR]

Stafne, Norma: Eau Claire, WI, Fire Department and Firefighters Local Union 487 Citizen Community Involvement Award recipient, E438 [16MR]

Taxation: expand types of equipment which may be acquired with tax-exempt financing by volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service organizations (H.R. 1229), E528 [23MR]

———provide tax credit for caregivers (H.R. 2458), E1497 [1JY]

Texas: implementation of legislation to protect enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H9308, H9310, H9391-H9398 [5OC], H9520, H9562 [7OC]

Veterans Health Administration: ensure pay parity between dentists and physicians, H7924 [8SE]

———ensure pay parity between dentists and physicians (H.R. 2660), H10154 [18OC]

VISION 2020 Initiative (organization): tribute for global efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness, E206 [11FE]

Wayne County Medical Society: anniversary, E569 [25MR]

Weehawken, NJ: anniversary of Volunteer First Aid Squad, E776 [27AP]

Whistleblowing: provide protections, H8876 [28SE]

White House Conference on Mental Health: tribute, H3744, H3746 [7JN]

Remarks in Senate

Air Force: anniversary of Medical Service, S8294 [12JY]

American Psychological Association: condemn published study relative to sexual relationships between adults and children (H. Con. Res. 107), S9956 [30JY]

Armed Forces: confidentiality of records of family and other professional support services relative to sexual or domestic abuse, S1765, S1766 [23FE]

———improve TRICARE program, S1749-S1751, S1767-S1769 [23FE]

———improve TRICARE program (S. 350), S1163 [3FE]

———increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps (S. 238), S694 [19JA]

California: health care system funding relative to the Balanced Budget Act, S15056-S15058 [19NO]

Children and youth: provide grants for professionals in violence prevention training (S. 981), S4902 [6MY]

Colleges and universities: academic health centers funding, S4882 [6MY]

Courts: allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals (S. 237), S693 [19JA]

Crime: national youth violence prevention initiative, S10738 [10SE]

———provide intervention services to children who are removed from school for possessing a weapon or committing an act of violence and clarify Federal law relative to reporting a juvenile crime, S5692-S5695 [20MY]

———training of students relative to identification and referral of victims of domestic violence, S4998 [11MY]

———training of students relative to identification and referral of victims of domestic violence (S. 198), S623 [19JA]

Death and dying: promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (H.R. 2260), S13156 [26OC]

———promote pain management and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia (S. 1272), S7532-S7534 [23JN], S7830 [29JN], S14774-S14777 [18NO]

Dept. of Defense: authorize agreements with Dept. of Veterans Affairs and federally funded health agencies to provide health care for native Hawaiians, S6667 [8JN]

Dept. of HHS: funding to expedite adjudication process relative to Health Care Financing Administration penalties against nursing facilities, S2900 [18MR]

———increase Consolidated Health Centers Program funding through offsets of NLRB funding, S11685-S11694 [30SE], S11779 [1OC]

———Medicare Competitive Pricing Demonstration Project funding, S12190-S12192 [7OC], S13597-S13601 [1NO]

———require study on geographic adjustment factors relative to Medicare payments for physician services, S12189 [7OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: consideration of State home grant applications, S14910 [19NO]

———enhance the assurance of efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction in the furnishing of health care to veterans (S. 1956), S14809 [18NO]

———improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans, S15005 [19NO]

———improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans (H.R. 2116), S14202 [5NO]

———improve health care programs and provide extended care services for veterans (H.R. 2116), conference report, S14904-S14910 [19NO]

———improve long term care and assisted living services to veterans, S10643-S10646 [8SE], S11413, S11414 [24SE]

———improve programs providing counseling and treatment for sexual trauma experienced by veterans (S. 1579), S10781 [13SE]

———make pay adjustments for nurses and certain other health-care professionals in the same manner as Federal employees and allow locality pay adjustments for those employees (S. 1399), S8878-S8880 [20JY]

———require that appropriate procedures are followed relative to realignment of veterans health care facilities, S11247 [22SE]

Detroit, MI: Wayne County Medical Society anniversary, S3540 [25MR]

Disabled: improve service systems for individuals with developmental disabilities (S. 1809), S13269-S13272 [27OC], S14284, S14313-S14333 [8NO]

Diseases: cancer research funding, S6966 [14JN]

