HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Amendments

Health: protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H5247, H5262, H5276 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S6548, S6582, S6622 [21JN], S6633, S6634, S6671 [22JN], S6856, S6865 [25JN], S6895, S6902, S6909, S6930, S6931, S6933, S6934 [26JN], S6961, S6964, S7003, S7004, S7005, S7006, S7007 [27JN], S7016, S7026, S7040, S7043, S7045, S7046, S7053, S7055, S7056, S7058, S7062, S7064, S7066, S7073, S7114, S7117, S7118, S7119, S7120, S7121, S7122, S7123 [28JN], S7129, S7132, S7138, S7142, S7146, S7149, S7155, S7158, S7160, S7161, S7162, S7163, S7164, S7262, S7263, S7281, S7282 [29JN]

Mental health: provide assistance to individuals affected by terrorist attacks (S. 1729), S13066, S13076 [12DE]

Public safety officers: establish a national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (S. 39), S4896 [14MY]

Terrorism: expedite payment of certain benefits for public safety officers killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (S. 1422), S9401 [13SE]

Articles and editorials

``And What Did You Do for Someone Today?'', S6598 [21JN]

``Assisted Living'' Firm Prospers by Housing a Frail Population, E135-E137 [7FE]

Beyond the Call of Duty, E131 [7FE]

Children of Denial—Recent Advances in End-of-Life Care Haven't Reached the Youngest Patients, S6955-S6957 [27JN]

Corporations Setting Up Own Charitable Foundations, E1792 [3OC]

Durham VA Nurses Serving Those Who Served, S6513 [20JN]

Flatlining, the Coming Collapse of Managed Care and the Only Way Out, E875-E877 [21MY]

High-Tech Stealth Being Used To Sway Doctor Prescriptions, E1422 [25JY]

Nursing Home Neglect in an Age of Surpluses, E415 [21MR]

Patient Doctor, E2294 [14DE]

Patient Rights Get Some Life, S6431 [19JN]

Patients' Bill of Rights Not End-All to Health Care Issues, S7142 [29JN]

Second-Guessing the Insurers—Independent Review Process Appears To Be Working, H298-H300 [13FE]

Succumbing to Alzheimer's—In the Hands of the VA, a Declining Father Got Genuine Care, S3914 [25AP]

Surgeon Is Head of Cancer Center, S8394 [30JY]

Surgeon Strives Toward Goal for Program, S8460 [31JY]

VA Medical System To Get Harvard Innovation Award—Reporting, Handling of Health Care Errors To Be Cited, S13295 [14DE]

VA System Quietly Becoming Model for Health Care, S7801 [17JY]

Washing Away Grief—Mother Donates Deceased Son's Clothes to Rescue Workers, E1939 [30OC]

Weighing Patient's Rights, S6942 [27JN]

Y2K—A Legacy of the Country Doctors, E500-E502 [29MR]

Bills and resolutions

Air Force: provide for the Air Force Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services to serve in the grade of major general (see H.R. 2214), H3258 [19JN]

Animals: recognize trained service dogs for rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H. Con. Res. 241), H6260 [3OC]

Armed Forces: allow members to sue the U.S. for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care (see H.R. 2684), H4948 [31JY]

———eliminate requirement that covered beneficiaries obtain nonavailability-of-health-care statements relative to obstetrics and gynecological care for pregnancies (see S. 1096), S6862 [25JN]

———increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps (see S. 44), S98 [22JA]

———waive Medicare part B penalty for military retirees who enroll in TRICARE program (see H.R. 997), H876 [13MR]

Army Nurse Corps: centennial (see S. Con. Res. 5), S707 [30JA]

Aviation: facilitate the voluntary provision of emergency services during commercial air flights (see S. 1458), S9741 [24SE]

Congress: commend the staffs of Members of Congress, the Capitol Police, the Office of the Attending Physician, and others for their response to the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's office (see S. Res. 187), S12447 [5DE]

Courts: allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals (see S. 59), S99 [22JA]

Crime: make grants to train sexual assault nurse examiners and other personnel handling sexual assault cases, establish minimum standards for forensic evidence collection, and carry out crime scene DNA analysis (see H.R. 2874), H5487 [10SE]

———training of students relative to identification and referral of victims of domestic violence (see S. 518), S2218 [13MR]

Dentistry: prohibit licensing discrimination by States on the basis of nonresidency (see H.R. 463), H220 [7FE]

Dept. of HHS: make grants to designated eligible entities for the design and implementation of innovative models of patient care that are conducive to retention and recruitment of nurses (see H.R. 3472), H10055 [12DE] (see H.R. 3589), H10965 [20DE]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (see S. 1833), S13300 [14DE] (see H.R. 3504), H10173 [17DE]

Dept. of HUD: expand provisions of the Officer Next Door and Teacher Next Door Program to include firefighters and rescue personnel (see H.R. 1221), H1188 [27MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners (see H.R. 1136), H1012 [20MR] (see H.R. 1717), H1923 [3MY]

———enhance authority to recruit and retain nurses, establish an additional basis for determining inability of veterans to defray expenses of medical care, and enhance certain health care programs (see H.R. 3447), H9239 [11DE]

———enhance authority to recruit and retain qualified nurses for the Veterans Health Administration (see S. 1188), S7805 [17JY] (see H.R. 3017), H6260 [3OC]

———enhance the assurance of efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction in the furnishing of health care to veterans (see S. 456), S1817 [5MR]

———improve allocation of health care resources to different geographic regions in the U.S. (see H.R. 2633, 2634), H4633 [25JY]

———recognize for purposes of employing physicians, board certifications from the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (see S. Res. 61), S2662 [21MR] (see H. Res. 75), H623 [1MR]

———treat certain service in the American Field Service ambulance corps as active duty (see S. 1767), S12447 [5DE]

Drugs: regulate receipt of donated prescription drug samples by charitable health care entities (see H.R. 2740), H5334 [2AU]

Education: establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas (see S. 67), S99 [22JA]

———make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs (see S. 68), S99 [22JA]

———make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program (see S. 65), S99 [22JA]

———revise and extend certain programs for physical and occupational therapy (see S. 66), S99 [22JA]

Employment: limit the number of overtime hours of licensed health care employees (see H.R. 1289), H1343 [29MR]

———prohibit forced overtime hours of licensed health care employees (see H.R. 1902), H2333 [17MY]

ERISA: exempt from preemption, under State tort actions to recover damages, any employee welfare benefit plan providing disability benefits that fails to provide timely benefits (see H.R. 1104), H1010 [20MR] (see H.R. 1422), H1483 (see H.R. 1422), H1493 [4AP]

FDA: establish restrictions relative to the qualifications of physicians prescribing the abortion drug known as RU-486 (see S. 251), S1062 [6FE] (see H.R. 482), H221 [7FE]

Federal employees: authorize the use of clinical social workers to conduct evaluations to determine work-related emotional and mental illnesses (see S. 46), S98 [22JA]

———coverage of acupuncturist, massage therapist, naturopathic physician, or midwife services in any Federal health plan (see H.R. 2086), H2955 [6JN]

———coverage of chiropractic services in any Federal health plan (see H.R. 2087), H2955 [6JN] (see H. Con. Res. 46), H623 [1MR]

———provide that federally employed registered nurses that retire under FERS shall have unused sick leave used in the computation of annuities (see S. 1080), S6601 [21JN]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 747), H441 [27FE]

FEMA: conduct a study to determine the resources that are needed for development of an effective nationwide communications system for emergency response personnel (see S. 1631), S11437 [5NO]

FTC: amend trade regulation rule on ophthalmic practice to require the release of prescriptions for contact lenses (see H.R. 2663), H4724 [26JY]

Health: allow access to drugs and medical devices recommended and provided by health care practitioners that are not approved by the FDA (see S. 1378), S8911 [3AU] (see H.R. 1964), H2678 [23MY]

———allow States and localities to provide primary and preventive care services to undocumented aliens (see H.R. 2635), H4633 [25JY] (see H.R. 2704), H5125 [1AU] (see H.R. 2728), H5333 [2AU]

———assure coverage of emergency services under group health plans and health insurance (see S. 823), S4246 [3MY] (see H.R. 1674), H1859 [2MY]

———establish certain requirements for managed care plans (see H.R. 2497), H4009 [12JY]

———establish standards to improve children's health quality in managed care plans and other health plans (see S. 1070), S6518 [20JN]

———expand network of public health preparedness centers relative to homeland security (see S. 1705), S11940 [15NO]

———improve access to oral health care by strengthening the dental workforce in rural and underserved communities (see S. 971), S5694 [25MY] (see S. 998), S5967 [7JN]

———limit medical malpractice claims (see H.R. 1639), H1659 [26AP] (see H.R. 2103), H2997 [7JN]

———permit individuals to continue health plan coverage during participation in approved clinical studies (see S. 257), S1062 [6FE]

———prohibit discrimination or retaliation against health care workers who report unsafe conditions and practices (see H.R. 2340), H3712 [27JN]

