HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Amendments

National Health Center Week: designate (S. Res. 31), S8498 [19JY]

Analyses

Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act (H.R. 3359), E1540 [20JY]

Rationale for an Allied Health Reinvestment Act: Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, S1806 [28FE]

Articles and editorials

America's Nurse, E1120 [26MY]

Hospice Offers Patients Expert, Compassionate Care, S4539 [28AP]

Military Might—Today's VA Hospitals Are Models of Top-Notch Care, E1560 [21JY]

Penalizing Veterans, S1224 [10FE]

Seniors Try To Decipher Drug Options, H9935 [7NO]

Stroke Victims Are Often Taken to Wrong Hospital, S5441-S5443 [18MY]

True Cost of War, H5568 [30JN]

VA Hospital in Texas Fights To Stay Open, S8109 [12JY]

Veterans Angered by Official's Comments, H517 [9FE]

Bills and resolutions

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: provide grants for Centers for Clinical Discovery (see H.R. 3168), H5601 [30JN]

Albuquerque, NM: designate the Albuquerque Indian Health Center as a critical access facility and provide funds for that Center (see S. 972), S4547 [28AP]

American Academy of Pediatrics: anniversary (see S. Res. 204), S8665 [21JY] (see H. Res. 452), H8162 [20SE]

America's Blood Centers (organization): tribute (see H. Res. 220), H2150 [19AP]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: rename certain buildings in honor of Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa (see H.R. 4500), H11502 [13DE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (see S. 1405), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 3373), H6326 [21JY]

Charities: reform liability for certain charitable contributions (see S. 1125), S5921 [25MY]

Children and youth: establish certain requirements relative to provision of services to minors by certain family planning projects (see S. 1279), S6910 [21JN] (see H.R. 3011), H4895 [21JN]

Colville National Forest: convey a small parcel of Federal land (see H.R. 1138), H988 [7MR]

Consumers: provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital and ambulatory surgical center services and drugs (see H.R. 3139), H5599 [30JN]

———provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital services and drugs (see S. 1827), S11212 [6OC]

Contraceptives: establish a public education and awareness program relative to emergency contraception (see H.R. 3326), H5963 [18JY]

———require equitable coverage of drugs, devices, and services under health insurance plans (see S. 1214), S6299 [9JN] (see H.R. 4651), H13188 [22DE]

Courts: provide liability protections for certain pandemics and countermeasures (see H.R. 3970), H8732 [6OC]

Credit: require credit card issuers to apply low interest rates to credit extended to pay certain medical expenses and prohibit hospitals from immediately reporting patients who are delinquent with payment (see H.R. 1238), H1369 [10MR]

Dept. of Defense: reform the TRICARE program to make reimbursement rates the same as those offered under Medicare and contract for health care services with a teaching hospital in an urban area (see H.R. 2670), H4139 [26MY]

Dept. of HHS: award on a competitive basis grants to public and private entities to establish or expand teenage pregnancy prevention program (see H.R. 3555), H7558 [28JY]

———expand the National Practitioner Data Bank (see S. 948), S4546 [28AP] (see H.R. 2006), H2736 [28AP]

———make grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services (see S. 755), S3413 [11AP] (see H.R. 216), H78 [4JA]

———reauthorize and extend the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention and services program (see S. 1722), S10187 [19SE] (see H.R. 4212), H9555 [2NO]

———reauthorize Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program (see S. 285), S978 [3FE] (see H.R. 1246), H1370 [10MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: allow access to outside care for veterans with long waiting periods for treatment at outpatient clinics (see H.R. 76), H74 [4JA]

———allow veterans enrolled in the health system the option of receiving covered health services through non-departmental facilities (see H.R. 4277), H10145 [9NO]

———commend efforts of staff in response to Hurricane Katrina (see S. Res. 259), S10594 [28SE] (see S. Res. 263), S10823 [3OC]

———conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (see H.R. 1741), H2394 [20AP]

———conduct demonstration project to improve Veterans Health Administration business practices (see H.R. 2988), H4801 [20JN]

———continue mission of Kerrville, TX, medical center, including maintenance of acute care beds (see H.R. 2392), H3434 [17MY]

