HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Addresses

Health Care: Representative Capps, E383-E385 [19MR]

Recognizing Inova's Heroes: Jolene Tornabeni, Inova Health System, E1541 [10SE]

Amendments

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), S2504 [10AP]

Health: reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establish Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured (S. 1533), S2741 [16AP], S10755 [17OC]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), S7172 [22JY], H5053 [22JY]

———amend relative to pharmacy health professions programs (S. 1806), S9927 [3OC]

Analyses

Enhance Certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs Programs and Improve Administration of Such Programs (S. 1905), S237 [29JA]

Quality of Care for Individuals With Cancer Act (S. 2965), S8762 [18SE]

Articles and editorials

Delivering Ms. Kline's Baby, S7530 [30JY]

Dr. Cleon A. Flowers, Sr., 89, Noted Pine Bluff, AR, Physician, Succumbs, E1799 [8OC]

Drug Prices—Why They Keep Soaring, S4273 [13MY]

Editorials and Opinions About Medical Malpractice Claims (excerpts), S7517-S7519 [30JY]

From Front Lines to Back Roads—Delta Force Doctor Now Delivers Care in Rural Virginia, E399 [21MR]

Insurers' Price Wars Contributed to Doctors Facing Soaring Costs, H6738 [26SE]

Local Surgeon Helping Turkish Boy Face World, S11312 [18NO]

Lower Payments Force FPs To Risk Personal Loss for Their Patients, Practices, S8370 [9SE]

``MediFair'' Is Workable Answer, S5567 [14JN]

Murray's Bill Rights Medicare Inequity, S5567 [14JN]

Murray's Medicare Plan a Step in Right Direction, S5566 [14JN]

Neglected to Death—Preventable Deaths in Nursing Homes (Special Report Series Summary), S10607 [17OC]

Plug the Flow of ``Incentives'', E1801 [9OC]

Salvator Altchek, ``The $5 Doctor'' of Brooklyn Dies at 92, S10038 [7OC]

Bills and resolutions

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: conduct a study on health services research (see S. 3084), S10222 [9OC]

Air Force: require a pilot program to assess adoption of the Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support System by the Air National Guard (see S. 1997), S1675 [7MR]

Animals: encourage pet owners to regularly visit their veterinarians for check-ups and advice on flea and tick control (see S. Res. 297), S6319 [28JN]

Armed Forces: allow receipt of special pay by qualified dental officers while undergoing dental internship or residency training (see H.R. 4924), H3513 [12JN]

———require additional special pay received by medical, dental, or veterinary officers be treated as part of basic pay for retirement purposes (see H.R. 5353), H6129 [9SE]

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act: increase funding to improve child care quality and require payment of costs for eligible child care providers to obtain nationally recognized accreditation (see H.R. 4164), H1200 [10AP]

Children and youth: access of disadvantaged children to dental services (see H.R. 5098), H4552 [11JY]

Contraceptives: establish a public education and awareness program relative to emergency contraception (see S. 1990), S1599 [6MR] (see H.R. 3887), H737 [6MR]

Council on Graduate Medical Education: extend (see S. 3083), S10222 [9OC]

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 S. 2055), S2260 [21MR]

———permit criminal background checks for nursing facility and home health agency personnel involved in indirect patient care (see H.R. 4872), H3229 [5JN]

Dept. of HHS: award grants to associate degree schools of nursing and professional nursing organizations to improve nursing education (see H.R. 4665), H2163 [7MY]

———establish the Office of Health Care Competition to administer the National Practitioner Data Bank and to collect and make public more information on medical malpractice insurance (see H.R. 5435), H6558 [24SE]

Dept. of HUD: expand provisions of the Officer Next Door and Teacher Next Door Program to include firefighters and rescue personnel (see H.R. 5181), H5194 [23JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize the furnishing of health care during major disasters or medical emergencies (see S. 2187), S2829 [17AP]

———dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners (see H.R. 5286), H5995 [26JY]

———enhance certain veterans programs and improve administration of such programs (see S. 1905), S235 [29JA] (see H.R. 3927), H832 [12MR]

———enhance right to recover payments by third parties for costs of providing non-service-connected care (see H.R. 5530), H6982 [2OC]

———establish a pilot program to assess the benefits of establishing a nurse preceptor program (see H.R. 5576), H7303 [8OC]

———improve allocation of health care resources to different geographic regions in the U.S. (see H.R. 5675), H8022 [16OC]

———oppose enactment of any proposal establishing a health care deductible for veterans (see H. Con. Res. 359), H1002 [19MR]

———pilot program to assess benefits of dispensing medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners (see H.R. 5332), H6059 [4SE]

———provide guaranteed adequate level of funding for veterans health care (see S. 2903), S8300 [5SE] (see H.R. 5250), H5993 [26JY]

———recalculate retirement annuities for certain health care professionals performing part-time services (see S. 2227), S3165 [23AP] (see H.R. 4972), H3774 [20JN]

———require the geographic allocation of funds for medical care better reflect the veterans populations in different regions of the country (see H.R. 4852), H3037 [23MY]

Disabled: advance commitment to community integration by ensuring a stable, quality direct support workforce for individuals with developmental disablities (see S. Con. Res. 151), S10223 [9OC]

———importance of recruiting and retaining direct support professionals to ensure the proper care of individuals with developmental disabilities (see H. Con. Res. 477), H6558 [24SE]

Diseases: combat cancer (see S. 1976), S1351 [28FE] (see H.R. 4596), H1673 [25AP]

———improve data collection and dissemination between Federal and State registries to enhance the treatment and research of cancer (see S. 2955), S8753 [18SE]

———improve quality of care for cancer patients (see S. 2965), S8754 [18SE]

———payments to individuals who contracted HIV from a contaminated blood transfusion (see S. 2219), S3014 [22AP]

District of Columbia: establish certain legal waivers for physicians who provide assistance in the National Capital Area during any period in which a public health emergency is in effect (see H.R. 4634), H2018 [1MY]

Domestic violence: provide coverage for screening and treatment, improve response of health care systems, and train health care providers and facilities on screening, identification, and treatment for families (see S. 2236), S3303 [24AP]

Drugs: establish an electronic system for practitioner monitoring of the dispensing of certain controlled substances (see S. 3033), S9846 [2OC] (see H.R. 5503), H6783 [30SE]

Education: establish a student loan forgiveness program for nurses (see H.R. 5636), H7894 [10OC]

———expand loan forgiveness and loan cancellation programs for teachers and nurses (see S. 3008), S9426 [26SE]