———prohibit Federal health insurance programs from reimbursing health care providers who charge membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (see S. 1592), S11198 [30OC] (see S. 1606), S11286 [31OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see S. 6), S97 [22JA] (see S. 283), S1122 [7FE] (see S. 872), S4890 [14MY] (see S. 889), S4940 [15MY] (see S. 1052), S6318 [14JN] (see H.R. 526), H252 [8FE] (see H.R. 2315), H3618 [26JN] (see H.R. 2563), H4351 [19JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), consideration (see H. Res. 219), H5332 [2AU]

———provide for accountability of health plans (see H.R. 2367), H3802 [28JN]

———provide for health care liability reform (see S. 1370), S8911 [3AU]

———provide limits on contingency fees in health care liability actions (see H.R. 2463), H3959 [11JY]

———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps (see H.R. 3450), H9239 [11DE]

———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establish Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured (see S. 1281), S8464 [31JY] (see S. 1533), S10640 [11OC]

———reduce paperwork and improve payment policies for services, and prevent fraud and abuse through health care provider education (see H.R. 1128), H1011 [20MR]

———reimburse health care providers for costs associated with providing emergency medical care to illegal aliens who are not detained by law enforcement authorities (see H.R. 2256), H3357 [20JN]

———require insurance coverage of bone mass measurements and inform women concerning reproductive and post-menopausal health care choices (see S. 819), S4245 [3MY] (see H.R. 1683), H1860 [2MY]

———require managed care organizations to contract with providers in medically underserved areas (see H.R. 2743), H5334 [2AU]

———sustain access to vital emergency medical services in rural areas (see S. 587), S2662 [21MR] (see H.R. 1353), H1408 [3AP]

Health care facilities: assure availability of a non-emergency department physician in certain hospitals (see H.R. 1399), H1482 (see H.R. 1399), H1491 [4AP]

———establish an informatics grant program for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (see S. 824), S4246 [3MY]

Housing: provide home ownership assistance to public safety officers and teachers (see H.R. 3191), H7591 [31OC]

Immigration: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses (see S. 1259), S8353 [27JY] (see H.R. 2705), H5125 [1AU]

———increase nonimmigrant visas for nurses and exempt certain hospitals in health professional shortage areas from certain employment requirements (see H.R. 2809), H5337 [2AU]

———prohibit issuance of visa to any citizen of the People's Republic of China who participates in or otherwise supports the harvesting, transplantation, or trafficking of organs of executed Chinese prisoners (see H.R. 2530), H4112 [17JY]

———prohibit issuance of visa to any physician from the People's Republic of China who seeks to train in organ or bodily tissue transplantation (see H.R. 2030), H2847 [25MY]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: revise and extend (see S. 212), S706 [30JA]

Indian Health Service: require compensation of certain technical medical employees for time during which they are required to be on-call (see H.R. 1787), H2082 [9MY]

Insurance: coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (see S. 576), S2582 [20MR]

———coverage of infertility treatment (see S. 874), S4890 [14MY]

———coverage of long-term care services (see H. Con. Res. 37), H399 [14FE]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (see S. 255), S1062 [6FE] (see H.R. 1485), H1487 (see H.R. 1485), H1496 [4AP]

———ensure coverage of emergency hospital and ambulance services (see H.R. 1648), H1714 [1MY]

———establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient (see S. 575), S2582 [20MR]

———require group health plans to provide coverage of pediatric care (see H.R. 2342), H3712 [27JN]

———require health plans to provide adequate access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists (see H.R. 2314), H3618 [26JN]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral (see H.R. 1440), H1484 (see H.R. 1440), H1494 [4AP]

Medicaid: assure that funds provided for State emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens are used to reimburse hospitals and related providers that treat undocumented aliens (see H.R. 519), H223 [7FE]

———coverage of all medically necessary services for uninsured families and individuals (see H.R. 2627), H4633 [25JY]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 53), S99 [22JA]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses (see H.R. 3594), H10965 [20DE]

———improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes (see H.R. 2677), H4862 [30JY]

———increase Federal medical assistance payment percentage for nursing facilities with a high proportion of Medicaid patients (see H.R. 3565), H10964 [20DE]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see S. 1298), S8575 [1AU]

———require criminal background checks on drivers providing medical assistance transportation services (see H.R. 453), H220 [7FE]

———require prorating of beneficiary contributions relative to partial coverage for nursing facility services during a month (see H.R. 566), H322 [13FE]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (see S. 743), S3706 [6AP]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see H.R. 3363), H8564 [28NO]

———apply the bloodborne pathogens standard to hospitals not subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (see H.R. 2933), H5926 [21SE]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (see H.R. 18), H25 [3JA]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education (see H.R. 2178), H3201 [14JN]

———continue conversion factor under the physician fee schedule (see H.R. 3511), H10355 [18DE]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (see H.R. 822), H621 [1MR]

———coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 747), H441 [27FE]

———coverage of certain chiropractic examination procedures (see H.R. 2284), H3464 [21JN]

———coverage of home health services (see H.R. 2071), H2955 [6JN]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (see S. 960), S5616 [24MY] (see H.R. 2117), H2997 [7JN]

———coverage of pharmacist services (see S. 974), S5694 [25MY] (see H.R. 2799), H5336 [2AU]

———coverage of remote monitoring services (see S. 1607), S11286 [31OC] (see H.R. 3572), H10964 [20DE]

———designate certain diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes education services (see H.R. 1645), H1660 [26AP]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (see S. 326), S1394 [14FE] (see H.R. 975), H874 [13MR]

———establish licensing and training programs for new positions and categories of nursing assistants to relieve nursing shortage and ensure funding for such positions and categories (see H.R. 3536), H10909 [19DE]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (see H.R. 3569), H10964 [20DE]

———exclude services of certain providers from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (see H.R. 3094), H6701 [11OC]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (see S. 690), S3435 [4AP] (see H.R. 1522), H1498 [4AP]

———expand coverage of durable medical equipment to include physician prescribed equipment necessary for unpaid caregivers (see H.R. 3092), H6701 [11OC]

———extend community nursing organization demonstration projects (see H.R. 3195), H7591 [31OC]

———improve direct graduate medical education payments (see S. 135), S101 [22JA]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States (see S. 1020), S6127 [12JN] (see H.R. 2483), H4008 [12JY]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas (see S. 1367), S8910 [3AU] (see H.R. 2346), H3712 [27JN]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas, determine rural areas based on population density, and require the use of recent data in determining payment adjustments (see H.R. 3545), H10909 [19DE]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services and funding for additional radiology residents and radiologic technologists (see S. 548), S2388 [15MR] (see H.R. 1354), H1408 [3AP]

———limit hospital ownership exception to physician self-referral restrictions to interests purchased on terms generally available to the public (see H.R. 2490), H4008 [12JY]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for rural or sole community hospital outpatient department services (see S. 270), S1121 [7FE]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see S. 1350), S8910 [3AU] (see H.R. 3109), H6779 [12OC]

———payments to hospitals that have graduate medical education programs in critical need specialty areas (see H.R. 1928), H2387 [21MY]

———phase in the fee schedule for ambulance services to provide for equitable treatment of suppliers of such services that are required to equip all ambulances to provide advanced life support services (see S. 1866), S13943 [20DE]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (see S. 1686), S11789 [14NO] (see H.R. 3238), H7852 [6NO]

———provide guidance to health care providers attempting to properly submit claims and target truly fraudulent activity for enforcement of billing regulations rather than inadvertent errors (see S. 452), S1817 [5MR] (see H.R. 868), H648 [6MR]

———provide more equitable payments for direct graduate medical education (see H.R. 1517), H1498 [4AP]

———provide that geographic reclassifications of hospitals from one urban area to another do not result in lower wage indexes (see S. 954), S5616 [24MY] (see H.R. 2003), H2710 [24MY]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see H.R. 3236), H7852 [6NO]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see H.R. 3602), H10965 [20DE]

———reimbursement for chiropractic services (see H.R. 902), H649 [6MR]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 51), S98 [22JA]

———remove restrictions on coverage of periodic health examinations (see H.R. 1568), H1555 [24AP]

———remove the sunset and numerical limitation on participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account plans (see H.R. 2802), H5337 [2AU]

———require providers to disclose staffing and performance data (see S. 863), S4822 [10MY]

———specify the update for physician fee schedule payments (see H.R. 3318), H8337 [16NO]

———specify the update for physician fee schedule payments and conduct a study on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in such update (see S. 1660), S11612 [8NO] (see S. 1707), S11940 [15NO] (see H.R. 3351), H8420 [27NO]

———study anesthesia services and expand service arrangements for certified registered nurse anesthetists (see S. 332), S1394 [14FE] (see H.R. 716), H398 [14FE]

———treatment of certain physician pathology services (see S. 730), S3705 [6AP] (see H.R. 1451), H1484 (see H.R. 1451), H1494 [4AP]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (see S. 1054), S6318 [14JN]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 3331), H8337 [16NO]

———streamline regulatory processes for home health agencies (see S. 1169), S7589 [12JY]

———waive certain nurse aide training requirements (see S. 728), S3705 [6AP] (see H.R. 1510), H1497 [4AP]

Mental health: establish State and local grants to provide services in response to public health emergencies and disasters resulting from terrorism (see H.R. 3413), H8948 [5DE]

———increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals (see H. Con. Res. 91), H1345 [29MR]

———provide assistance to individuals affected by terrorist attacks (see S. 1729), S12054 [27NO]