———determine the effectiveness of contracting for the use of private memory care facilities for veterans with Alzheimer's disease (see H.R. 590), H352 [2FE]

———ensure adequate veterans' health care funding and conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (see S. 963), S4547 [28AP]

———establish certain conditions before implementing any Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Commission recommendation that reduces veterans medical services (see H.R. 2832), H4354 [9JN]

———establish enhanced process for funding veterans health care programs and standards for access to health care (see H.R. 2735), H4141 [26MY]

———establish licensure requirements for employees and contractors performing orthotics, pedorthics, or prosthetics services in States where there are private practice requirements (see H.R. 4159), H9361 [27OC]

———establish Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health Administration (see S. 1537), S9284 [28JY]

———establish Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers in the Veterans Health Administration (see H.R. 2959), H4721 [17JN]

———expand the capability to provide for the medical care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey (see H.R. 3052), H5100 [23JN]

———improve allocation of health care resources to different geographic regions in the U.S. (see H.R. 1346), H1621 [16MR]

———improve health care for veterans (see S. 1182), S6154 [7JN]

———improve mental health services at all facilities (see S. 1177), S6154 [7JN]

———improve the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program (see S. 996), S4936 [11MY] (see H.R. 3147), H5600 [30JN]

———making supplemental appropriations for veterans medical care (see S. 1290), S7293 [23JN] (see H.R. 3102), H5434 (see H.R. 3102), H5478 [29JN] (see H.R. 3130, 3136), H5599 [30JN]

———permit veterans to transfer on a space-available basis from a veterans home in one State to a veterans home in another State regardless of State residency requirements (see H.R. 3009), H4895 [21JN]

———provide emergency assistance to homeless veterans and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3727), H7859 [13SE]

———provide grants to rural counties to improve advice and services to help veterans obtain earned benefits (see H.R. 3694), H7742 [7SE]

———provide sufficient blind rehabilitation outpatient specialists at medical centers (see S. 1190), S6154 [7JN]

———provide sufficient blind rehabilitation outpatient specialists at medical facilities (see H.R. 3579), H7559 [28JY]

———provide veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina access to health care (see H.R. 3666), H7741 [7SE]

———require mandatory HIV testing of potential sources in the event of possible occupational exposure to HIV in a medical facility (see H.R. 3425), H6431 [25JY]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: provide for reimbursement of certain for-profit hospitals (see S. 1393), S8217 [13JY] (see H.R. 3714), H7813 [8SE]

Disasters: ensure that private for-profit nursing homes affected by major disasters receive the same reimbursement as public nursing homes (see H.R. 4002), H8733 [6OC]

Diseases: address fertility issues facing cancer survivors (see S. Res. 331), S13570 [14DE] (see H. Con. Res. 174), H4296 [8JN]

———provide for awareness program and study on a rare form of breast cancer (see H.R. 4598), H12048 [16DE]

Drugs: allow for medicinal use of marijuana in accordance with State laws (see H.R. 2087), H2976 [4MY]

———allow qualifying children's hospitals to participate in the 340B drug discount program (see H.R. 4036), H8808 [7OC]

———enhance Federal penalties for illegal production, distribution, and use of methamphetamines and other controlled substances, and provide residential substance abuse treatment programs for State and Federal prisoners (see H.R. 3513), H7557 [28JY]

Emergency Malpractice Liability Insurance Commission: establish (see H.R. 2400), H3434 [17MY]

Federal aid programs: authorize grants to carry out projects to provide education on preventing teen pregnancies (see H.R. 4644), H12289 [18DE]

Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services: establish (see H.R. 1240), H1369 [10MR]

Federal Tort Claims Act: extend coverage to all federally qualified community health centers (see H.R. 1633), H2100 [14AP]

Fire prevention: provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities (see H.R. 4491), H11327 [8DE]

Hawaii: improve provision of health care and services to veterans (see S. 1176), S6154 [7JN]

Health: achieve a national health information infrastructure and establish a refundable tax credit for expenditures of health care providers implementing such infrastructure (see H.R. 747), H581 [10FE]