———improve training in prevention, recognition, and treatment of substance abuse and addiction (see S. 1966), S1208 [26FE]

Emergency Malpractice Liability Insurance Commission: establish (see H.R. 5434), H6558 [24SE]

Federal-State relations: establish a Federal Liaison on Homeland Security in each State to provide coordination between the Dept. of Homeland Security and State and local first responders (see S. 2746), S6947 [17JY]

FEMA: designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue System (see S. 2618), S5535 [13JN] (see H.R. 3847), H687 [5MR]

Flag—U.S.: provide Capitol-flown flags to the families of deceased law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other rescue workers (see H.R. 3968), H931 [14MR]

FTC: amend trade regulation rule on ophthalmic practice to require the release of prescriptions for contact lenses (see S. 2609), S5366 [11JN]

Health: application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (see H.R. 3897), H780 [7MR]

———encourage health care facilities, group health plans, and health insurance issuers to reduce administrative costs, and to improve access, convenience, quality, and safety (see S. 2638), S5696 [18JN]

———expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform or provide training in performing abortions (see S. 2008), S1782 [12MR] (see H.R. 4691), H2354 [9MY]

———expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform or provide training in performing abortions (H.R. 4691), consideration (see H. Res. 546), H6558 [24SE]

———improve access to oral health care by strengthening the dental workforce in rural and underserved communities (see H.R. 4476), H1410 [17AP]

———improve coordination between Federal agencies and local emergency medical service providers (see S. 2014), S1935 [14MR]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (see S. 2590), S5041 [5JN] (see S. 3029), S9846 [2OC] (see H.R. 5478), H6776 [26SE]

———improve the provision of health care in all areas (see S. 2873), S7900 [1AU]

———increase professional and public awareness of the link between periodontal disease in pregnant women and pre-term, low-birth-weight babies and the maternal transmission of caries (see S. 2202), S2950 [18AP]

———permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests (see S. 2207), S2950 [18AP]

———promote the development of health care cooperatives that will help businesses to pool the health care purchasing power of employers (see S. 2835), S7899 [1AU]

———provide certain caregivers with Medicare benefits, allow long-term care tax credit, and establish programs for patients with fatal chronic illnesses (see H.R. 5139), H4766 [16JY]

———provide for availability of contact lens prescriptions (see H.R. 5657), H8021 [16OC]

———provide grants to health care providers to implement electronic prescription drug programs (see H.R. 4989), H3824 [21JN]

———provide grants to hire community health workers to improve access to health education and services for women and families in medically underserved areas (see S. 2139), S2828 [17AP]

———provide individuals of health disparity populations prevention, detection, treatment, and follow-up care services for cancer and chronic diseases, and patient navigators to assist in receiving such services (see H.R. 5187), H5194 [23JY]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (see S. 2793), S7372 [25JY] (see H.R. 4600), H1673 [25AP]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 4600), consideration (see H. Res. 553), H6692 [25SE]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (see H. Res. 503), H5790 [25JY]

———voluntary reporting of medication error information to assist in developing and disseminating recommendations and information on preventing medication errors (see H.R. 4673), H2164 [7MY]

Immigration: improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas by extending and increasing foreign country residency requirement waivers for foreign medical graduates (see S. 2674), S6013 [25JN]

———provide direct Federal payment to hospitals and emergency ambulance service providers of emergency medical care and certain emergency ambulance services for illegal immigrants (see H.R. 3776), H523 [14FE]

Insurance: coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (see H.R. 4959), H3668 [18JN]

———modify antitrust exemption for medical malpractice insurance, address current health care provider issues, and reform medical malpractice litigation process and insurance market (see H.R. 5253), H5993 [26JY]

———stabilize medical malpractice premiums (see H.R. 5140), H4766 [16JY]

Law enforcement: provide incentives for State laws mandating the reporting of child abuse by certain individuals (see H.R. 5313), H5996 [26JY]

Medicaid: provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see H.R. 3612), H35 [23JA]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (see H.R. 4856), H3159 [4JN]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see S. 2386), S3505 [29AP]

———area wage adjustments under the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility services (see S. 1955), S853 [14FE]

———clarify right of beneficiaries to enter into private contracts with physicians and other health care professionals for services not payable under Medicare (see H.R. 4702), H2355 [9MY]

———coverage of paramedic intercept ambulance support services (see H.R. 5511), H6926 [1OC]

———eliminate the geographic physician work adjustment factor used to adjust payments under the physician fee schedule (see S. 1953), S853 [14FE]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services (see S. 3018), S9714 [1OC]

———ensure reimbursement for certain FDA-approved cancer drug therapies administered in hospital outpatient settings (see S. 2795), S7372 [25JY] (see H.R. 5218), H5789 [25JY]

———establish a continuous quality improvement program for providers that furnish services to individuals with end stage renal disease (see H.R. 5141), H4766 [16JY]

———establish a demonstration project under which incentive payments are made in certain areas to improve access to primary care services (see S. 2542), S4702 [22MY] (see H.R. 4845), H3036 [23MY]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (see H.R. 4215), H1283 [11AP]

———improve access to health care and extend solvency of trust fund by reforming the health care liability system (see H.R. 4942), H3561 [13JN]

———improve Medicare Incentive Payment Program (see S. 2529), S4492 [16MY]

———improve payments for home health services and for direct graduate medical education (see H.R. 4987), H3824 [21JN]

———improve payments for physicians' services and other outpatient services (see H.R. 4986), H3824 [21JN]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see S. 2555, 2568), S4839 [23MY] (see H.R. 4850), H3037 [23MY] (see H.R. 4962), H3720 [19JN]

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (see H.R. 4752), H2607 [16MY]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (see H.R. 4112), H1153 [9AP]

———provide appropriate incentive payments for physicians' services furnished in underserved areas (see S. 2914), S8384 [9SE]

———provide fair payments under the hospital outpatient department prospective payment system (see S. 2547), S4702 [22MY] (see H.R. 5234), H5790 [25JY]

———provide for equitable payments for health care services furnished to beneficiaries in hospital outpatient departments (see H.R. 5450), H6558 [24SE]

———provide incentives to attract educators and clinical practitioners to underserved areas (see S. 1954), S853 [14FE]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see S. 2614), S5454 [12JN]

———reform payments to rural and other health care providers (see H.R. 5246), H5993 [26JY]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (see H.R. 3882), H737 [6MR]

———require Dept. of HHS study on new technology payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see S. 3041), S9901 [3OC]