Dismond, Samuel R., Jr.: American Lung Association Individual Health Advocate of the Year award recipient for the Genesee Valley region of Michigan, S2875 [17MR]

Drugs: registration requirements for practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs for maintenance or detoxification treatment (S. 324), S1089-S1093 [28JA], S14940, S14942 [19NO]

Education: establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas (S. 236), S693 [19JA]

———make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health profession loan programs (S. 235), S692 [19JA]

———make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program (S. 233), S690 [19JA]

———revise and extend certain programs for physical and occupational therapy (S. 114), S544 [19JA]

Federal employees: authorize the use of clinical social workers to conduct evaluations to determine work-related emotional and mental illnesses (S. 230), S690 [19JA]

Health: accountability for decisions made by managed care plans and HMO's relative to patients' care, S8344-S8359 [13JY]

———allow access to drugs and medical devices recommended and provided by health care practitioners that are not approved by the FDA (S. 1955), S14806-S14809 [18NO]

———allow individuals to limit use and disclosure of certain health information, S7796 [29JN]

———application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (H.R. 1304), S13599 [1NO]

———ensure protections of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's apply to all patients with private health insurance, S8221-S8235 [12JY], S8457-S8471 [14JY]

———ensure protections of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's do not drastically increase health care costs or number of uninsured individuals, S8318-S8325, S8359 [13JY]

———fund existing public health programs prior to establishing new public health programs, S3346 [25MR]

———improve access to dentistry programs in underserved areas and health professional shortage areas (S. 1035), S5276 [13MY]

———improve access to specialists for enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S8472, S8477-S8483, S8485, S8490, S8494-S8501 [14JY]

———improve awareness about noise-induced hearing loss, S2500 [10MR]

———insurance coverage of emergency services performed by a prudent layperson, S7687 [28JN]

———maintain States as primary regulatory authority over health care and allow full tax deduction of health insurance costs for self-employed individuals, S8236-S8242 [12JY], S8360, S8361 [13JY]

———permit individuals to continue health plan coverage during participation in approved clinical studies (S. 117), S548 [19JA]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S6729 [9JN], S7011-S7017 [15JN], S7094, S7101 [16JN], S7166-S7168 [17JN], S7282-S7284 [18JN], S7290-S7293, S7310, S7311, S7372-S7376 [21JN], S7426, S7428-S7446 [22JN], S7486-S7494, S7496-S7499, S7501-S7521 [23JN], S7552-S7557, S7560-S7566, S7569-S7571, S7574-S7583, S7584 [24JN], S7687, S7692-S7705, S7707 [28JN], S7790, S7792-S7794, S7796-S7799, S7805-S7809, S7813 [29JN], S10065 [3AU], S12777 [18OC], S13367 [28OC], S14756, S14760 [18NO], S14841 [19NO]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, unanimous-consent agreement, S7811-S7813 [29JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2723), S12098 [6OC], S12189 [7OC], S13333-S13336 [28OC], S13741 [3NO], S14584 [10NO]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 6), S365 [19JA], S1183 [3FE], S5480 [18MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 300), S902-S922 [22JA], S7203-S7208 [17JN], S7518 [23JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 326), S1094 [28JA]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 374), S1271 [4FE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 479), S2022 [25FE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1256), S7376 [21JN], S7379 [22JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1344), S8209-S8251 [12JY], S8311-S8328, S8335-S8367 [13JY], S8424-S8504, S8525 [14JY], S8535-S8624 [15JY], S8734-S8736 [16JY], S9953 [30JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1344), indefinitely postponed, S12728 [15OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1344), unanimous-consent agreement, S8592 [15JY]

Health care facilities: teaching hospital funding, S12726 [15OC]

HealthPlus of Michigan (business): American Lung Association Corporate Health Advocate award recipient for the Genesee Valley region of Michigan, S2875 [17MR]

Immigration: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses willing to practice in underserved areas (H.R. 441), S13064, S13065 [22OC], S13389 [28OC]

———admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses willing to practice in underserved areas (S. 455), S1928 [24FE]

Information services: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (S. 1445), S9389-S9393 [27JY]

Insurance: allow certain patients a transition period between their current physician and a physician participating in the patient's managed care group, S8567, S8574, S8575, S8576, S8578-S8580, S8590, S8591 [15JY]