———application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (see H.R. 3074), H5251 [27JN]

———authorize a demonstration grant program to provide patient navigator services to reduce barriers and improve health care outcomes (see S. 898), S4184 [25AP] (see H.R. 1812), H2476 [25AP]

———establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services and an advisory council made up of non-Federal representatives of the emergency medical services community (see S. 611), S2644 [14MR]

———establish a network of pediatric centers in certain developing countries to provide treatment and care for children with HIV/AIDS (see H.R. 164), H76 [4JA]

———establish programs and activities to assist in mobilizing appropriate healthcare workforce in the event of a health emergency or natural disaster (see S. 1638), S9833 [8SE]

———expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (see S. 1225), S6404 [13JN]

———expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform or provide training in performing abortions (see S. 1983), S12607 [9NO]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (see S. 354), S1260 [10FE]

———improve access to health care services by reducing the burden the liability system places in the delivery of emergency, trauma, and obstetrical services (see S. 367), S1260 [10FE]

———improve palliative and end-of-life care provided to children with life-threatening conditions (see S. 174), S573 [26JA] (see H.R. 963), H795 [17FE]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (see S. 544), S2244 [8MR] (see H.R. 3205), H5739 [12JY]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology (see S. 1227), S6404 [13JN]

———limit liability of hospitals and emergency departments for noneconomic and punitive damages when providing uncompensated care (see H.R. 2731), H4141 [26MY]

———promote a culture of safety within the health care system through the establishment of a National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation Program (see S. 1784), S10594 [28SE]

———promote development of health care cooperatives to help businesses pool the health care purchasing power of employers (see S. 820), S3735 [15AP]

———protect certain health care providers against legal liability for certain emergency and related care provided to uninsured individuals (see H.R. 2729), H4141 [26MY]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (see S. 1012), S5071 [12MY] (see H.R. 2259), H3196 [11MY] (see H.R. 2650), H4138 [26MY]

———provide assistance for the development of indoor disease prevention and health promotion centers in urban and rural areas (see H.R. 2240), H3113 [10MY]

———provide programs for stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation (see S. 1064), S5437 [18MY]

———provide State grants for developing trauma care systems (see S. 265), S886 [2FE]

———reduce health care costs, expand access to affordable coverage, improve health care, and strengthen the health care safety net (see S. 4), S9157 [27JY] (see S. 1503), S8949 [26JY]

———reduce health care disparities and improve health care quality of minorities by improving data collection, providing performance incentives, and expanding programs seeking to eliminate health disparities (see S. 1929), S12006 [27OC]

———restore reliability to the medical justice system by fostering alternatives to medical tort litigation (see S. 1337), S7614 [29JN]

———strengthen programs for stroke education, prevention, and treatment (see H.R. 898), H792 [17FE]

Health care professionals: clarify responsibilities of a pharmacy when a staff pharmacist refuses to fill a valid prescription for a drug on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions (see S. 809), S3653 [14AP] (see H.R. 1539), H1850 [8AP] (see H.R. 1652), H2101 [14AP]

———ensure integrity in the operation of pharmacy benefit managers (see H.R. 1669), H2102 [14AP]

———establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals (see H.R. 1222), H1368 [10MR]

———improve response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through training and education (see H.R. 4367), H10908 [17NO]

———provide for education and training of allied health professionals in exchange for a service commitment at a facility with critical shortages of allied health professionals (see S. 473), S1794 [28FE] (see H.R. 215), H78 [4JA]

———reform the medical malpractice system (see H.R. 2657), H4138 [26MY] (see H.R. 3378), H6326 [21JY]

Health Workforce Advisory Commission: establish (see S. 831), S3817 [18AP]

Hospitals: provide emergency contraceptives and post-exposure prophylaxis to women who are survivors of sexual assault (see S. 1264), S6740 [16JN]

———provide emergency contraceptives to women who are survivors of sexual assault (see H.R. 2928), H4560 [15JN]

Hurricanes: provide assistance to rebuild communities, schools, and hospitals damaged by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (see S. 1842, 1846), S11212 [6OC]