———require home health agencies to conduct criminal background checks for all applicants for employment as patient care providers (see H.R. 5170), H5086 [22JY] (see H.R. 5565), H7171 [7OC]

———revitalize the Medicare+Choice program, establish a Medicare+Choice competition program, and improve payments to hospitals and other providers (see H.R. 4985), H3824 [21JN]

———reward and expand the number of health care providers delivering high-quality cost-effective health care to beneficiaries (see S. 1948), S852 [14FE]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (see S. 3091), S10359 [10OC] (see H.R. 3933), H832 [12MR]

———improve advance directive requirements to ensure compliance with individual health care decisions (see S. 2857), S7899 [1AU]

———improve availability of accurate nursing facility staffing information (see S. 2879), S7900 [1AU]

———reform Federal survey and certification process for nursing facilities (see H.R. 4030), H1087 [20MR]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 4715), H2470 [14MY]

———streamline regulatory processes for home health agencies (see H.R. 4659), H2100 [2MY]

Mental health: increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals (see H. Res. 400), H1674 [25AP]

———increase number of well-trained mental health service professionals providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents (see H.R. 5078), H4424 [9JY]

———provide assistance to train teachers of children with autism spectrum disorders (see H.R. 4728), H2470 [14MY]

National Health Corps Loan Repayment Program: count fellowship training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry as obligated service (see S. 1975), S1351 [28FE]

National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month: designate (see S. Con. Res. 94), S100 [24JA]

National Medical Services Week: designate (see S. Con. Res. 112), S4568 [20MY]

National Organ Donor Registry: establish (see H.R. 5124), H4605 [15JY]

National security: make grants to State and local governments in order to prepare for and respond to terrorist threats (see S. 2077), S2412 [9AP]

National Visiting Nurse Associations Week: establish (see S. Con. Res. 153), S10443 [15OC] (see H. Con. Res. 481), H6559 [24SE] (see H. Con. Res. 509), H7894 [10OC]

New York, NY: tribute to workers for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center (see H. Res. 424), H2735 [21MY]

———tribute to workers for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center and the Fresh Kills Landfill (see H. Res. 492), H4931 [18JY]

Nurses: issue postage stamp in commemoration of registered nurses (see S. Res. 314), S7744 [31JY]

———promote careers in nursing and diversity in the nursing workforce (see H.R. 5606), H7892 [10OC]

———provide programs to improve nurse retention, the nursing workplace, and the quality of care (see H.R. 4654), H2100 [2MY]

Privacy: prohibit use of patient databases for marketing without the express consent of the patient (see S. 3064), S10040 [7OC]

Public Health Service Act: add requirements regarding trauma care (see S. 3048), S9901 [3OC]

———amend relative to pharmacy health professions programs (see H.R. 4992), H3824 [21JN]

———establish Nationwide Health Tracking Network (see S. 2054), S2260 [21MR] (see H.R. 4061), H1089 [20MR]

Public safety officers: ensure that officers who suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of survivor benefits (see S. 3114), S10571 [16OC] (see H.R. 5334), H6084 [5SE]

———include private firefighters and rescue squad and ambulance crew members for certain benefits (see H.R. 5442), H6558 [24SE]

Rural areas: authorize a demonstration program to recruit and train physicians to serve in rural areas (see S. 2597), S5205 [6JN]

———establish demonstration programs to address the shortages of health care professionals (see H.R. 5113), H4574 [12JY]

———improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas (see H.R. 4858), H3160 [4JN]

———promote and improve access to health care services (see S. 2390), S3505 [29AP]

———promote rural development (see H.R. 5579), H7303 [8OC]

Senior citizens: prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (see S. 2240), S3303 [24AP]

Social Security: credit prospectively individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service (see H.R. 4743), H2511 [15MY]

———extend rural Advanced Life Support intercept services to other areas (see H.R. 3715), H283 [12FE] (see H.R. 5464), H6692 [25SE]

———improve patient safety (see H.R. 4889), H3291 [6JN]

Taxation: exclude benefits from income, employment taxes, and wage withholding property tax rebates, provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders (see S. 3012), S9426 [26SE] (see H.R. 5416), H6417 [19SE]

———exclude from gross income loan payments received under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (see S. 2654), S5851 [20JN]

———make the additional tax on early distributions from certain pension plans inapplicable for public safety employees (see S. 3072), S10117 [8OC] (see H.R. 4796), H2943 [22MY]

———provide a refundable tax credit to public safety volunteers (see H.R. 3724), H284 [12FE]

———treatment of home-based service workers (see S. 2129), S2675 [15AP]

Terrorism: establish a national response policy and a national urban search and rescue task force program (see S. 2061), S2261 [21MR]

———make grants to train school nurses as ``first responders'' to a biological or chemical attack (see H.R. 3615), H35 [23JA]

———provide grants to enhance the ability of first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism, including incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (see H.R. 5441), H6558 [24SE]

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey: anniversary (see H. Res. 457), H3928 [25JN]

Washington metropolitan area: tribute to law enforcement officials involved in sniper shooting spree investigation and express condolences to the snipers' victims and their families (see H. Con. Res. 515), H8545 [12NO]

Women: ensure safe pregnancies by increasing research and data collection on treatments and cures for pregnancy complications and providing information to women, practitioners, and the public (see S. 2328), S3435 [25AP] (see H.R. 4602), H1673 [25AP]

Factsheets

Medicare Incentive Payment Program Improvement Act (S. 2529), S4502 [16MY]

Histories

Elwyn, Inc., E616 [24AP]

Letters

Abortion Non-Discrimination Act: Laura W. Murphy and Gregory T. Nojeim, ACLU, H6569 [25SE]

———Michael D. Place, Catholic Health Association of the U.S., E1295 [18JY]

Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act: Galen Miller, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, S7924 [1AU]

———Karen Orloff Kaplan, Partnership for Caring, Inc., S7924 [1AU]

———Robert D. Evans, ABA, S7925 [1AU]

Beneficiary Access to Care and Medicare Equity Act: Senate Rural Health Caucus, S10662 [17OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs issuance of regulations requiring prioritization of veterans' access to health care: Delatorro L. McNeil, Paralyzed Veterans of America (organization), S8748 [18SE]

Enhance certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs programs and improve administration of such programs: Anthony J. Principi, Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S236 [29JA]

Fire and emergency personnel health and safety funding: Senator Clinton, S8607 [13SE]

Health care liability reform: Michael D. Maves, AMA, S7406 [26JY]