———coverage and treatment of emergency services under health plans, S7510 [23JN], S7569-S7571 [24JN], S8242-S8251 [12JY], S8312-S8318, S8360 [13JY], S8426, S8472, S8476-S8478, S8480 [14JY]

———coverage and treatment of emergency services under health plans (S. 517), S2212 [3MR]

———coverage of approved clinical studies and prescription drugs and medical devices under health plans, S8361-S8363 [13JY], S8429-S8438, S8449, S8454, S8456 [14JY]

———coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (S. 585), S2576 [11MR]

———coverage of diagnosis, treatment and surgical benefits for congenital or developmental deformities or disorders in children, S8525 [14JY]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations, S7503-S7510 [23JN]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (S. 115), S544, S546-S548 [19JA]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer, and coverage for secondary consultations, S8438-S8456 [14JY]

———coverage of services by non-physician providers, S8555, S8573 [15JY]

———enhance appeals process, ensure coverage for approved clinical trials, improve point-of-service coverage, and prohibit discrimination based on licensure or certification, S8564-S8573, S8575, S8576, S8577 [15JY]

———ensure that HMO's provide coverage for and do not try to influence medically necessary treatment decisions made by health care professionals, S7489, S7496-S7499 [23JN]

———ensure that women can designate an obstetrician or gynecologist as their primary care providers (S. 697), S3251 [24MR]

———establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient, S7506, S7510 [23JN]

———establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient (S. 265), S792-S794 [20JA]

———legal accountability for actions by health insurance companies and HMO's, S8536-S8553 [15JY]

———prohibit health plans from altering the manner or setting of physician prescribed medical services, S7506 [23JN]

———require full disclosure of treatment options to patients and protect providers from retaliation for providing such information, S8554-S8564, S8570-S8577 [15JY]

———require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists, S8473-S8476, S8480, S8490 [14JY]

———require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists (S. 836), S3919, S3920 [20AP]

———require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists and provide coverage for minimum hospital stay for certain breast cancer treatments, S8325-S8328, S8335-S8344 [13JY], S8447, S8448, S8455 [14JY], S8604-S8606 [15JY]

———require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by pediatricians, S8606 [15JY]

Khan, Ikram U.: confirmation as a member of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Board of Regents, S6155 [26MY]

Medicaid: allow fraud control units to investigate and prosecute fraud in Medicare and other Federal programs and elder abuse in residential facilities, S14979 [19NO]

———allow fraud control units to investigate and prosecute fraud in Medicare and other Federal programs and elder abuse in residential facilities (S. 1417), S9078 [22JY]

———coverage of community-based attendant services, S14983 [19NO]

———coverage of community-based attendant services (S. 1935), S14637-S14642 [16NO]

———coverage of services provided by nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists (S. 863), S4114 [22AP]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 180), S611 [19JA]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (S. 210), S651-S653 [19JA]

Medicare: allocation of funds relative to managed care plans and HMO's, S15034 [19NO]

———civil monetary penalties for false certification of eligibility for hospice care for beneficiaries, S14344, S14345 [9NO]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse in home health service payments (S. 255), S756 [20JA]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (S. 1231), S7219-S7226 [17JN]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (S. 1451), S9533 [28JY]

———coverage of chiropractic services under Medicare+Choice program (S. Con. Res. 32), S5426 [17MY]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (S. 660), S2941, S2942 [18MR]

———ensure proper payment of approved nursing and paramedical education programs (S. 1025), S5166 [12MY]

———ensure reimbursement for certain ambulance services and improve the efficiency of the emergency medical system (S. 911), S5734 [20MY]

———exclude small rural providers from the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (S. 1601), S11059 [16SE]

———exempt financial limitations imposed on physical, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services (S. 472), S2017-S2021 [25FE]

———extend community nursing organization demonstration projects (S. 1550), S10467 [5AU]

———graduate medical education payments, S15053 [19NO]

———graduate medical education payments (S. 541), S2316-S2318 [4MR]

———graduate medical education payments (S. 1023), S5166, S5169 [12MY]

———graduate medical education payments (S. 1631), S11366 [23SE]

———improve access to health insurance by offering certain individuals a Medicare buy-in option (S. 202), S627-S633 [19JA]