Mental Health Advisory Committee: establish (see H. Res. 14), H28 [3JA]

National Academies of Practice: grant Federal charter (see S. 58), S99 [22JA]

National Day of Appreciation for Emergency Response and Rescue Workers: designate (see H. Res. 259), H6505 [10OC]

National Disaster Medical System: establish (see H.R. 2333), H3711 [27JN]

National Emergency Medical Services Week: designate (see S. Con. Res. 40), S5118 [17MY]

National Health Service Corps: include tertiary-care nurses (see H.R. 2594), H4428 [23JY]

———reauthorize, amend scholarship and loan programs tax status and repayment rules, and simplify application process (see H.R. 1968), H2678 [23MY]

National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month: designate (see H. Con. Res. 271), H8248 [15NO]

National Living Organ Donor Registry: establish (see H.R. 955), H826 [8MR]

National parks and recreation areas: free admission to survivors, victims' families, and rescue and recovery personnel affected by terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 2976), H6135 [2OC]

National security: develop local emergency response plans that provide a defined and unified response to terrorist attacks and other catastrophes (see H.R. 3161), H7217 [23OC]

Native Americans: improve services and facilities of Federal Indian health programs and encourage maximum participation of Indians in such programs (see H.R. 1662), H1715 [1MY]

New York, NY: tribute to Rudolph Giuliani, rescue workers, and residents for efforts in responding to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (see H. Res. 243), H5927 [21SE]

Nurses: alleviate nursing profession shortage by improving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (see S. 1597), S11286 [31OC]

———alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (see S. 706, 721), S3530 [5AP] (see H.R. 1436), H1484 (see H.R. 1436), H1493 [4AP]

———establish a Nurse Corps and address the nursing shortage through recruitment and retention strategies (see S. 1864), S13943 [20DE] (see H.R. 3020), H6378 [4OC]

———establish grant and scholarship programs to enable hospitals to retain and further educate their nursing staffs (see S. 1585), S11198 [30OC]

———provide programs to improve nurse retention, the nursing workplace, and the quality of care (see S. 1594), S11198 [30OC]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (see H.R. 3487), H10066 [13DE]

———amend relative to pharmacy health professions programs (see S. 1806), S12859 [11DE] (see H.R. 2173), H3201 [14JN]

———amend relative to the shortage of medical laboratory personnel (see H.R. 1948), H2570 [22MY]

———establish scholarship and loan repayment programs in veterinarian shortage areas (see S. 1836), S13464 [18DE] (see H.R. 1943), H2570 [22MY]

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor: award to officers killed, injured, or involved in rescue efforts in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see S. Con. Res. 75), S10287 [4OC] (see H. Con. Res. 243), H6379 [4OC]

———award to public safety officers killed in the line of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see S. Con. Res. 66), S9504 [19SE]

Public safety officers: establish a national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (see S. 39), S98 [22JA] (see H.R. 802), H507 [28FE]

———provide benefits to those who die or become disabled as a result of certain injuries (see H.R. 3063), H6458 [9OC]

Rural areas: establish a demonstration program to address physician shortage, recruitment, and retention problems in rural areas (see S. 1387), S8911 [3AU]

———promote and improve access to health care services (see S. 1030), S6212 [13JN] (see H.R. 2157), H3149 [13JN]

———provide practitioners with training in preventive health care (see S. 69), S99 [22JA]

———provide rural health services outreach, rural health network planning and implementation, small health care provider quality improvement grant programs, and telehomecare demonstration projects (see S. 1273), S8464 [31JY]

Senior citizens: expand medical residency training programs in geriatrics (see S. 1362), S8910 [3AU]

———recognize need for a White House Conference to discuss and develop national recommendations concerning quality of care in assisted living facilities (see H.J. Res. 13), H223 [7FE]

States: develop medical disaster response plans for terrorist attacks that use biological or chemical weapons (see H.R. 3269), H7959 [8NO]

———provide grants to test innovative ways to increase nursing home staff levels, reduce turnover, and improve quality of care for residents in nursing homes (see H.R. 118), H59 [6JA]

Taxation: exclude from gross income certain scholarships related to health professions (see H.R. 885), H648 [6MR]

———exclude from gross income payments made under Dept. of Defense programs for the repayment of student loans of members of the Armed Forces (see H.R. 152), H60 [6JA]

———provide a refundable tax credit to public safety volunteers (see H.R. 3603), H10965 [20DE]

———provide credits for health care professionals establishing practices in rural or underserved areas (see S. 569), S2582 [20MR]

———treatment of certain gifts and benefits provided to physicians by prescription drug manufacturers (see H.R. 2641), H4634 [25JY]

———treatment of certain terrorist attack zone compensation of civilian uniformed personnel (see S. 1446), S9620 [21SE] (see H.R. 3137), H6918 [16OC] (see H.R. 3433), H9077 [6DE] (see H.R. 3601), H10965 [20DE]

———treatment of loan payments received under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (see H.R. 1401), H1482 (see H.R. 1401), H1492 [4AP]

———treatment of primary health providers in health professional shortage areas (see H.R. 2449), H3861 [10JY]

Terrorism: designation of school nurses as ``first responders'' and removal of any barriers impeding them from responding to a biological or chemical attack (see H. Con. Res. 298), H10966 [20DE]

———establish a partnership between the Depts. of Veterans Affairs and Defense to develop education and training programs on medical responses to consequences of terrorist attacks (see H.R. 3254), H7958 [8NO]

———expedite payment of certain benefits for public safety officers killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see S. 1422), S9395 [13SE] (see H.R. 2882), H5615 [13SE]

———grant posthumous citizenship to certain lawfully admitted aliens killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see H.R. 2897), H5704 [14SE]

———strengthen the preparedness of health care providers within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and community hospitals to respond to bioterrorism (see S. 1561), S10794 [17OC]

———tribute to first responders injured or killed following attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks (see S. Con. Res. 73), S9621 [21SE] (see H. Con. Res. 233), H5926 [21SE]

———tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (see S. Con. Res. 76), S10287 [4OC]

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences: terminate (see S. 114), S100 [22JA]

United We Stand Remembrance Day: designate (see H. Res. 260), H6505 [10OC]

Veterans Health Administration: revise certain provisions relative to the appointment of professional psychologists (see S. 62), S99 [22JA]

Women: provide grants for Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners programs (see S. 1391), S8911 [3AU]

———reduce health care costs and promote improved health by providing supplemental grants for preventive health services (see S. 208), S706 [30JA] (see H.R. 633), H394 [14FE]

Cost Estimates

Health centers program and National Health Service Corps reauthorization and Healthy Communities Access Program establishment to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured (S. 1533): CBO, S11281-S11283 [31OC]

Explanations

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act (H.R. 3447): Committee on Veterans Affairs (House) and Committee on Veterans Affairs (Senate), E2404-E2408 [20DE]

Letters

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists anniversary: several Members of Congress, S2217 [13MR]

Assure Access to Mammography Act: Daniel E. Smith, American Cancer Society, S2399 [15MR]

———Harvey L. Neiman, American College of Radiology, S2400 [15MR]

———Michael Del Vecchio, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, S2400 [15MR]

———Stephen A. Feig, Society of Breast Imaging, S2400 [15MR]

Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S6497 [20JN], S6855 [25JN]

———Bill Merry, Jr., Herndon & Merry, Inc., S6651 [22JN]

———Billy G. Rogers, Jr., Billy Rogers Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., S6651 [22JN]

———Frank J. Nemec, S6509 [20JN]

———John W. Dillard, Jr., Dillard Door & Specialty Co., Inc., S6651 [22JN]

———Kathleen Sebelius, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, S6493 [20JN]

———Margaret LaMontagne, Executive Office of the President, S6652 [22JN]

———Michael Marcum, S6889 [26JN]

———R.I. Christensen, Christensen & Griffith Construction Co., S6482 [20JN]

Clearly define medical necessity and other standards for independent reviewers to use in the arbitration of coverage determinations by managed care plans and HMO's: National Breast Cancer Coalition, S6950 [27JN]

Collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments: Don Borut, National League of Cities, S11447 [5NO]

———J. Thomas Cochran, U.S. Conference of Mayors, S11446 [5NO]

———Philip C. Stittleburg, National Volunteer Fire Council, S11447 [5NO]

———Reed Larson, National Right To Work Committee, S11447 [5NO]

———William T. Pound, National Conference of State Legislatures, S11447 [5NO]

Developing countries disease monitoring and surveillance programs funding: Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., OMB, S13910 [20DE]

Executive Office of the President response to correspondence on pediatric medical education: Nicholas E. Calio, Executive Office of the President, H2981 [7JN]

Federal courts jurisdition over traditional plaintiff's medical malpractice claims: Senator Specter, S6386 [18JN]

Guarantee Federal remedies that hold health plans accountable for medical decisions and limit non-economical and punitive damages: Frank M. Fitzgerald, Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services, H5272 [2AU]

Health Care Access Improvement Act: Richard W. Valachovic, American Dental Education Association, S2585 [20MR]

Health care liability and medical malpractice reform: Robert W. Gilmore, AMA, H5278 [2AU]

Hospital-Based Nursing Initiative Act: Jessie F. Rohner, Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, S11202 [30OC]

———Pamela A. Thompson and Dianne Anderson, American Organization of Nurse Executives, S11202 [30OC]

———Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S11201 [30OC]

———Rose Gonzalez, American Nurses Association, S11202 [30OC]

———Thomas C. Dolan, American College of Healthcare Executives, S11202 [30OC]

Improve access to oral health care by strengthening the dental workforce in rural and underserved communities: Richard W. Valachovic, American Dental Education Association, S5703 [25MY], S5978 [7JN]

———Robert M. Anderton, American Dental Association, S5702 [25MY], S5978 [7JN]

Improve Medicare reimbursement policies relative to service payment sites: several health care professionals, E287 [6MR]

Insurance coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials: Cancer Leadership Council, S6587 [21JN]

———Daniel E. Smith, American Cancer Society, S6583, S6587 [21JN]

Investigation into Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc., representation of average wholesale prices of prescription drugs relative to Medicare reimbursement: Representative Stark, E244 [28FE]

Liability of employers relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's: Benjamin Y. Cooper, Printing Industries of America, Inc., S6883 [26JN]

———Dan Danner, National Federation of Independent Business, S6840 [25JN], S6882 [26JN]

———Dirk Van Dongen and James A. Anderson, Jr., National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, S6881 [26JN]

———Jack McKee, McKee Foods Corp., S6476 [20JN], S6574 [21JN]

———James A. Klein, American Benefits Council, S6841 [25JN]

———John W. Hayes, S6476 [20JN], S6574 [21JN]

———M. Scott Vinson, National Council of Chain Restaurants, S6882 [26JN]

———Michael E. Baroody, National Association of Manufacturers, S6881 [26JN]

———R. Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, S6841 [25JN]

———Steven C. Anderson and Lee Culpepper, National Restaurant Association, S6881 [26JN]

———Steven Pfister, National Retail Federation, S6882 [26JN]

———Tom B. Hancher, Texas Medical Association, S6879 [26JN]

———William T. Archey, American Electronics Association, S6882 [26JN]

———several business groups, S6649 [22JN]

NIH Centers for Excellence funding: Ruth L. Kirschstein, NIH, H1677 [1MY]

Senate consideration of certain veterans health and housing legislation: several veterans organizations, S11317 [1NO]

Tribute to FEMA for relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate), S9353 [13SE]

Veterans health care funding: Armando C. Albarran, DAV, S5503 [23MY]

———David E. Woodbury, AMVETS, S5504 [23MY]

———Joel Niemeyer, Paralyzed Veterans of America (organization), S3497 [5AP]

———Joseph L. Fox, Sr., Paralyzed Veterans of America (organization), S5504 [23MY]

———Robert E. Wallace, VFW, S3497 [5AP], S5503 [23MY]

———several veterans' organizations, S3496 [5AP]

WISEWOMAN Expansion Act: Phyliss Greenberger and Roberta Biegel, Society for Women's Health Research, S713 [30JA]

———Rose Marie Robertson, American Heart Association, S713 [30JA]

———Sandra C. Raymond, National Osteoporosis Foundation, S713 [30JA]

Lists

American Ambulance Association ``Stars of Life'' award recipients, E748 [8MY]

Cancer Leadership Council, S6588 [21JN]

Medical services not covered under Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA (CHAMPVA), S6908 [26JN]

Pennsylvania volunteers participating in relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, E1849 [11OC]

People killed in attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H7953-H7957 [8NO], H8163, H8165 [14NO], H8228, H8233 [15NO], H8328 [16NO], H8884 [5DE], H9054 [6DE], H10141 [13DE]

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey employees killed in the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, E1761 [2OC]

Supporters of S. 1052, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S6404-S6406, S6432 [19JN], S6510 [20JN], S6890 [26JN], S7074 [28JN]

Temple University Dental School Class of 1951, E606 [24AP]

Utah Task Force One members, S11359 [1NO]

Motions

Health: protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H5285 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S6403 [19JN], S6634 [22JN], S6870 [26JN], S6963 [27JN], S7015, S7025, S7054 [28JN], S7130, S7131, S7136, S7138, S7142, S7145, S7148, S7153 [29JN]

Obituaries

Bradley, William F., E206 [26FE]

Wolf, Rosalie S.: Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette, E1409 [24JY]

Petitions and memorials

Colorado: condemn terrorist attacks, express sympathy to victims, and commend emergency personnel that responded to attacks, E1857 [12OC]

Press releases

AMA Opposes Kyl-Nelson Amendment That Lets MBA's—Not MD's—Make Medical Decisions: AMA, S6953 [27JN]

VA Initiates Pain Management Program: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, S1390 [14FE]

VA Sponsors New Program for End-of-Life Care: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, S3915 [25AP]

Remarks in House

Academy of Medicine of Toledo and Lucas County (organization): anniversary, E716 [3MY]

Alvarez-Dillard, Tarquina: National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association Outstanding Clinician Award recipient, E1142 [19JN]

American Ambulance Association: tribute to ``Stars of Life'' award recipients, E748 [8MY]

Animals: recognize trained service dogs for rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H. Con. Res. 241), E1787 [3OC]

Armed Forces: waive Medicare part B penalty for military retirees who enroll in TRICARE program (H.R. 997), E340 [13MR]

Bremner, Connie: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1223 [27JN]

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc.: investigation into representation of average wholesale prices of prescription drugs relative to Medicare reimbursement, E244 [28FE]

Caregivers: tribute, E2016 [6NO]

Cartersville, GA: observance of National Nursing Home Week at Starcrest Long-Term Care Facility, E643 [26AP]

Casey, Shawn M.J.: Greater Pittston, PA, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick W. Francis Swingle Award recipient, E298 [7MR]

Castele, Theodore J.: Cleveland, OH, West Side Ecumenical Ministry Lamplighter Humanitarian Award recipient, E1153 [19JN]

Catawba County, NC: tribute to Catawba Memorial Hospital, E761 [9MY]

Centeno, Luis: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1222 [27JN]

Chasson, Susan: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1246 [29JN]

China, People's Republic of: use of organs from executed prisoners, H4187-H4189 [18JY], E1255 [29JN]

Clearfield, PA: Clearfield Emergency Medical Service Co., recipient of Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council Rural Ambulance Service of the Year Award, H8572 [29NO]

Cleveland, OH: tribute to St. Michael Hospital, E321 [8MR]

———tribute to University Hospital Health Network, E321 [8MR]

Community Health Agency, Inc.: tribute, E674 [1MY]

Construction industries: tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, H9230 [11DE]

Cook, Art: Grand Junction, CO, Lions Club award recipient, E1807 [5OC]

Cookingham, Cory: American Lung Association of the Michigan-Genesee Valley Region Individual Health Advocate of the Year Award recipient, E1982 [2NO]

Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana: increase Indian Health Service funding, H7106 [17OC]

DEA: enforcement of Controlled Substances Act relative to assisted suicide and euthanasia, H7786 [6NO]

Dennison, Lourdes M.: Asian-American Medical Society Crystal Globe Award recipient, E2023 [7NO]

Dept. of Defense: make certain improvements to the military health care system, H5767, H5772 [20SE]

———military dental research program funding, H8497 [28NO]

Dept. of HHS: make grants to designated eligible entities for the design and implementation of innovative models of patient care that are conducive to retention and recruitment of nurses (H.R. 3472), E2274 [13DE]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (H.R. 3504), H10485-H10487 [19DE], H10937 [20DE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners, H4702, H4703 [26JY]

———dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners (H.R. 1717), E714 [3MY]

———enhance authority to recruit and retain nurses, establish an additional basis for determining inability of veterans to defray expenses of medical care, and enhance certain health care programs (H.R. 3447), H9217-H9225 [11DE], E2267 [12DE], E2312, E2317 [14DE], E2404 [20DE]

———improve allocation of health care resources to different geographic regions in the U.S. (H.R. 2633), E1435 [25JY]

———State Extended Care Facilities Construction Grant Program funding, H4659 [26JY]

DiGiorgio, Joseph: New York's Fourth Congressional District Citizen of the Month honoree, E54 [30JA]

District of Columbia: effects of terrorist attack on the Pentagon and anthrax-related deaths of postal workers, H7207 [23OC]

———tribute to Camp Unity relief efforts relative to terrorist attack on the Pentagon, E2356 [20DE]

Doctor's Day: observance, E500 [29MR]

Dube, Pat: Visiting Nurse Association of America Program Manager of the Year award recipient, E727 [4MY]

Emergency services: firefighting and emergency medical services funding, H4674 [26JY], H4817-H4820 [30JY], E1487 [1AU]

———State and local emergency responders funding, H3123 [13JN]

Employment: address issue of retaining and recruiting long-term care providers, E537 [4AP]

———limit the number of overtime hours of licensed health care employees (H.R. 1289), H1465 [4AP], E497 [29MR]

Fairfax County, VA: tribute to Inova Fairfax Hospital, E2196 [4DE]

FDA: approval of the abortion drug known as RU-486, E123 [6FE]

Fitzpatrick, Betty: National Association of School Nurses Nurse Administrator of the Year honoree, E75 [31JA], E91 [1FE]

Folkman, Judah: ROFEH International (nonprofit organization) and New England Chassidic Center honoree, E1707 [24SE]

Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia: anniversary, E1694 [21SE]