———Steven C. Williams, State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Co., S7408 [26JY]

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: William McNary, USAction (organization), E1728 [2OC]

Insurance companies raising of physician medical liability premiums: several Representatives, H6738 [26SE]

Loan forgiveness and loan cancellation programs for teachers and nurses: Americans for Nursing Shortage Relief (organization), S9428 [26SE]

———David Ward, American Council on Education, S9428 [26SE]

———Diane Shust and Randall Moody, National Education Association, S9428 [26SE]

———Rose Gonzalez, American Nurses Association, S9427 [26SE]

Medicare demonstration project under which incentive payments are made in certain areas to improve access to primary care services: Samuel W. Cullison, Washington State Medical Association, S4710 [22MY]

Medicare Hospital Outpatient Department Fair Payment Act: Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S4719 [22MY]

Medicare hospital reimbursement rates: several Members of Congress, E752 [8MY]

Medicare Incentive Payment Program Improvement Act: Kenneth Brummel-Smith, American Geriatrics Society, S4502 [16MY]

———Richard G. Roberts, American Academy of Family Physicians, S4502 [16MY]

———Sara E. Walker, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, S4502 [16MY]

Medicare reimbursement rates in certain Pennsylvania counties: Berwick Hospital Center, S6568 [10JY]

———C. Richard Hartman, Community Medical Center Health Systems (business), S6349 [8JY]

———Conrad W. Schintz, Geisinger Health System (business), S6348 [8JY]

———James E. May, Mercy Health Partners (business), S6350 [8JY]

———Michael J. Clifford, Wayne Memorial Hospital, S6351 [8JY]

———Thomas L. Heron, Marian Community Hospital, S6568 [10JY]

———Tyler Memorial Hospital, S6569 [10JY]

———William J. Schoen, Allied Services (business), S6350 [8JY]

———William R. Host and Michael D. Scherneck, Wyoming Valley Health Care System (business), S6350 [8JY]

Resolution of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist billing issues: Representative Bereuter, E1601 [18SE]

Tribute to Irving Guttenberg: Lisa Guttenberg Weiss, S10884 [13NO]

Veterans health care funding: several Senators, S4949 [4JN]

———several veterans organizations, S4949 [4JN]

Lists

American Ambulance Association Stars of Life award recipients, E741 [8MY]

FDA approval of buprenorphine for the treatment of heroin addiction press conference participants, S10658 [17OC]

Organizations supporting H.R. 4691/S. 2008, Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, E1295 [18JY]

Organizations supporting S. 2965, Quality of Care for Individuals With Cancer Act, S8762 [18SE]

People killed in attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H646 [28FE], H1608-H1610 [24AP], E1282 [17JY]

People killed in terrorist attack at the Pentagon, S8477 [11SE]

Supporters of S. 2590, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, S7368 [25JY]

Supporters of S. 2654, National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Act, S5855 [20JN]

Veterans waiting for initial, or follow-up, primary care appointments, S8748 [18SE]

Memorandums

Medicare Reimbursement Rates in Certain Pennsylvania Counties: Bernard C. Rudegeair, Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, S6348 [8JY]

———Robert J. Spinelli, Bloomsburg Hospital, S6351 [8JY]

———William Roe, Moses Taylor Healthcare System (business), S6349 [8JY]

Motions

Health: expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform or provide training in performing abortions (H.R. 4691), H6584 [25SE]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 4600), H6741 [26SE]

Poems

``I Did Not Die,'' Mary Frye, S8478 [11SE]

``Santa Filomena,'' Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, E1826 [11OC]

``Take My Hand,'' Jeannie Sweeney Ambrose, E1296 [18JY]

Remarks in House

American Ambulance Association: tribute to Stars of Life award recipients, H2393 [14MY], E741 [8MY], E795 [14MY]

American Burn Association: tribute to assistance given to burn victims of World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks, E233 [28FE]

Armed Forces: require additional special pay received by medical, dental, or veterinary officers be treated as part of basic pay for retirement purposes (H.R. 5353), E1524 [9SE]

Baptist Health South Florida (organization): tribute to efforts to alleviate nursing shortage, H2836 [22MY]

Brauer, Raymond: Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons Distinguished Plastic Surgeon of the Year Award recipient, E819 [16MY]

Braunwald, Eugene: ROFEH International (nonprofit organization) and New England Chassidic Center honoree, E1648 [25SE]

Brook, Edward M.: State of Israel Bonds (organization) Maimonides Award recipient, E1957 [24OC]

California: tribute to Blue Cross of California State Sponsored Programs, E1444 [29JY]

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: resolution of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist billing issues, E1601 [18SE]

Chafetz, Irwin: ROFEH International (nonprofit organization) and New England Chassidic Center honoree, E1648 [25SE]

Cherokee County, GA: Emergency Medical Services recipient of the Region 1 Emergency Medical Services Council Service of the Year award, E842 [17MY]

Children and youth: access of disadvantaged children to dental services (H.R. 5098), E1240 [11JY]

Contraceptives: establish a public education and awareness program relative to emergency contraception (H.R. 3887), E289 [6MR]

Cooper, Rory A.: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Olin E. Teague Award recipient, E1621 [19SE]

Crime: permit criminal background checks for nursing facility and home health agency personnel involved in indirect patient care (H.R. 4872), E975 [6JN]

Denver, CO: tribute to St. Anthony Hospital Flight for Life Program, E1589 [17SE]

Dept. of HHS: award grants to associate degree schools of nursing and professional nursing organizations to improve nursing education (H.R. 4665), E729 [7MY]

Dept. of Justice: first responders funding, H2974, H3025 [23MY], E937 [24MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: enhance right to recover payments by third parties for costs of providing non-service-connected care (H.R. 5530), E1746 [3OC]

———oppose enactment of any proposal establishing a health care deductible for veterans (H. Con. Res. 359), E388 [19MR]

———provide guaranteed adequate level of funding for veterans health care (H.R. 5250), E1447, E1449 [29JY]

Diseases: combat cancer (H.R. 4596), E1878 [17OC]

Dolan, Jerome: Hudson County, NJ, United Way Louis T. Scialli Memorial Award recipient, E1639 [25SE]

Education: establish a student loan forgiveness program for nurses (H.R. 5636), E1853 [11OC]

Elster, Erin: World Chiropractic Alliance Researcher of the Year recipient, E471 [9AP]

Elwyn, Inc.: anniversary, E616 [24AP]

Fallon Community Health Plan (organization): anniversary, E1499 [5SE]