———provide assistance to rebuild hospitals damaged by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (see S. 1847), S11212 [6OC]

———provide relief payments to private and public hospitals that temporarily ceased to operate because of a mandatory evacuation order issued in anticipation of Hurricane Rita (see H.R. 4143), H9102 [25OC]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: revise and extend (see S. 1057), S5301 [17MY]

Indian Health Service: permit certain funds for the Wagner Service Unit to be used to keep the emergency room open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, for a certain period (see S. 2174), S14317 [21DE]

Insurance: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (see S. 910), S4257 [26AP] (see H.R. 1849), H2549 [26AP]

———establish medical malpractice insurance corporations which operate and function without hinderance or impedance in any State to limit frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits (see H.R. 3865), H8340 [22SE]

———reform the medical malpractice insurance business, limit frivolous lawsuits, and enhance patient access to medical care (see H.R. 3359), H6204 [20JY]

———require certain facilities to disclose charge-related information and to price protect treatments not covered by insurance as conditions for protection from certain legal actions (see H.R. 4450), H11109 [6DE]

———require coverage of certain reconstructive surgery (see H.R. 4022), H8807 [7OC]

Jack C. Montgomery Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Muskogee, OK: designate (see S. 1731), S10233 [20SE] (see H.R. 3829), H8161 [20SE]

John H. Bradley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Appleton, WI: designate (see H.R. 1691), H2149 [19AP]

Key West, FL: enable residents of Bayshore Manor assisted living facility to continue to receive SSI benefits (see H.R. 2900), H4485 [14JN]

Medicaid: anniversary (see S. Con. Res. 49), S9469 [29JY] (see H. Con. Res. 215), H6327 [21JY]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 66), S143 [24JA]

———extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage adjustment for Alaska (see S. 159), S436 [25JA]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (see S. 1592), S9468 [29JY]

———provide for an on-going cost-of-living increase in disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments for States (see H.R. 4606), H12048 [16DE]

———provide health information technology grants to States and reduce number of medical and medication errors, unnecessary hospitalizations, infections, and inappropriate care (see H.R. 4142), H9102 [25OC]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see S. 401), S1513 [16FE] (see H.R. 910), H792 [17FE]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (see S. Con. Res. 65), S13161 [17NO] (see H. Con. Res. 231), H7561 [28JY]

———require prorating of beneficiary contributions relative to partial coverage for nursing facility services during a month (see H.R. 4362), H10908 [17NO]

Medicare: anniversary (see S. Con. Res. 50), S9469 [29JY] (see H. Con. Res. 213), H6327 [21JY]

———assure equitable payment for physicians services (see H.R. 4520), H11503 [13DE]

———clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonhospital setting (see S. 2071), S13361 [18NO] (see H.R. 4403), H11033 [18NO]

———clarify payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by critical access hospitals (see S. 236), S738 [1FE] (see H.R. 1016), H846 [1MR]

———coverage of adult day care services (see H.R. 1981), H2735 [28AP]

———coverage of respiratory therapists under home health service plans (see H.R. 964), H795 [17FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 345), S1260 [10FE] (see S. 873), S4108 [21AP] (see H.R. 752), H582 [10FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 752), consideration (see H. Res. 584), H11109 [6DE]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at federally qualified health centers (see S. 1593), S9468 [29JY] (see H.R. 1819), H2548 [26AP]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (see S. 1001), S4936 [11MY]

———expand coverage of paramedic intercept services (see H.R. 3047), H5100 [23JN]

———extend and improve protections for sole community hospitals (see H.R. 2961), H4721 [17JN]

———impose minimum nurse staffing in participating hospitals (see H.R. 1372), H1691 [17MR]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (see S. 933), S4546 [28AP] (see H.R. 2350), H3261 [12MY]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers (see S. 411), S1513 [16FE]

———improve quality of care in skilled nursing facilities through development of quality measures and changes in reimbursement (see H.R. 1166), H1024 [8MR]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 868), H718 [16FE]

———increase inpatient hosptial payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (see S. 862), S4021 [20AP] (see H.R. 1729), H2393 [20AP]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (see H.R. 4371), H10908 [17NO]