FTC: amend trade regulation rule on ophthalmic practice to require the release of prescriptions for contact lenses (H.R. 2663), E1447 [26JY]

Gosai, Kamlesh: Country Doctor of the Year award recipient, H8889 [5DE]

Guam Nurses Association: anniversary, E739 [4MY]

Haider, Thomas T.: AMA ``Pride in the Profession'' award recipient, E778 [10MY]

Harris County, TX: public hospitals funding, H3928 [11JY]

Hazardous substances: investigation of anthrax bacteria outbreak, H6488 [10OC], H6922, H6944 [17OC]

Health: allow States and localities to provide primary and preventive care services to undocumented aliens (H.R. 2635), E1428 [25JY]

———assure coverage of emergency services under group health plans and health insurance (H.R. 1674), E704, E705 [2MY]

———clarify liability of employers relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H3701, H3704 [27JN], H4205, H4208 [18JY]

———clarify liability of small businesses relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H3704 [27JN]

———condition of health services along the U.S.-Mexico border, H4423-H4426 [23JY]

———guarantee Federal remedies that hold health plans accountable for medical decisions and limit non-economical and punitive damages, H5265-H5276, H5281, H5284, H5314 [2AU], E1630 [11SE]

———improve access to oral health care by strengthening the dental workforce in rural and underserved communities, H6642, H6643 [11OC]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, E537 [4AP]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H309-H311 [13FE], H720-H722 [7MR], H1596 [25AP], H1702, H1703, H1707 [1MY], H3245, H3250 [19JN], E226 [27FE], E875 [21MY], E1390 [20JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 526), H297 [13FE], H467 [28FE], H870-H874 [13MR], H910 [14MR], H1464 [4AP], H1587 [25AP], H1833 [2MY], H2670-H2672 [23MY], H2866, H2869-H2876 [5JN], H3238-H3244 [19JN], H3502-H3505 [25JN], H3600-H3602 [26JN], H3623, H3624, H3625, H3626, H3689, H3698-H3705 [27JN], H3797-H3800 [28JN], H3810, H3811 [10JY], H3931 [11JY], H4119, H4204-H4211 [18JY], E1246 [29JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2315), H3602 [26JN], H3799 [28JN], H3868 [11JY], H4119, H4120 [18JY], H4368 [20JY], H4411-H4420 [23JY], H4432, H4435, H4436, H4437 [24JY], H4546 [25JY], H4770 [27JY], H4871 [31JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H4410, H4417-H4423 [23JY], H4432, H4434, H4435, H4437 [24JY], H4546, H4547, H4548, H4549 [25JY], H4719-H4721 [26JY], H4785, H4861 [30JY], H4867, H4870, H4967, H4976-H4982 [31JY], H5181, H5182, H5183, H5184, H5196-H5315 [2AU], H8239 [15NO], E1578, E1585 [5SE], E1630 [11SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), consideration (H. Res. 219), H5185-H5196 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), corrections in engrossment, H5315 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), motion to recommit, H5313, H5314 [2AU]

———provide for health care liability and medical malpractice reform, H5278, H5285 [2AU]

———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps (H.R. 3450), E2262 [12DE]

———require insurance coverage of bone mass measurements and inform women concerning reproductive and post-menopausal health care choices (H.R. 1683), E698 [2MY], E843 [17MY]

Hendersonville, TN: tribute to Girl Scout Troop 2765 for relief efforts surrounding the terrorist attacks, E2306 [14DE]

Honkawa, Yoshi: Partner in Care Foundation Allen and Weta Mathies Award for Vision and Excellence in Health Care Leadership recipient, E521 [3AP]

Houston, TX: St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital recipient of American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Award, E781 [10MY]

Immigration: prohibit funding for processing applications by aliens who participate in or otherwise support the harvesting, transplantation, or trafficking of organs of executed prisoners, H4187-H4189 [18JY]

Indian Health Service: Loan Repayment Program funding, H3395, H3396 [21JN]

Insurance: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (H.R. 1485), E866 [21MY]

———ensure coverage of emergency hospital and ambulance services (H.R. 1648), E692 [1MY]

———provide coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials, H3703 [27JN]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral, H4546 [25JY]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral (H.R. 1440), H2931 [6JN], E552 [5AP]

Jackson, Alvin: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1202 [26JN]

Kalke, David: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1211 [26JN]

Kelly, Elizabeth: American Jewish Congress New York, NY, Metropolitan Region Devorah Award recipient, E390 [19MR]

Keys, Charlotte: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1206 [26JN]

Kliewer, Pauline: Central Valley Coalition of Nursing Organizations Registered Nurse of the Year award recipient, E2053 [13NO]

Levin, Norm: California Society of Anesthesiologists Distinguished Service Award recipient, E741 [7MY]

Local Heroes Week: observance, E2042 [8NO]

Louisville, KY: tribute to first successful totally implantable artificial heart transplant, E1759 [2OC]

Mahler, Carol: Hudson County, NJ, United Way Congresswoman Mary T. Norton Memorial Award recipient, E1687 [21SE]

Marlette, MI: anniversary of Marlette Coummunity Hospital, E1183 [21JN]

Mattox, Kenneth L.: Houston, TX, Surgical Society Distinguished Houston Surgeon Award recipient, E779 [10MY]

McLaren Health Care Corp.: American Lung Association of the Michigan-Genesee Valley Region Corporate Health Advocate of the Year Award recipient, E1982 [2NO]

Medicaid: improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes (H.R. 2677), E1471 [30JY]

———increase funding to improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes, E415 [21MR]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (H.R. 3363), E2150, E2161 [28NO]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education (H.R. 2178), E1115 [14JN]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (H.R. 822), E260 [1MR]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (H.R. 2117), E1053 [7JN]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (H.R. 3569), H10939, H10948 [20DE]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services, E535 [4AP]

———improve reimbursement policies relative to service payment sites, E287 [6MR]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas, determine rural areas based on population density, and require the use of recent data in determining payment adjustments (H.R. 3545), E2344 [20DE]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas (H.R. 2346), E1228 [27JN]

———limit hospital ownership exception to physician self-referral restrictions to interests purchased on terms generally available to the public (H.R. 2490), E1322 [12JY]

———payments to hospitals that have graduate medical education programs in critical need specialty areas (H.R. 1928), E871 [21MY]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (H.R. 3238), E2007 [6NO]

———provide guidance to health care providers attempting to properly submit claims and target truly fraudulent activity for enforcement of billing regulations rather than inadvertent errors (H.R. 868), E1309 [11JY]

———reimbursement of prescription drug costs at the average wholesale price, E44 [30JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: waive certain nurse aide training requirements (H.R. 1510), E578 [5AP]

Mehta, Gunvantray B.: Toledo, OH, International Institute Key to the Golden Door Award recipient, E715 [3MY]

Mental health: increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals (H. Con. Res. 91), H1672-H1680 [1MY], H2175 [15MY], E663 [27AP], E734 [4MY]

Miami, FL: tribute to La Liga Contra el Cancer, H3078 [13JN]

Montgomery-Autauga-Elmore Medical Alliance: tribute, E769 [10MY]

National Commission on Mental Health: establish, H296 [13FE]

National D.O. Day: observance, E570 [5AP]

National Health Service Corps: include tertiary-care nurses (H.R. 2594), E1397 [23JY]

———reauthorize, amend scholarship and loan programs tax status and repayment rules, and simplify application process (H.R. 1968), E901 [23MY]

National Nurses Week: observance, E697 [2MY], E723 [3MY], E746 [8MY], E782, E783 [10MY]

National parks and recreation areas: free admission to survivors, victims' families, and rescue and recovery personnel affected by terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H.R. 2976), H8064 [13NO], E1765 [2OC]

National security: develop local emergency response plans that provide a defined and unified response to terrorist attacks and other catastrophes, H6494-H6498 [10OC], E2390 [20DE]

———develop local emergency response plans that provide a defined and unified response to terrorist attacks and other catastrophes (H.R. 3161), H7210-H7216 [23OC]

National Therapeutic Recreation Week: observance, E1351 [18JY]

Native Americans: improve services and facilities of Federal Indian health programs and encourage maximum participation of Indians in such programs (H.R. 1662), E688, E691 [1MY]

New Jersey: tribute to Office of Emergency Management Urban Search and Rescue Team for efforts relative to terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, E1669 [19SE]

New Mexico: tribute to school nurses, E184 [14FE]

New York, NY: tribute to Rudolph Giuliani, rescue workers, and residents for efforts in responding to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (H. Res. 243), H6044 [25SE]

New York College of Podiatric Medicine: anniversary, E690 [1MY]

Newark, NJ: anniversary of Beth Israel Medical Center, E1699 [21SE]

Nurses: alleviate nursing profession shortage by improving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (H.R. 1436), E1246 [29JN], E2262 [12DE]

———alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (H.R. 1436), H1465 [4AP]

———improve access to nursing education, create health care provider and educational institution partnerships, support additional nurses training, and collect nursing workforce data, H1040 [21MR]

———shortage, H1040 [21MR], E1246 [29JN]

Nurses Month: observance, E739 [4MY]

Phoenix, AZ: tribute to Phoenix Fire Dept., Urban Search and Rescue Team/Arizona Task Force-1, E1886 [12OC]