FEMA: Office of National Preparedness funding, H2912 [22MY]

Flag—U.S.: provide Capitol-flown flags to the families of deceased law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other rescue workers (H.R. 3968), E359 [14MR], E1908 [17OC]

Florida International University: anniversary of School of Nursing, H1771 [1MY]

Gann, Joseph and Rae: ROFEH International (nonprofit organization) and New England Chassidic Center honoree, E1648 [25SE]

George Washington University: tribute to ``Resilience in the Face of Terror—Healing the Trauma of 9/11'' conference, E1577 [13SE]

Hartman-Stein, Paula: National Academies of Practice inductee, E552 [17AP]

Health: application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (H.R. 3897), E293 [7MR]

———limit medical malpractice claims, H4567 [12JY]

———prohibit institutions from withholding medically appropriate information from patients, H6584, H6585 [25SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H2136 [7MY], E127 [12FE]

———provide certain caregivers with Medicare benefits, allow long-term care tax credit, and establish programs for patients with fatal chronic illnesses (H.R. 5139), E1272 [16JY]

———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establish Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured (S. 1533), H7932-H7947 [16OC]

———reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps (H.R. 3450), H6793-H6808 [1OC], E1860 [11OC]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 4600), H6697, H6720-H6743 [26SE], E1727 [2OC], E1764, E1765 [4OC]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 4600), consideration (H. Res. 553), H6705-H6720 [26SE]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 4600), motion to recommit, H6741, H6742 [26SE]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (H. Res. 503), E1369 [25JY]

———voluntary reporting of medication error information to assist in developing and disseminating recommendations and information on preventing medication errors (H.R. 4673), E726 [7MY]

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: ensure the preservation of State patient liability protections, H6741, H6742 [26SE]

Henry, Deborah: Ross University and Congressional Black Caucus Eliza Anna Grier Scholarship recipient, E708 [3MY]

Hourani, Jameel: Los Angeles, CA, St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral Man of the Year award recipient, E1782 [8OC]

———moratorium on J-1 visa waiver program, H2144 [7MY]

Inova Health System: tribute for response to terrorist attack on the Pentagon, E1541 [10SE]

Insurance: coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (H.R. 4959), H4522 [11JY]

———ensure jury awards exceeding certain limits are used to reduce medical liability premiums for physicians, H6706, H6708, H6726-H6729, H6732, H6737 [26SE]

Jones, Florence: Arkansas Hospital Association Distinguished Service Award recipient, E19 [24JA]

Kentucky Nurses Week: observance, E729 [7MY]

Kessler, Fred B.: Houston Surgical Society Distinguished Houston Surgeon award recipient, E551 [17AP]

Ligon, Doug: Country Doctor of the Year award finalist, E38 [29JA]

McKenzie, Clancy D.: Temple University Nelson and Winnie Mandela Humanitarian Award recipient, E10 [23JA]

Medicaid: provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (H.R. 3612), H6289 [17SE], E1469 [29JY], E1929 [17OC]

Medicare: establish a continuous quality improvement program for providers that furnish services to individuals with end stage renal disease (H.R. 5141), E1264 [16JY]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (H.R. 4215), E507 [12AP]

———improve reimbursement payments to physicians, H2667 [21MY]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (H.R. 4962), E1107 [20JN]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services and funding for additional radiology residents and radiologic technologists (H.R. 1354), E1878 [17OC]

———provide fair payments under the hospital outpatient department prospective payment system (H.R. 5234), E1379 [25JY]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (H.R. 3882), E286 [6MR]

———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 (H.R. 3351), E2065 [15NO]

———treatment of certain counties relative to reimbursement rates, H2911 [22MY], H2976, H3027, H3028, H3029 [23MY], H5222 [23JY], H6732 [26SE], E911, E931, E937 [24MY]

———treatment of certain New York counties relative to reimbursement rates, H3023 [23MY]

Medicare/Medicaid: reform Federal survey and certification process for nursing facilities (H.R. 4030), E433 [21MR]

Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency: anniversary, E2045 [14NO]

Mobile Medical Response, Inc.: tribute, E172 [15FE]

National Community Residential Care Month: observance, E625 [24AP], E678 [2MY]

National D.O. Day: observance, E562 [17AP]

National Healthcare Volunteer Day: observance, E605 [23AP]

National Hospice Month: observance, E1981 [12NO]

National Hospital Week: observance, E797, E804 [14MY], E848 [17MY]

National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month: designate (H. Con. Res. 271), H2132-H2137 [7MY], E751 [8MY]

National Nurses Week: observance, E783 [10MY]

National Osteopathic Medicine Week: observance, E1622 [19SE]

National Radiologic Technology Week: observance, E1641 [25SE]

National Rehabilitation Week: observance, E1611 [19SE]

National Therapeutic Recreation Week: observance, E1206 [8JY]

National Visiting Nurse Associations Week: establish (H. Con. Res. 481), E1653 [25SE], E1826 [11OC]

New York, NY: tribute to workers for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center (H. Res. 424), H2803-H2806 [21MY], E887 [23MY], E903, E929 [24MY]

———tribute to workers for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center and the Fresh Kills Landfill (H. Res. 492), H5034-H5036 [22JY]

Noffsinger, Douglas: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Olin E. Teague Award recipient, E1621 [19SE]

Nursing homes: compliance with certain Dept. of HHS staffing level and training requirements, E799 [14MY]

Oncology Nursing Society: tribute, E546 [16AP], E555 [17AP], E625 [24AP]

Orange County, CA: tribute to Santa Ana, CA, and Anaheim, CA, for prenatal programs to lower underweight birth rates, H6132 [10SE]

Pacheco, Dorothy: Colorado Health Care Association Nurse of the Year award recipient, E1903 [17OC]

Pennsylvania: anniversary of Columbia Montour Home Health Services, E1877 [17OC]

Peoria, IL: anniversary of St. Francis Medical Center, E1264 [16JY]

Pharmaceuticals: impact of gifts and benefits provided to physicians by prescription drug manufacturers on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of prescription drugs, E1801 [9OC]

Public Health Service Act: amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), E1378 [25JY], E1451 [29JY]

———amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), Senate amendment, H5053-H5059 [22JY], E1323 [24JY]

Public safety officers: ensure that officers who suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of survivor benefits (H.R. 5334), H6965, H6966 [2OC], H8925 [14NO], E1518 [5SE]

———tribute to first responders, E1287 [17JY]

Richard David Kahn Melanoma Foundation: tribute, E531 [16AP]