———make improvements in payments to hospitals (see S. 1002), S4936 [11MY]

———modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers (see S. 1884), S11476 [18OC] (see H.R. 4042), H8808 [7OC]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see S. 1109), S5851 [24MY] (see H.R. 2014), H2737 [28AP]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (see S. 1148), S6021 [26MY] (see H.R. 2736), H4141 [26MY]

———permit Puerto Rico to qualify for Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (see H.R. 4206), H9555 [2NO]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (see S. 71), S143 [24JA] (see S. 351), S1260 [10FE] (see H.R. 791), H586 [14FE]

———provide additional beneficiary protections (see H.R. 2487), H3693 [19MY]

———provide beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management (see H.R. 467), H284 [1FE]

———provide equity in the calculation of disproportionate share hospital payments for hospitals in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 4207), H9555 [2NO]

———provide for cost-based reimbursement for ambulance services furnished by, or under arrangements with, a critical access hospital (see H.R. 4269), H10144 [9NO]

———provide for public disclosure of prices for hospital and ambulatory surgical center procedures and drugs (see H.R. 1362), H1690 [17MR]

———provide incentives for provision of high quality care (see S. 1356), S7820 [30JN]

———provide incentives linking quality to payment for skilled nursing facilities and establish a Long-Term Care Financing Commission (see H.R. 1381), H1692 [17MR]

———provide whistleblower protection to employees of clinical laboratories (see H.R. 686), H521 [9FE]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see S. 1297), S7293 [23JN] (see H.R. 1228), H1369 [10MR]

———remove cap on disproportionate share adjustment percentages for certain rural hospitals (see H.R. 4585), H12048 [16DE]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 70), S143 [24JA]

———require hospitals and critical access hospitals to meet certain requirements in order to advertise that the hospital has the capability of addressing emergency and acute coronary syndromes (see S. 1277), S6909 [21JN]

———require hospitals to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching (see H.R. 252), H136 [6JA]

———require hospitals to make an effort to contact a surrogate decisionmaker of patients who arrive at an emergency department physically incapable of communicating with the attending health care practitioners (see H.R. 2560), H3892 [24MY]

———require Medicare Advantage organizations to pay for critical access hospital services and rural health clinic services at a greater percentage than regular Medicare payment rates (see H.R. 880), H791 [17FE]

Medicare/Medicaid: assist pharmacies in facilitating enrollment of dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 2173), S14317 [21DE]

———ensure that pharmacies receiving reimbursements fill all valid prescriptions without unnecessary delay or interference (see S. 778), S3555 [13AP]

———reform Federal survey and certification process for nursing facilities (see H.R. 3437), H6649 [26JY]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 4293), H10156 [10NO]

Mental health: combat autism through research, screening, intervention, and education (see S. 843), S3897 [19AP] (see H.R. 2421), H3554 [18MY]

———increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals (see S. Res. 124), S4258 [26AP] (see H. Res. 158), H1509 [15MR]

———provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis (see H.R. 1940), H2647 [27AP]

National Academies of Practice: grant Federal charter (see S. 87), S144 [24JA] (see H.R. 835), H629 [15FE] (see H.R. 1623), H1969 [13AP]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (see S. 1405), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 3373), H6326 [21JY]

National Health Center Week: designate (see S. Res. 31), S739 [1FE]

———support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 289), H3694 [19MY]

National School-Based Health Centers Month: establish (see H. Res. 164), H1622 [16MR]

National security: increase number of political subdivisions directly receiving awards under program to improve State and local preparedness for bioterrorism and other public health emergencies (see H.R. 1987), H2736 [28AP]

National Time Out Day: support goals and ideas (see S. Res. 40), S1050 [7FE] (see H. Res. 150), H1371 [10MR]

Oscar G. Johnson Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility, Iron Mountain, MI: designate (see H.R. 4386), H10909 [17NO]

Public Health Service Act: increase affordability of inpatient drugs for Medicaid and safety net hospitals (see S. 1840), S11212 [6OC] (see H.R. 3547), H7558 [28JY]