Price, Tom: AMA Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service recipient, E1248 [29JN]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), H10487-H10493 [19DE], H10937 [20DE], E2399 [20DE]

———establish scholarship and loan repayment programs in veterinarian shortage areas (H.R. 1943), E896 [22MY]

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor: award to officers killed, injured, or involved in rescue efforts in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H. Con. Res. 243), H7362, H7365-H7368 [30OC], E2001 [5NO]

Public safety officers: establish a national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (H.R. 802), H1066-H1068 [22MR], E450 [27MR]

Rancho Mirage, CA: anniversary of Eisenhower Medical Center, E2231 [7DE]

Rather, James T.: American Ambulance Association Star of Life award recipient, H1938 [8MY]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services, H203, H204 [7FE]

Salinas, CA: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations accreditation of the Monterey Bay Medical Surgery Center as the first office-based surgery practice, E353 [14MR]

Senior citizens: recognize need for a White House Conference to discuss and develop national recommendations concerning quality of care in assisted living facilities (H.J. Res. 13), E135 [7FE]

Shriners Hospitals for Children: tribute, E206 [26FE]

Sutters, Kim: Central Valley Coalition of Nursing Organizations Advanced Practice Registered Nurse of the Year award recipient, E1991 [2NO]

Taxation: treatment of certain gifts and benefits provided to physicians by prescription drug manufacturers (H.R. 2641), E1421 [25JY]

———treatment of certain terrorist attack zone compensation of civilian uniformed personnel (H.R. 3137), E1903 [16OC]

Temple University: tribute to Dental School Class of 1951, E606 [24AP]

Terrorism: establish a partnership between the Depts. of Veterans Affairs and Defense to develop education and training programs on medical responses to consequences of terrorist attacks (H.R. 3254), H7950 [8NO]

———expedite payment of certain benefits for public safety officers killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H.R. 2882), H5598-H5604 [13SE], E1650, E1659, E1663 [14SE]

———integration of firefighters and emergency medical service personnel with the military to respond to emergency situations, H5849 [20SE]

———tribute to employees of the New York and New Jersey Port Authority killed in the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, E1761 [2OC]

———tribute to first responders injured or killed following attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks, H7858 [7NO], E1676 [20SE]

———tribute to first responders injured or killed following attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks (H. Con. Res. 233), H7383-H7387 [30OC], E1989 [2NO]

———tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H5497, H5498, H5500-H5502, H5504, H5505, H5507, H5510, H5514, H5517, H5519, H5520, H5522, H5524-H5539, H5543, H5546, H5548, H5550, H5552, H5553, H5555, H5556, H5558, H5559, H5561-H5571, H5574, H5576, H5578, H5579, H5583, H5586 [11SE], H5635 [14SE], H5980, H6044 [25SE], H6166 [3OC], H6265 [4OC], H6462, H6495 [10OC], H6682 [11OC], E1628 [11SE], E1644 [13SE], E1651, E1655, E1656 [14SE], E1674 [20SE], E1695, E1696 [21SE], E1726, E1730 [25SE], E1763, E1766, E1767, E1769, E1770, E1771, E1772, E1773, E1774, E1776, E1779 [2OC], E1792 [3OC], E1795, E1796, E1798, E1799, E1800, E1801, E1802 [4OC], E1805, E1806 [5OC], E1849, E1853 [11OC], E1885 [12OC], E1921 [24OC], E1933 [29OC], E1979, E1992, E1995 [2NO], E2001 [5NO], E2022 [6NO], E2054, E2067 [13NO], E2133 [27NO], E2268 [12DE], E2334 [19DE], E2357, E2401 [20DE]

———tribute to those killed in attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H7914, H7953 [8NO], H8137, H8163, H8165 [14NO], H8228, H8233 [15NO], H8328 [16NO], H8556-H8562 [28NO], H8884 [5DE], H9054 [6DE], H10141 [13DE]

———tribute to women relief workers responding to the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H8750 [4DE]

Texas: observance of Local Hero's Week in Bell and Coryell Counties, E2349 [20DE]

———tribute to public safety officers, E2110 [16NO]

Upchurch, Gina: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1282 [29JN]

Veterans: health care and housing programs funding, H2961 [7JN]

———health care funding, H1211, H1224 [28MR], H2032, H2037, H2038 [9MY], H4374 [20JY], H4687 [26JY], H4859, H4860 [30JY]

Wilford, Dan S.: B'nai B'rith National Health Care Award recipient, E1090 [13JN]

Women: raise public awareness of effects of heart disease and cancer, H5376 [5SE]

———tribute to health care professionals, E437 [22MR]

Remarks in Senate

Allard, Senator: appreciation for tributes and invitation to have Senators' dogs visit personal office and to join the veterinary caucus, S694 [30JA]

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: anniversary, S2216 [13MR]

Armed Forces: eliminate requirement that covered beneficiaries obtain nonavailability-of-health-care statements relative to obstetrics and gynecological care for pregnancies (S. 1096), S6863, S6864 [25JN]

———increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps (S. 44), S318 [22JA]

Army Nurse Corps: centennial (S. Con. Res. 5), S786 [30JA]

Aviation: facilitate the voluntary provision of emergency services during commercial air flights, S10535 [11OC]

———facilitate the voluntary provision of emergency services during commercial air flights (S. 1458), S9744 [24SE]

Beaulac, Tim: Pharmacist of the Year award recipient, S6444 [19JN]

Bipartisan Patient Protection Act: application of effective date to collective bargaining agreement plans, S7064-S7066 [28JN], S7130 [29JN]

———include Federal health benefits programs, S7142-S7145 [29JN]

———repeal liability provisions if the number of uninsured individuals reaches a certain level, S6895-S6901 [26JN]

Catanese, Jessica: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Hands and Heart Award recipient, S11657 [9NO]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: smallpox vaccination for first responders funding, S13786 [20DE]

———tribute to National Summit on Safe Motherhood, S11345 [1NO]

Congress: commend the staffs of Members of Congress, the Capitol Police, the Office of the Attending Physician, and others for their response to the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's office (S. Res. 187), S12457 [5DE]

Contracts: ensure that health insurance contracts are binding, S7045, S7046 [28JN]

Courts: allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals (S. 59), S322 [22JA]

———immunity from liability for physicians providing free medical care to medically underserved or indigent patients, S7073, S7074 [28JN], S7131, S7135 [29JN], S8199 [25JY]

Crime: training of students relative to identification and referral of victims of domestic violence (S. 518), S2220 [13MR]

DEA: enforcement of Controlled Substances Act relative to assisted suicide and euthanasia, S11564 [7NO]

Dept. of Defense: health care staff hiring revisions, S9843 [26SE]

Dept. of HHS: revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (S. 1833), S13317 [14DE], S13322 [17DE]

Dept. of Justice: Office of Justice Programs Justice Assistance Account funding, S13845 [20DE]

Dept. of Transportation: authorize emergency mail and freight waivers for certain shipments during national emergencies resulting in certain aviation system restrictions, S10492 [11OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: enhance authority to recruit and retain nurses, establish an additional basis for determining inability of veterans to defray expenses of medical care, and enhance certain health care programs (H.R. 3447), S13930, S14075, S14080 [20DE]

———enhance authority to recruit and retain qualified nurses for the Veterans Health Administration (S. 1188), S7819 [17JY], S7875 [18JY], S13931 [20DE]

———enhance the assurance of efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction in the furnishing of health care to veterans (S. 456), S1826 [5MR]

———National Center for Patient Safety recipient of Harvard University Institute for Government Innovation Innovations in American Government Award, S13295 [14DE]

———nursing shortage, S6512 [20JN]

———recognize for purposes of employing physicians, board certifications from the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (S. Res. 61), S2674 [21MR]

———treat certain service in the American Field Service ambulance corps as active duty (S. 1767), S12449 [5DE]

———tribute to efforts in pain management and end-of-life care, S1389 [14FE]

———tribute to health care programs, S7801 [17JY]

———tribute to pain management and end-of-life care programs, S3914 [25AP]

Developing countries: disease monitoring and surveillance programs funding, S13908 [20DE]

Diseases: establish a national registry and improve the treatment for persons affected by Spina Bifida, S8671 [2AU]

Education: establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas (S. 67), S325 [22JA]

———make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs (S. 68), S326 [22JA]

———make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program (S. 65), S324 [22JA]

———revise and extend certain programs for physical and occupational therapy (S. 66), S324 [22JA]

Elementary and Secondary Education Act: designate pupil services personnel as eligible recipients of certain professional development funds, S6119 [12JN]

Emergency services: firefighting and emergency medical services funding, S9956-S9960 [1OC]

ERISA: Federal courts jurisdiction over traditional plaintiff's medical malpractice claims, S6384-S6386 [18JN]

Federal employees: authorize the use of clinical social workers to conduct evaluations to determine work-related emotional and mental illnesses (S. 46), S319 [22JA]

———provide that federally employed registered nurses that retire under FERS shall have unused sick leave used in the computation of annuities (S. 1080), S6611 [21JN]

———tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S10382 [9OC]

Hazardous substances: investigation of anthrax bacteria outbreak, S10673, S10674 [15OC], S10759 [16OC], S10779-S10783 [17OC], S10829, S10830, S10850 [18OC], S11075 [25OC]