Rochester, NY: anniversary of Rural/Metro Medical Services, E828 [16MY]

Rockford, IL: public safety officer's first responders training drill, E1694 [30SE]

Roxborough Memorial Hospital: tribute to rehabilitation unit, E1611 [19SE]

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (organization): anniversary, E189 [26FE]

Rural areas: promote rural development (H.R. 5579), E1895 [17OC]

Salem, OR: tribute to Oregon National Guard 42nd Air Ambulance Company on activation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, H984 [19MR]

Seattle, WA: anniversary of Northwest Kidney Center, E199 [26FE]

Silbert, Lynne: Wellness Community of West Los Angeles Human Spirit Award recipient, E531 [16AP]

Stern, Joseph: ROFEH International (nonprofit organization) and New England Chassidic Center honoree, E1648 [25SE]

Suffolk County, NY: tribute to school psychologists, E2042 [14NO]

Taxation: exclude benefits from income, employment taxes, and wage withholding property tax rebates, provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders (H.R. 5416), E1627 [19SE]

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), E1602 [18SE]

———provide grants to enhance the ability of first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism, including incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (H.R. 5441), E1649 [25SE]

———tribute to those killed in attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, H646 [28FE], H1608-H1610 [24AP], E73 [5FE], E1282 [17JY]

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey: anniversary of School of Nursing, E515 [12AP]

University of Michigan-Flint: anniversary of Dept. of Physical Therapy, E1701 [30SE]

Veterans: health care funding, H2248 [9MY], E935 [24MY]

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey: anniversary (H. Res. 457), E1148 [25JN]

Washington metropolitan area: sniper shooting spree, H7230 [8OC]

———tribute to first responders, police, and rescue personnel relative to sniper shooting spree, H7006 [3OC]

Withers, James S.: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1628 [19SE], E1644 [25SE]

Women: encourage screening of all women for domestic violence, H740 [7MR]

World Blindness Outreach (organization): tribute, E244 [28FE]

Remarks in Senate

Abortion: condemn acts of violence against those providing services, S5468 [13JN]

AFL-CIO: tribute to efforts of members following terrorist attacks, S8502 [11SE]

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: conduct a study on health services research (S. 3084), S10224 [9OC]

Air Force: require a pilot program to assess adoption of the Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support System by the Air National Guard (S. 1997), S1677 [7MR]

Armed Forces: increase the grade provided for the heads of the nurse corps, S5948 [24JN], S6077 [26JN]

Coltey, Rebecca: New Hampshire Star of Life award recipient, S5953 [24JN]

Cornelius, OR: tribute to Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, S1671 [7MR]

Council on Graduate Medical Education: extend (S. 3083), S10224 [9OC]

Dept. of Defense: Advanced SEAL Delivery System funding, S7725 [31JY]

———chemical agent warning network and emergency response technologies funding, S7725 [31JY]

———epilepsy research funding, S7723 [31JY]

———infectious disease tracking system funding, S7723 [31JY]

———muscular dystrophy research funding, S7723 [31JY]

———Operating Room of the Future initiative funding, S7725 [31JY]

Dept. of HHS: allow Federal health programs flexibility in providing health care services during emergencies, S4780 [23MY]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (H.R. 3504), S48 [23JA]

Dept. of Homeland Security: develop strategy to coordinate public health, law enforcement, and homeland security officials in a bioterrorism attack, S8191 [4SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize the furnishing of health care during major disasters or medical emergencies (S. 2187), S2840, S2841 [17AP]

———enhance certain veterans programs and improve administration of such programs (S. 1905), S236 [29JA]

———issuance of regulations requiring prioritization of veterans' access to health care, S8747-S8749 [18SE]

———oppose enactment of any proposal establishing a health care deductible for veterans, S10880 [13NO]

———provide guaranteed adequate level of funding for veterans health care (S. 2903), S8302 [5SE], S10880 [13NO]

———recalculate retirement annuities for certain health care professionals performing part-time services (S. 2227), S3167 [23AP]

———tribute to Medical Research Service for research into oral treatment for smallpox, S2406 [9AP]

Diseases: combat cancer (S. 1976), S1361-S1365 [28FE], S4615 [21MY]

———improve data collection and dissemination between Federal and State registries to enhance the treatment and research of cancer (S. 2955), S8757, S8758 [18SE]

———improve quality of care for cancer patients (S. 2965), S8761 [18SE]

Drugs: pharmaceutical industry research and development costs, S4273 [13MY]

Education: expand loan forgiveness and loan cancellation programs for teachers and nurses (S. 3008), S9427 [26SE]

———improve training in prevention, recognition, and treatment of substance abuse and addiction (S. 1966), S1210 [26FE]

Eugene, OR: tribute to Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, S1930 [14MR]

FDA: approval of buprenorphine for the treatment of heroin addiction, S10655-S10658 [17OC]

———authorize oversight of any entity engaged in recovery, screening, testing, processing, storage, or distribution of human tissue or human tissue-based products (S. 2531), S4536 [17MY]

FEMA: designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue System (S. 2618), S9226 [25SE]

FTC: amend trade regulation rule on ophthalmic practice to require the release of prescriptions for contact lenses (S. 2609), S5370 [11JN]

Hazardous substances: anniversary of anthrax bacteria outbreak, S10424 [15OC]

Health: encourage health care facilities, group health plans, and health insurance issuers to reduce administrative costs, and to improve access, convenience, quality, and safety (S. 2638), S5706 [18JN]

———improve coordination between Federal agencies and local emergency medical service providers (S. 2014), S1937 [14MR]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (S. 2590), S5052, S5053 [5JN], S7367 [25JY]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (S. 3029), S9848 [2OC]

———limit medical malpractice claims, S7359 [25JY], S8369 [9SE]

———permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests (S. 2207), S2965 [18AP]

———promote the development of health care cooperatives that will help businesses to pool the health care purchasing power of employers (S. 2835), S7903 [1AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), unanimous-consent request, S8012, S8013 [1AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 6), S10610 [17OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S7359 [25JY], S7839-S7843, S7853 [1AU]

———provide for health care liability reform, S7398-S7413 [26JY], S7448 [29JY], S7516-S7535 [30JY]

———provide grants to hire community health workers to improve access to health education and services for women and families in medically underserved areas (S. 2139), S2830 [17AP]

Health care facilities: abuse and neglect in nursing homes, S10606 [17OC]

Illinois: tribute to the American Association on Mental Retardation Direct Service Professional Award recipients, S343 [5FE]

———improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas by extending and increasing foreign country residency requirement waivers for foreign medical graduates (S. 2674), S6015 [25JN]

Kentucky Rural Health Association: tribute, S5254 [7JN]

Louisville, KY: Home of the Innocents Pediatric Convalescent Center recipient of American Association of Homes and Services National Organization on Disability Award, S8198 [4SE]

Mechem, Dennis: New Hampshire Star of Life award recipient, S5954 [24JN]

Medicare: area wage adjustments under the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility services (S. 1955), S860-S862 [14FE]

———eliminate the geographic physician work adjustment factor used to adjust payments under the physician fee schedule (S. 1953), S860-S862 [14FE]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services (S. 3018), S9715-S9717, S9776 [1OC], S9779, S9840 [2OC], S10531-S10546 [16OC], S10610, S10655, S10661 [17OC], S10884 [13NO]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services (S. 3018), unanimous-consent request, S9939, S9940 [4OC], S10531, S10532 [16OC]

———ensure reimbursement for certain FDA-approved cancer drug therapies administered in hospital outpatient settings (S. 2795), S7374 [25JY]

———establish a demonstration project under which incentive payments are made in certain areas to improve access to primary care services (S. 2542), S4709 [22MY]

———improve Medicare Incentive Payment Program (S. 2529), S4501-S4503 [16MY]

———improve reimbursement payments to physicians, S8370 [9SE]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 2555), S4843 [23MY]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 2568), S4862 [23MY], S5563-S5566 [14JN]

———provide appropriate incentive payments for physicians' services furnished in underserved areas (S. 2914), S8386 [9SE]

———provide fair payments under the hospital outpatient department prospective payment system (S. 2547), S4716-S4720 [22MY]

———provide incentives to attract educators and clinical practitioners to underserved areas (S. 1954), S860-S862 [14FE]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (S. 2614), S5456 [12JN]

———require Dept. of HHS study on new technology payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (S. 3041), S9907 [3OC]

———reward and expand the number of health care providers delivering high-quality cost-effective health care to beneficiaries (S. 1948), S856 [14FE]

———treatment of certain counties relative to reimbursement rates, S5187, S5188 [6JN], S6347-S6351 [8JY], S6568 [10JY]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (S. 3091), S10363 [10OC]

———improve advance directive requirements to ensure compliance with individual health care decisions (S. 2857), S7920-S7926 [1AU]

Merino, Yamel: New York State Senate Women of Distinction honoree, S2322 [22MR]

Merrill, OR: tribute to Merrill Clinic, S3465 [26AP]

Miles, Anna M. (Missy): University of Cincinnati Medical Center Florence Nightingale Award recipient, S5847 [20JN]

National Assisted Living Week: observance, S8375 [9SE]

National Emergency Medical Services Week: designate (S. Con. Res. 112), S4544 [17MY]

National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month: designate (S. Con. Res. 94), S103 [24JA], S11149 [14NO]

National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: funding, S11710 [20NO]

National Nurses Week: observance, S3898 [6MY], S4195 [10MY]

National Osteopathic Medicine Week: observance, S9843 [2OC]

National security: make grants to State and local governments in order to prepare for and respond to terrorist threats (S. 2077), S2414 [9AP]

National Visiting Nurse Associations Week: establish (S. Con. Res. 153), S10450 [15OC]

New Jersey: reimbursement by Postal Service to hospitals for anthrax-related care, S5186 [6JN]

New York, NY: tribute to women for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center, S10667 [17OC]

Nurses: establish a Nurse Corps and address the nursing shortage through recruitment and retention strategies (S. 1864), S7127 [22JY]

———issue postage stamp in commemoration of registered nurses (S. Res. 314), S7748 [31JY]

———provide programs to improve nurse retention, the nursing workplace, and the quality of care, S4195 [10MY]

Oncology Nursing Society: tribute, S2719 [16AP]

Privacy: prohibit use of patient databases for marketing without the express consent of the patient (S. 3064), S10046 [7OC]

Public Health Service Act: add requirements regarding trauma care (S. 3048), S9909 [3OC]

———amend relative to health professions programs regarding the field of nursing (H.R. 3487), S48 [23JA], S7127-S7132 [22JY]

———amend relative to pharmacy health professions programs (S. 1806), S9927-S9930 [3OC]

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), S2989, S2990 [18AP]

———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), S2990 [18AP]

———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), S2990, S2991 [18AP]

———ensure that officers who suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of survivor benefits (S. 3114), S10573 [16OC]

Rural areas: authorize a demonstration program to recruit and train physicians to serve in rural areas (S. 2597), S5209 [6JN]

———promote and improve access to health care services (S. 1030), S8667 [17SE]

Segars, Kelly S.: Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians Family Physician of the Year award recipient, S8970 [20SE]

Senior citizens: prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (S. 2240), S3310-S3316 [24AP]

Shea, Jennifer: New Hampshire Star of Life award recipient, S5954 [24JN]

Taxation: exclude benefits from income, employment taxes, and wage withholding property tax rebates, provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders (S. 3012), S9431 [26SE]

———exclude from gross income loan payments received under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (S. 2654), S5854-S5856 [20JN]

———treatment of certain terrorist attack zone compensation of civilian uniformed personnel, S132 [25JA], S215, S216 [29JA]

———treatment of home-based service workers (S. 2129), S2678 [15AP]

Terrorism: establish a national response policy and a national urban search and rescue task force program (S. 2061), S2285 [21MR]

———provide grants to enhance the ability of first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism, S11023-S11026 [14NO], S11405, S11406 [19NO]

———strengthen the preparedness of health care providers within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and community hospitals to respond to bioterrorism (S. 1561), S2719 [16AP]

Veterans: health care and education programs funding, S2250 [21MR]

———health care funding, S4948 [4JN], S7266 [24JY], S7733 [31JY], S10664 [17OC]

Washington metropolitan area: sniper shooting spree, S10526 [16OC]

———tribute to first responders, police, and rescue personnel relative to sniper shooting spree, S10108 [8OC], S10835 [12NO]

Reports filed

Award Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to Officers Killed, Injured, or Involved in Rescue Efforts in the Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (H. Con. Res. 243), S2950 [18AP]

———Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. Con. Res. 75), S2950 [18AP]

Award Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to Public Safety Officers Killed in the Line of Duty in the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. Con. Res. 66), S2950 [18AP]

Consideration of H.R. 4600, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 553) (H. Rept. 107-697), H6692 [25SE]