Public welfare programs: require community notice for the placement of group houses (see H.R. 4639), H12289 [18DE]

Rural areas: provide grants for rural health information technology development activities (see S. 1952), S12237 [2NO]

Safety: implement computerized order entry systems in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to reduce medication errors and increase efficiency (see H.R. 3607), H7561 [28JY]

Senior citizens: provide greater health care freedom (see H.R. 580), H351 [2FE]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit to military retirees for certain Medicare premiums (see H.R. 322), H194 [25JA]

———allow designation of income tax refunds for use in NIH biomedical research programs (see H.R. 370), H233 [26JA]

———increase deduction for purchase of qualified heath care information technology by medical care providers and allow a credit for telecommunications charges paid or incurred by such providers (see H.R. 4641), H12289 [18DE]

———modernize rules governing treatment of qualifying continuing care facilities (see H.R. 4608), H12049 [16DE]

Telephones: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on health and human services (see H.R. 896), H792 [17FE]

U.S. Health Service: establish (see H.R. 3000), H4802 [20JN]

Veterans: clarify availability of emergency medical care for veterans in non-Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical facilities (see H.R. 2966), H4721 [17JN]

———health care funding (see S. 331), S1198 [9FE] (see H.R. 515), H348 [2FE]

———improve treatment provided to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (see S. 1448), S8664 [21JY]

———provide for the care of veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina (see S. 1646), S9833 [8SE]

Women: reduce preterm labor, delivery, and risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity (see S. 707), S3200 [5AP] (see H.R. 2861), H4355 [9JN]

Letters

Albuquerque Indian Health Center: Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, S4589 [28AP]

———Charles W. Grimm, Dept. of HHS, S4587 [28AP]

———Michael O. Leavitt, Sec. of HHS, S4588 [28AP]

———Senator Bingaman, S4586, S4587 [28AP]

———Senator Bingaman and Representative Tom Udall, S4588 [28AP]

———several Members of Congress, S4587 [28AP]

Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act: Christine M. de Vries, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, S6043 [26MY]

———David Dempsey, National Association of Social Workers, S6042 [26MY]

Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act: Jordan Cohen, Association of American Medical Colleges, S13378 [18NO]

———Philip Shettle, American Osteopathic Association, S13377 [18NO]

———William K. Mygdal, Penny Tenzer, Warren Newton, and Perry Dickinson, Academic Family Medicine Advocacy Alliance, S13378 [18NO]

Deficit Reduction Act: Nicholas DiMarzio and John Ricard, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, E2447 [6DE]

Dept. of HHS telehealth programs funding: Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S11908 [26OC]

Health Information Technology Act: Andrew M. Mekelberg, Verizon Communications, Inc., S6413 [13JN]

———Brian Peters, Michigan Health and Hospital Association, S6413 [13JN]

———Christopher Caine, IBM Corp., S6412 [13JN]

———Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S6412 [13JN]

———Foundation for eHealth Initiative, S6412 [13JN]

———H. Stephen Lieber and Pamela R. Wirth, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, S6413 [13JN]

———Hal Daub, American Health Care Association, S6412 [13JN]

———Kenneth R. Baker, Altarum Institute, S6413 [13JN]

———Michael Fleming, American Academy of Family Physicians, S6411 [13JN]

———Scott Decker and Jonathan Teich, HealthVision, Inc., S6412 [13JN]

Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act: Carol Carothers, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Maine, S9514 [29JY]

———Dennis P. King, Spring Harbor Hospital, Westbrook, ME, S9513 [29JY]

———Larry E. Naake, National Association of Counties, and Melissa Staats, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, S9512 [29JY]

———Mark Covall, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, S9513 [29JY]

———Michael J. Fitzpatrick, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, S9512 [29JY]

———Rick Pollack, National Hospital Association, S9512 [29JY]

———Robert E. Suter, American College of Emergency Physicians, S9513 [29JY]

———Steven R. Michaud, Maine Hospital Association, S9513 [29JY]

———Steven S. Sharfstein, National Psychiatric Association, S9512 [29JY]

Medical debt of individuals who file for bankruptcy protection: several medical and law professors, S6010 [26MY]