Health: allow access to drugs and medical devices recommended and provided by health care practitioners that are not approved by the FDA (S. 1378), S8951 [3AU]

———clarify liability of employers relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S6409-S6411, S6421-S6432 [19JN], S6470, S6475, S6479-S6482, S6492 [20JN], S6537, S6539, S6547 [21JN], S6634-S6637, S6639-S6657 [22JN], S6835-S6849 [25JN], S6870-S6885, S6894 [26JN], S6938 [27JN], S7019, S7027-S7044, S7053, S7054 [28JN], S7168-S7171, S7178, S7180 [29JN]

———clarify liability of small businesses relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S6909-S6913 [26JN], S6939-S6944 [27JN], S7139-S7142, S7145 [29JN]

———clarify rights of injured patients forced into mandatory binding arbitration to seek legal redress, S7174, S7175 [29JN]

———clarify that independent reviewers are not empowered to order health plans to provide services that are specifically excluded or expressly limited by the plan's contract, S6964-S6967 [27JN]

———dedicate certain civil monetary penalties to a trust fund to provide assistance to individuals without health insurance, S7149-S7154 [29JN]

———disallow punitive damages in Federal courts relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S7163 [29JN]

———establish a clear definition of medical necessity and other standards for independent reviewers to use in the arbitration of coverage determinations by managed care plans and HMO's, S6892, S6902-S6909 [26JN], S6947-S6958 [27JN]

———establish standards to improve children's health quality in managed care plans and other health plans (S. 1070), S6523 [20JN]

———expand network of public health preparedness centers relative to homeland security (S. 1705), S11941 [15NO]

———improve access to oral health care by strengthening the dental workforce in rural and underserved communities (S. 971), S5701-S5704 [25MY]

———improve access to oral health care by strengthening the dental workforce in rural and underserved communities (S. 998), S5977 [7JN]

———include disenrollment information in information provided to managed care plan and HMO patients, S7043 [28JN]

———independent review and arbitration of coverage determinations by managed care plans and HMO's, S6470-S6472 [20JN], S6856-S6858 [25JN], S6887-S6895, S6901 [26JN], S6938 [27JN], S7168, S7179 [29JN]

———limit attorneys' fees in lawsuits relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S7017-S7020, S7024-S7027 [28JN], S7155-S7160, S7162 [29JN]

———limit class action litigation relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S7056, S7057 [28JN], S7129 [29JN]

———permit individuals to continue health plan coverage during participation in approved clinical studies (S. 257), S1078 [6FE]

———prohibit Federal health insurance programs from reimbursing health care providers who charge membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (S. 1592), S11213 [30OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S5999 [8JN], S8061 [23JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), S9127 [5SE], S9129 [6SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 6), S425-S427 [22JA]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 283), S1136, S1156 [7FE], S1241 [13FE], S1368 [14FE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 872), S4896 [14MY], S4967 [15MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 889), S4951-S4953 [15MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S6357 [14JN], S6369-S6372, S6379-S6381, S6384-S6386 [18JN], S6535-S6594 [21JN], S6627-S6657 [22JN], S6835-S6860 [25JN], S6870-S6885, S6887-S6913 [26JN], S6937-S6983 [27JN], S7011-S7076 [28JN], S7127-S7185, S7287, S7288 [29JN], S7293 [9JY], S8196-S8198 [25JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), motion to commit, S6849-S6854 [25JN], S6870-S6884 [26JN], S7136-S7138 [29JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), motion to proceed, S6398-S6440 [19JN], S6463-S6506, S6508-S6510 [20JN], S6533, S6534 [21JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), unanimous-consent agreement, S6644 [22JN], S6887, S6901 [26JN], S6954 [27JN], S7074 [28JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), unanimous-consent request, S6378, S6379 [18JN], S6403 [19JN], S6538, S6580 [21JN], S7170 [29JN]

———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establish Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured (S. 1533), S11281 [31OC]

———require claimants who are denied health care benefits by managed care plans and HMO's exhaust all administrative processes prior to litigation, S6959-S6961 [27JN], S7133 [29JN]

———require claims relative to protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's to be heard in Federal court, S7047-S7055 [28JN]

———require insurance coverage of bone mass measurements and inform women concerning reproductive and post-menopausal health care choices (S. 819), S4247 [3MY]

———sustain access to vital emergency medical services in rural areas (S. 587), S2668, S2669 [21MR]

Health care facilities: importance of children's hospitals, S6004 [8JN]

Heart Failure Society of America: tribute, S9249 [10SE]

Immigration: admission requirements for nonimmigrant nurses (S. 1259), S8355 [27JY]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: revise and extend (S. 212), S735 [30JA]

Indian Health Service: funding, S3655 [6AP], S7566, S7567 [12JY]

Insurance: coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (S. 576), S2590 [20MR]

———coverage of infertility treatment (S. 874), S4892 [14MY]

———coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies and lymph node removals relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (S. 255), S1077 [6FE]

———establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient (S. 575), S2589 [20MR]

———liability for actions by health insurance companies and HMO's, S6537, S6547 [21JN]

———provide coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials, S6465, S6469, S6470, S6473, S6501 [20JN], S6583-S6594 [21JN], S6627-S6634 [22JN], S7129, S7130, S7169 [29JN]

———provide coverage of mental health services and prescription drugs, S7179 [29JN]

Medicaid: coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 53), S321 [22JA]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (S. 1298), S8594-S8596 [1AU]

———reimbursement rates relative to long-term care staffing shortages, S3671, S3672 [6AP]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (S. 743), S3749-S3754 [6AP]

Medicare: coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (S. 960), S5636 [24MY]

———coverage of pharmacist services (S. 974), S5706 [25MY]

———coverage of remote monitoring services (S. 1607), S11290 [31OC]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates to home health agencies for home health services, S3417-S3421 [4AP], S3462-S3464 [5AP]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (S. 326), S1396-S1399 [14FE], S1581 [26FE]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (S. 690), S3438 [4AP]

———improve direct graduate medical education payments (S. 135), S409 [22JA]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States (S. 1020), S6138 [12JN], S11259 [31OC]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas (S. 1367), S8939 [3AU]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services and funding for additional radiology residents and radiologic technologists (S. 548), S2398-S2402 [15MR]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for rural or sole community hospital outpatient department services (S. 270), S1125 [7FE]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (S. 1350), S8914 [3AU]

———payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs, S3670, S3671 [6AP]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 1686), S11794 [14NO]

———provide guidance to health care providers attempting to properly submit claims and target truly fraudulent activity for enforcement of billing regulations rather than inadvertent errors (S. 452), S1818 [5MR]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 51), S320 [22JA]

———require providers to disclose staffing and performance data (S. 863), S4835 [10MY]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (S. 1054), S6333 [14JN]

———streamline regulatory processes for home health agencies (S. 1169), S7591 [12JY]

———waive certain nurse aide training requirements (S. 728), S3714 [6AP], S3782 [23AP]

Mental health: expand and improve counseling and mental health services for posttraumatic stress syndrome relative to hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S9955 [1OC]

———provide assistance to individuals affected by terrorist attacks (S. 1729), S13076, S13077 [12DE]

Morehouse College: tribute to School of Medicine, S3784 [23AP]

National Academies of Practice: grant Federal charter (S. 58), S322 [22JA]

National D.O. Day: observance, S3433 [4AP]

National Emergency Medical Services Week: designate (S. Con. Res. 40), S5128 [17MY], S5483 [22MY]

National Osteopathic Medicine Week: observance, S11718 [13NO]

New York, NY: health care impact of terrorist attacks, S12437 [5DE]

Nurses: alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (S. 706), S3534 [5AP]

———alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (S. 721), S3546-S3552 [5AP]

———establish a Nurse Corps and address the nursing shortage through recruitment and retention strategies (S. 1864), S13946-S13950, S14065 [20DE]

———establish grant and scholarship programs to enable hospitals to retain and further educate their nursing staffs (S. 1585), S11199 [30OC]

———provide programs to improve nurse retention, the nursing workplace, and the quality of care (S. 1594), S11215 [30OC]

Physicians for Social Responsibility (organization): tribute to informational booklet on gun violence, S10791 [17OC]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), S14083 [20DE]

———amend relative to pharmacy health professions programs (S. 1806), S12863 [11DE]

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor: award to officers killed, injured, or involved in rescue efforts in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (S. Con. Res. 75), S10335 [4OC]

———award to public safety officers killed in the line of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (S. Con. Res. 66), S9513, S9514 [19SE]

Public safety officers: collective bargaining rights for those employed by States or local governments, S11260-S11262, S11270-S11272 [31OC], S11302 [1NO], S11407 [2NO], S11445-S11448 [5NO], S11449-S11453 [6NO]

———establish a national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (H.R. 802), S4899 [14MY]

———establish a national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (S. 39), S314 [22JA], S1582 [26FE], S4896, S4897 [14MY]

———establish national medal for those who act with extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty (H.R. 46), S1582 [26FE]

———protect the free choice of individual employees relative to participation in labor organizations, S11271, S11272 [31OC], S11302 [1NO]

Rural areas: establish a demonstration program to address physician shortage, recruitment, and retention problems in rural areas (S. 1387), S8961 [3AU]