———improve the interim payment system for home health services (S. 1574), S10729-S10733 [10SE]

———improve the interim payment system for home health services (S. 1574), star print, S11656 [29SE]

———increase payments for physician services provided in health professional shortage areas in Alaska and Hawaii (S. 1476), S10119 [3AU]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services, S11722 [30SE]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (S. 1263), S7459 [22JN]

———payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs (S. 391), S1376-S1378 [8FE]

———provide more equitable payments to home health agencies (S. 1358), S8369, S8382 [13JY]

———regulatory burdens on home health agencies (S. Con. Res. 47), S8959 [21JY]

———require Dept. of HHS study on mortality and adverse outcome rates of patients receiving anesthesia services, S15028 [19NO]

———require Dept. of HHS study on mortality and adverse outcome rates of patients receiving anesthesia services (S. 818), S3790 [15AP]

———require disclosure of staffing and performance data, provide whistleblower protection to employees, and review impact of proposed mergers and acquisitions relative to Medicare providers (S. 966), S4804 [5MY]

———restore access to home health services and protect the program from financial loss while preserving the due process rights of home health agencies (S. 1414), S9075 [22JY]

———restrictions on services provided by clinical psychologists or social workers in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 181), S612 [19JA]

———revise interim payment system to home health agencies for home health services, S14854 [19NO]

———revise interim payment system to home health agencies for home health services (S. 1310), S7938-S7941 [30JN], S8079 [1JY], S10746-S10748 [13SE], S12683-S12687, S12689 [15OC]

———revise regulations on nurse anesthetists' services in participating hospitals, S14989 [19NO]

———revise regulations on participating hospitals relative to nurse anesthetists' services (S. 866), S4117 [22AP]

Medicare/Medicaid: expand and clarify requirements regarding advance directives to ensure that an individual's health care decisions are observed (S. 628), S2769-S2771 [16MR]

Mental health: provide equitable health insurance coverage for certain biologically-based mental illnesses and prohibit limits on hospital stays and outpatient visits (S. 796), S3702-S3705 [14AP], S6937, S6939 [14JN]

National Academies of Practice: grant Federal charter (S. 234), S691 [19JA]

National Assisted Living Week: observance, S10785 [13SE]

National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare: tribute, S10361 [5AU]

National Health Corps Loan Repayment Program: count fellowship training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry as obligated service (S. 1630), S11365 [23SE]

National Hospital Week: observance, S5096, S5097 [11MY]

OPM: develop classification standards for physician assistants in Federal agencies (S. 909), S4433 [29AP]

OSHA: issue regulations to eliminate or minimize the significant risk of needlestick injury to health care workers, S11623-S11625, S11636 [29SE]

———prevention of needlestick injuries to health care workers, S12198 [7OC]

Prison Litigation Reform Act: clarify treatment of juveniles and the mentally ill, S9025-S9027 [22JY]

Public safety officers: establish national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (S. 39), S442 [19JA], S5504 [18MY]

Research: require that patients be informed of certain referral fees if such patients are referred to clinical trials (S. 1267), S7527 [23JN]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services (S. 980), S4898-S4902 [6MY], S4942 [10MY], S5261 [13MY]

———provide practitioners with training in preventive health care (S. 179), S610 [19JA]

———Rural Hospital Flexibility Program funding, S1433 [10FE]

Senior citizens: prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (S. 751), S3490-S3500 [25MR]

Taxation: treatment of primary health providers in health professional shortage areas (S. 1864), S13983 [4NO]

———treatment of scholarships received under the National Health Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program (S. 288), S860 [21JA]

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences: terminate (S. 126), S555 [19JA]

United Healthcare (business): tribute to changes in review process relative to patient treatment, S14584 [10NO]

University of Michigan: anniversary of Medical School, S11577 [28SE]

Veterans Health Administration: revise certain provisions relative to the appointment of professional psychologists (S. 239), S695 [19JA]

Viborg, SD: anniversary of Pioneer Memorial Hospital, S8160 [1JY]

Wayne County, MI: anniversary of Wayne County Medical Society, S14742 [17NO]

Westport, CT: anniversary of Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, S5631 [19MY], S5883 [24MY]

Wilson, William R., Jr.: Norwich, CT, Native Son award recipient, S7156 [16JN]

Women: address health care issues, S6693 [8JN]