Consideration of H.R. 4691, Abortion Non-Discrimination Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 546) (H. Rept. 107-683), H6558 [24SE]

Health Care Providers Grants To Implement Electronic Prescription Drug Programs: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4989) (H. Rept. 107-545), H4064, H4067 [26JN]

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4600) (H. Rept. 107-693), H6692 [25SE]

———Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 4600) (H. Rept. 107-693), H6692 [25SE]

Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 5334) (H. Rept. 107-786), H9023 [14NO]

Improve Access to Physicians in Medically Underserved Areas by Extending and Increasing Foreign Country Residency Requirement Waivers for Foreign Medical Graduates: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 4858) (H. Rept. 107-528), H3859 [24JN]

Improve the Provision of Items and Services to Medicare Beneficiaries in Rural Areas: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4962) (H. Rept. 107-540), H4064, H4067 [26JN]

Medicare Payments Improvement for Home Health Services and Direct Graduate Medical Education: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4987) (H. Rept. 107-541), H4064, H4067 [26JN]

Medicare Payments Improvement for Physicians' Services and Other Outpatient Services: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4986) (H. Rept. 107-549), H4064, H4067 [26JN]

Medicare+Choice Program Revitalization, Medicare+Choice Competition Program Establishment, and Hospitals and Other Providers Payment Improvement: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4985) (H. Rept. 107-550), H4064, H4067 [26JN]

National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. Con. Res. 94), S11079 [14NO]

Nomination of Otis W. Brawley, Jr., to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Board of Regents: Committee on Armed Services (Senate), S10570 [16OC]

Patient Safety Improvement Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 4889) (H. Rept. 107-714), H6925 [1OC]

Pharmacy Education Aid Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1806), S9595 [30SE]

Public Health Service Act Amendment Relative to Pharmacy Health Professions Programs: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4992) (H. Rept. 107-548), H4064, H4067 [26JN]

Safe Motherhood Act for Research and Treatment (SMART Mom Act): Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 2328), S8671 [17SE]

Resolutions by organizations

Tribute to Inova Health System for response to terrorist attack on the Pentagon: Virginia State Assembly, E1541 [10SE]

Statements

FDA Approval of Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Heroin Addiction: Charles R. Schuster, Wayne State University, S10657 [17OC]

———Chris-Ellyn Johanson, Wayne State University, S10657 [17OC]

———Herbert Kleber, Columbia University, S10658 [17OC]

———James H. Woods, University of Michigan, S10657 [17OC]

Nurse Reinvestment Act: Several Senators and Representatives, S7128 [22JY]

Studies

Do Doctors Practice Defensive Medicine?, H6711-H6718 [26SE]

Summaries

Beneficiary Access to Care and Medicare Equity Act (S. 3018), S10663 [17OC]

Domestic Violence Screening and Services Act (S. 2236), S3305 [24AP]

National Response to Terrorism and Consequence Management Act (S. 2061), S2285 [21MR]

Quality of Care for Individuals With Cancer Act (S. 2965), S8761 [18SE]

Tables

Treatment costs for certain medical ailments in North Dakota, California, New York, and the District of Columbia, S8668 [17SE]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 271, National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month, H2132 [7MY]

H. Res. 424, tribute to New York, NY, workers for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center, H2803 [21MY]

H. Res. 492, tribute to workers for their rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center and the Fresh Kills Landfill, H5034 [22JY]

H. Res. 536, 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, H7976 [16OC]

H. Res. 546, consideration of H.R. 4691, Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, H6566 [25SE]

H. Res. 553, consideration of H.R. 4600, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, H6705 [26SE]

H.R. 3450, Health Care Safety Net Improvement Act, H6793-H6804 [1OC]

H.R. 3487, Nurse Reinvestment Act, H5053-H5055 [22JY]

H.R. 3968, Fallen Heroes Flag Act, E359 [14MR]

H.R. 4600, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, H6720-H6725 [26SE]

H.R. 4691, Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, H6574 [25SE]

H.R. 4858, improve access to physicians in medically underserved areas by extending and increasing foreign country residency requirement waivers for foreign medical graduates, H3867 [25JN]

H.R. 5334, Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, H8925 [14NO]

S. 1533, reauthorize health centers program and National Health Service Corps and establish Healthy Communities Access Program to coordinate services for uninsured and underinsured, S10755-S10766 [17OC], H7932-H7944 [16OC]

S. 1806, Pharmacy Education Aid Act, S9927-S9930 [3OC]

S. 1905, enhance certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs programs and improve administration of such programs, S236 [29JA]

S. 1966, Health Professionals Substance Abuse Education Act, S1211 [26FE]

S. 1990, Emergency Contraception Education Act, S1600 [6MR]

S. 2008, expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform or provide training in performing abortions, S1785 [12MR]

S. 2129, tax treatment of home-based service workers, S2679 [15AP]

S. 2139, Community Health Workers Act, S2830 [17AP]

S. 2187, Dept. of Veterans Affairs Emergency Medical Care Act, S2841 [17AP]

S. 2227, recalculate retirement annuities for certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs health care professionals performing part-time services, S3167 [23AP]

S. 2240, Seniors Safety Act, S3311-S3315 [24AP]

S. 2529, Medicare Incentive Payment Program Improvement Act, S4502 [16MY]

S. 2547, Medicare Hospital Outpatient Department Fair Payment Act, S4717-S4719 [22MY]

S. 2568, MediFair Act, S4862 [23MY]

S. 2597, Rural Health Training Incentive Act, S5210 [6JN]

S. 2614, Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act, S5457 [12JN]

S. 2857, Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act, S7921-S7924 [1AU]

S. 2914, Medicare Incentive Payment Program Refinement Act, S8387 [9SE]

S. 3064, Health Records Confidentiality Act, S10047 [7OC]

S. 3091, Patient Abuse Prevention Act, S10363-S10367 [10OC]

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, S2991 [18AP]

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, S2990 [18AP]

S. Con. Res. 94, National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month, S103 [24JA], S11149 [14NO]

S. Con. Res. 112, National Emergency Medical Services Week, S4538, S4544 [17MY]

S. Con. Res. 151, Direct Support Professional Recognition Resolution, S10225 [9OC]

S. Con. Res. 153, National Visiting Nurse Associations Week, S10450 [15OC]

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, S2504 [10AP]

S. Res. 297, encourage pet owners to regularly visit their veterinarians for check-ups and advice on flea and tick control, S6322 [28JN]

S. Res. 314, issue postage stamp in commemoration of registered nurses, S7748 [31JY]