———promote and improve access to health care services, S11162 [30OC]

———promote and improve access to health care services (S. 1030), S6221-S6226 [13JN]

———provide practitioners with training in preventive health care (S. 69), S326 [22JA]

———provide rural health services outreach, rural health network planning and implementation, small health care provider quality improvement grant programs, and telehomecare demonstration projects (S. 1273), S8467 [31JY]

Salt Lake City, UT: tribute to Utah Task Force One, S11359 [1NO]

Senior citizens: expand medical residency training programs in geriatrics (S. 1362), S8931 [3AU]

Surgeon General: national policy on suicide prevention, S5953 [7JN]

Taxation: provide credits for health care professionals establishing practices in rural or underserved areas (S. 569), S2584 [20MR]

———treatment of certain terrorist attack zone compensation of civilian uniformed personnel (S. 1446), S10761 [16OC]

Terrorism: expedite payment of certain benefits for public safety officers killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (H.R. 2882), S9409 [13SE]

———expedite payment of certain benefits for public safety officers killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (S. 1422), S9359 [13SE]

———strengthen the preparedness of health care providers within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and community hospitals to respond to bioterrorism (S. 1561), S10795 [17OC]

———tribute to first responders injured or killed following attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks (S. Con. Res. 73), S9634 [21SE], S12813 [10DE]

———tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S9285-S9292, S9298, S9304, S9314, S9315, S9320, S9322, S9328, S9330 [12SE], S9353, S9359-S9361 [13SE], S9486, S9491 [19SE], S9613 [21SE], S9970 [1OC], S10687 [15OC], S10789 [17OC], S11548 [7NO], S11933 [15NO]

———tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA (S. Con. Res. 76), S10400, S10401 [9OC]

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences: terminate (S. 114), S385 [22JA]

Veterans: health care funding, S3495-S3498 [5AP], S3638, S3693 [6AP], S5503 [23MY], S8544-S8549 [1AU], S8669 [2AU]

———improve access to health care, S8009 [20JY]

Veterans Health Administration: revise certain provisions relative to the appointment of professional psychologists (S. 62), S323 [22JA]

Women: provide grants for Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners programs (S. 1391), S8967, S8968 [3AU]

———reduce health care costs and promote improved health by providing supplemental grants for preventive health services (S. 208), S712-S714 [30JA]

Reports filed

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Senate) (S. 1188) (S. Rept. 107-80), S10456 [10OC]

FEMA Study To Determine Resources Needed for Development of an Effective Nationwide Communications System for Emergency Response Personnel: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 1631) (S. Rept. 107-127), S13359 [17DE]

Healing Opportunities in Parks and the Environment Pass Act: Committee on Resources (House) (H.R. 2976) (H. Rept. 107-286), H8132 [13NO]

Health Centers Program and National Health Service Corps Reauthorization and Healthy Communities Access Program Establishment: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1533) (S. Rept. 107-83), S10640 [11OC]

Post Terrorism Mental Health Improvement Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1729), S12053 [27NO]

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 802) (H. Rept. 107-15), H831 [12MR]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (H.R. 802), S4822 [10MY]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 39), S4822 [10MY]

Statements

Bipartisan Patient Protection Act: Executive Office of the President, S6552, S6555 [21JN], S7059 [28JN]

Condemn and Respond to Hijacking and Crashing of Commercial Aircraft Into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA: Mary Christ, H5578 [11SE]

Rosalie Wolf, PhD—In Memoriam: Lisa Nerenberg, E1409 [24JY]

Summaries

Advancement of Geriatric Education Act (S. 1362), S8932 [3AU]

Bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights Act (S. 889), S4952 [15MY]

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act (H.R. 3447), S14077-S14080 [20DE], H9224 [11DE]

Rural and Urban Health Care Act (S. 1259), S8357 [27JY]

Testimonies

Use of Organs From Executed Prisoners in the People's Republic of China: Wang Guoqi, H4188 [18JY], E1256 [29JN]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 91, increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals, H1673 [1MY]

H. Con. Res. 233, tribute to first responders injured or killed following attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks, H7383 [30OC]

H. Con. Res. 241, recognize trained service dogs for rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, E1787 [3OC]

H. Con. Res. 243, award Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to officers killed, injured, or involved in rescue efforts in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H7365 [30OC]

H. Res. 219, consideration of H.R. 2563, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, H5185 [2AU]

H.R. 802, Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act, H1066 [22MR]

H.R. 2563, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, H5222-H5247 [2AU]

H.R. 2882, expedite payment of certain benefits for public safety officers killed or injured due to terrorist attacks on World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H5598 [13SE]

H.R. 2976, Healing Opportunities in Parks and the Environment Pass Act, H8064 [13NO]

H.R. 3447, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act, H9217-H9223 [11DE]

H.R. 3487, Nurse Reinvestment Act, H10487 [19DE]

H.R. 3504, revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations, H10485 [19DE]

S. 6, Patients' Bill of Rights Act, S101-S113 [22JA]

S. 39, Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act, S4896 [14MY]

S. 44, increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps of the Armed Forces, S319 [22JA]

S. 46, Clinical Social Workers' Recognition Act, S319 [22JA]

S. 51, remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in Medicare outpatient rehabilitation facilities, S321 [22JA]

S. 53, Medicaid coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics, S321 [22JA]

S. 58, grant Federal charter to National Academies of Practice, S322 [22JA]

S. 59, allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals, S322 [22JA]

S. 62, revise certain provisions relative to the appointment of professional psychologists in the Veterans Health Administration, S323 [22JA]

S. 65, make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program, S324 [22JA]

S. 66, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Education Act, S325 [22JA]

S. 67, establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas, S325 [22JA]

S. 68, make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs, S326 [22JA]

S. 69, Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act, S326 [22JA]

S. 114, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Termination and Deficit Reduction Act, S386 [22JA]

S. 135, Direct Graduate Medical Education Improvement Act, S410 [22JA]

S. 212, Indian Health Care Improvement Act revision and extension, S735-S773 [30JA]

S. 270, Rural Hospital and Health Network Preservation Act, S1126 [7FE]

S. 283, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S1136-S1154 [7FE]

S. 452, Medicare Education and Regulatory Fairness Act, S1819-S1823 [5MR]

S. 548, Assure Access to Mammography Act, S2399 [15MR]

S. 569, Health Care Access Improvement Act, S2585 [20MR]

S. 690, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act, S3439-S3442 [4AP]

S. 721, Nursing Employment and Education Development (NEED) Act, S3547-S3550 [5AP]

S. 728, Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Services Quality Improvement Act, S3715-S3717 [6AP]

S. 743, Medical Education Trust Fund Act, S3750-S3754 [6AP]

S. 819, Early Detection and Prevention of Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Act, S4247-S4249 [3MY]

S. 874, Fair Access to Infertility Treatment and Hope Act, S4893 [14MY]

S. 960, Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases, S5758 [25MY]

S. 1030, Rural Health Care Improvement Act, S6222-S6225 [13JN]

S. 1052, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S7338-S7361 [9JY]

S. 1054, Patient Abuse Prevention Act, S6334-S6337 [14JN]

S. 1070, Children's Health Insurance Accountability Act, S6523-S6526 [20JN]

S. 1080, provide that federally employed registered nurses that retire under FERS shall have unused sick leave used in the computation of annuities, S6612 [21JN]

S. 1096, Military Spouse Physician Choice Act, S6864 [25JN]

S. 1188, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Nurse Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Act, S7820-S7822 [17JY]

S. 1259, Rural and Urban Health Care Act, S8356 [27JY]

S. 1271, Post Terrorism Mental Health Improvement Act, S13076 [12DE]

S. 1273, Improving Health Care in Rural America Act, S8468 [31JY]

S. 1362, Advancement of Geriatric Education Act, S8932 [3AU]

S. 1387, Rural States Physician Recruitment and Retention Demonstration Act, S8962 [3AU]

S. 1585, Hospital-Based Nursing Initiative Act, S11200 [30OC]

S. 1592, Equal Access to Care Act, S11214 [30OC]

S. 1806, Pharmacy Education Aid Act, S12863 [11DE]

S. Con. Res. 5, Army Nurse Corps centennial, S786 [30JA]

S. Con. Res. 40, National Emergency Medical Services Week, S5128 [17MY], S5483 [22MY]

S. Con. Res. 66, award Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to public safety officers killed in the line of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S9513 [19SE]

S. Con. Res. 73, tribute to first responders injured or killed following attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks, S12813 [10DE]

S. Con. Res. 73, tribute to first responders injured or killed following terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, and recognize first responders to previous domestic attacks, S9633 [21SE]

S. Con. Res. 75, award Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to officers killed, injured, or involved in rescue efforts in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S10335 [4OC]

S. Con. Res. 76, tribute to relief efforts surrounding the hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S10336 [4OC], S10401 [9OC]

S. Res. 61, Dept. of Veterans Affairs recognition for purposes of employing physicians, board certifications from the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., S2674 [21MR]

S. Res. 187, commend the staffs of Members of Congress, the Capitol Police, the Office of the Attending Physician, and others for their response to the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's office, S12456 [5DE]

Tributes

Allard, Senator, S694 [30JA]

Ensign, Senator, S694 [30JA]