———allow direct access to obstetrician-gynecologists, S12194, S12195 [7OC]

Reports filed

Breast Cancer Prevention, Education, Early Detection, and Treatment: Committee on Commerce (House) (H. Res. 278) (H. Rept. 106-400), H10339 [19OC]

Consideration of H.R. 2260, Pain Relief Promotion Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 339) (H. Rept. 106-409), H10723 [21OC]

Consideration of H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 323) (H. Rept. 106-366), H9409 [5OC]

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1809), S13968 [4NO]

Drug Addiction Treatment Act: Committee on Commerce (House) (H.R. 2634) (H. Rept. 106-441), H11480 [3NO]

Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 441) (H. Rept. 106-135), H3085 [12MY]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (H.R. 441), S7590 [24JN]

Pain Relief Promotion Act: Committee on Commerce (House) (H.R. 2260) (H. Rept. 106-378), H10173 [18OC]

———Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 2260) (H. Rept. 106-378), H10032 [13OC]

Patients' Bill of Rights Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 326) (S. Rept. 106-82), S7218 [17JN]

Public Safety Medal of Valor Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 39), S4431 [29AP]

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 46) (H. Rept. 106-83), H1865 [12AP]

Veterans' Millenium Health Care Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House) (H.R. 2116) (H. Rept. 106-237), H5750 [16JY]

Veterans' Millennium Health Care Act: Committee of Conference (H.R. 2116) (H. Rept. 106-470), H12106 [16NO]

Statements

Access to Clinical Pathology Services: Representative Norwood, H9619 [7OC]

Do Something, Don't Just Be Somebody: Grace Kaminkowitz, E300 [1MR]

Improve Access to Specialists for Enrollees in Managed Care Plans and HMO's: Beth Gross, S8497 [14JY]

National Health Care System: Zarina Williams and Melanie Campo, E1645 [22JY]

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, S12954 [21OC]

———American Medical Women's Association, S12868 [20OC]

———Society of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, S12867 [20OC]

Peer Counseling: Lee Knight, Anna Tornello, and Gigi Craig, E1645 [22JY]

Promoting Responsible Managed Care Act: Several Health Care Organizations, S1273 [4FE]

Require Health Plans To Provide Adequate Access to Services Provided by Obstetrician-Gynecologists: Senator Frist, S8490 [14JY]

Tertiary Care in Illinois—A Resource at Risk: Illinois Congressional Delegation, H9018 [29SE]

Studies

Visits to Office-Based Physicians in the U.S. for Medication-Related Morbidity, E1162 [8JN]

Summaries

Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act (H.R. 1149), E500 [18MR]

Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act (H.R. 1899), E1049 [20MY]

Insurance Coverage of Long-Term Care Services (H.R. 2691), E1729-E1731 [3AU]

Medical Education Trust Fund Act (S. 210), S657 [19JA]

Medicare Early Access Act (S. 202), S633 [19JA]

Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act (S. 1231), S7223 [17JN]

Medicare Home Health Access Restoration Act (H.R. 2240), E1291 [16JN]

Medicare Interim Payment System to Home Health Agencies for Home Health Services (S. 1310), S7940 [30JN]

Medicare Physician Self-Referral Improvement Act (H.R. 2650), E1685 [30JY]

Medicare Rehabilitation Benefit Improvement Act (S. 472), S2018 [25FE]

Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act (S. 796), S3703 [14AP]

Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act (H.R. 441): Hatch Amendment on L Visa Program Eligibility, S13389 [28OC]

Patients' Bill of Rights Plus Act (S. 300), S919 [22JA]

Promoting Responsible Managed Care Act (S. 374), S1272 [4FE]

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Health Care Plans and HMO's (H.R. 358), E65 [19JA]

Tables

Caregiver tax credit requirements, E1497 [1JY]

Counselor-to-student ratios in U.S. schools, S5694 [20MY]

Medical necessity clauses in employee health benefit contracts, S1274 [4FE]

NLRB workload and output data, S11692 [30SE]

Testimonies

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Health Care Plans and HMO's: Linda Peeno, S7167 [17JN]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 107, condemn American Psychological Association published study relative to sexual relationships between adults and children, H5341 [12JY]

H. Res. 323, consideration of H.R. 2990, Quality Care for the Uninsured Act, and H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act, H9418 [6OC]

H. Res. 339, consideration of H.R. 2260, Pain Relief Promotion Act, H10868 [27OC]

H.R. 24, improve Dept. of Veterans Affairs' allocation of health care resources, E17 [7JA]

H.R. 46, Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act, H1879 [13AP]

H.R. 441, Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act, H3474-H3476 [24MY]

H.R. 1375, reduce financial liability of physicians providing certain care under Medicare+Choice program, E604 [12AP]

H.R. 2116, Veterans' Millenium Health Care Act, H8392-H8399 [21SE]

H.R. 2260, Pain Relief Promotion Act, H10889 [27OC]

H.R. 2723, Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care Improvement Act, H9523-H9534 [7OC]

S. 300 Patients' Bill of Rights Plus Act, S904-S919 [22JA]

S. 38, Public Safety Medal of Valor Act, S5504 [18MY]

S. 114, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Education Act, S544 [19JA]

S. 126, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Termination and Deficit Reduction Act, S556 [19JA]

S. 179, Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act, S611 [19JA]

S. 180, Medicaid coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics, S611 [19JA]

S. 181, Medicare restrictions on services provided by clinical psychologists or social workers in outpatient rehabilitation facilities, S612 [19JA]

S. 198, Domestic Violence Identification and Referral Act, S624 [19JA]

S. 202, Medicare Early Access Act, S627-S633 [19JA]

S. 210, Medical Education Trust Fund Act, S653-S657 [19JA]

S. 230, Clinical Social Workers' Recognition Act, S690 [19JA]

S. 233, make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program, S691 [19JA]

S. 234, grant Federal charter to the National Academies of Practice, S691 [19JA]

S. 235, make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health profession loan programs, S692 [19JA]

S. 236, establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas, S693 [19JA]

S. 237, allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals, S693 [19JA]

S. 238, increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps of the Armed Forces, S694 [19JA]

S. 239, revise certain provisions relative to the appointment of professional psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration, S696 [19JA]

S. 255, Home Health Integrity Preservation Act, S756-S759 [20JA]

S. 265, Hospital Length of Stay Act, S794-S797 [20JA]

S. 324, Drug Addiction Treatment Act, S1090 [28JA]

S. 391, Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act, S1376 [8FE]

S. 455, Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act, S1929-S1931 [24FE]

S. 472, Medicare Rehabilitation Benefit Improvement Act, S2018 [25FE]

S. 541, Medicare graduate medical education payments, S2317 [4MR]

S. 660, Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, S2941 [18MR]

S. 697, Women's Access to Care Act, S3251 [24MR]

S. 751, Seniors Safety Act, S3492-S3497 [25MR]

S. 796, Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act, S3702 [14AP]

S. 863, Medicaid Nursing Incentive Act, S4115 [22AP]

S. 1023, Graduate Medical Education Payment Restoration Act, S5166 [12MY]

S. 1025, Nursing and Allied Health Payment Improvement Act, S5167 [12MY]

S. 1231, Medicare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Act, S7220-S7223 [17JN]

S. 1267, Clinical Trials Disclosure Act, S7527 [23JN]

S. 1272, Pain Relief Promotion Act, S7533 [23JN]

S. 1344, Patients' Bill of Rights Act, S8741-S8768 [16JY]

S. 1399, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Nurses Appreciation Act, S8879 [20JY]

S. 1414, Medicare Home Health Beneficiary Equity and Payment Simplification Act, S9075-S9077 [22JY]

S. 1445, Patient Abuse Prevention Act, S9389-S9393 [27JY]

S. 1451, Medicare Waste Tax Reduction Act, S9534-S9541 [28JY]

S. 1476, increase Medicare payments for physician services provided in health professional shortage areas in Alaska and Hawaii, S10120 [3AU]

S. 1574, Fairness in Medicare Home Health Access Act, S10730 [10SE]

S. 1601, Small Rural Provider Act, S11059 [16SE]

S. 1809, Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, S14314-S14330 [8NO]

S. 1935, Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act, S14638-S14641 [16NO]

S. 1955, Access to Medical Treatment Act, S14807-S14809 [18NO]

S. Con. Res. 32, coverage of chiropractic services under Medicare+Choice program, S5425 [17MY]

S. Con. Res. 47, regulatory burdens on home health agencies under Medicare, S8958 [21JY]