———William E. Moschella, Dept. of Justice, S2078 [4MR]

Medical malpractice insurance: James W. Carney, Carney, Appleby, Kielsen & Skinner, P.L.C., S3813 [18AP]

Medicare Payment Adjustment to Community Health Centers (PATCH) Act: Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S9515 [29JY]

OSHA enforcement of respirator standards relative to workplace protection from tuberculosis: several labor organizations, H5053 [23JN]

Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers establishment in the Veterans Health Administration: Amy L. Comstock, Parkinson's Action Network, E1289 [20JN]

———Joseph A. Violante, DAV, E1289 [20JN]

———Steve A. Robertson, American Legion, E1311 [22JN]

Reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system: Nancy Sanders and Janet Schaffel, S1605 [17FE]

Tribute to Elizabeth J. French: Richard C. Welton, S8212 [13JY]

Veterans health care funding: Jane E. Fyer, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, S3454 [12AP]

———Jim Nicholson, Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S3466 [12AP]

———Michael M. Faenza, National Mental Health Association, S3454 [12AP]

———Robert E. Wallace, VFW, H10124 [9NO]

———Senator Santorum, S7569 [29JN]

———several veterans organizations, S3464 [12AP], H1645, H1662 [17MR]

———Steve A. Robertson, American Legion, S3463 [12AP]

———Thomas P. Cadmus, American Legion, H1645, H1662 [17MR]

Lists

Organizations supporting S. 473, Allied Health Reinvestment Act, S1806 [28FE]

Poems

``New Hope,'' Mattie J.T. Stepanek, E1094 [25MY]

Press releases

Legion Leader Says Proposed Budget Reaches Deep Into Veterans' Pockets: American Legion, E184 [8FE]

Senate To Quickly Take Up $1.5 Billion Measure for Veterans if Sent From the House: Senator Craig, Committee on Veterans Affairs (Senate), H5568 [30JN]

Remarks in House

American Cancer Fund for Children, Inc.: tribute, E2281 [7NO]

America's Blood Centers (organization): tribute, E503 [17MR]

———tribute (H. Res. 220), H9055 [25OC], E2286 [7NO]

Bankruptcy: establish a Federal homestead exemption for debtors whose financial situations were caused by serious medical problems, H2059 [14AP]

———exempt from means testing debtors whose financial situations were caused by serious medical problems, H2055, H2059 [14AP]

Beach, Bonny: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1355 [24JN]

Benfer, David: Anti-Defamation League Greater Torch of Liberty Award recipient, E685 [19AP]

Bloomington, IL: anniversary of St. Joseph's Hospital, E321 [1MR]

Bloomsburg, PA: anniversary of Bloomsburg Hospital, E1789 [8SE]

Bronx, NY: anniversary of Morris Heights Health Center, E817 [28AP]

Budget: increase veterans, education, health care, homeland security, environment, and infrastructure funding through reductions in tax cuts and defense spending, H1628-H1632 [17MR]

Bush, President: domestic policy, H4716 [17JN], H8739 [7OC]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: hereditary blood disorders hemophilia research funding, H1270 [10MR]

———rename certain buildings in honor of Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa (H.R. 4500), H11459-H11462 [13DE], E2626 [19DE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (H.R. 3373), E1563 [21JY]

———prohibit funding to implement rule on critical access hospital replacement facility construction, H5122, H5123 [24JN]

Children's Hospice International (organization): anniversary, E1093 [25MY]

Cigarroa family: Laredo, TX, Business Persons of the Year award recipients, E1151 [7JN]

Claims: provide grants to set up medical malpractice mediation programs and train mediators, H6867, H6869 [27JY]

Clearlake, CA: opening of Redbud Family Health Center, E2157 [24OC]

Coast Guard: role in relief efforts for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H7874 [14SE], E1859 [15SE]

Colorado: tribute to St. Anthony Hospitals Flight for Life emergency helicopter crew members, E1473 [13JY]

Commerce City Community Health Services, Inc.: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Hero in Health Award recipient, E1104 [26MY]

Contraceptives: establish a public education and awareness program relative to emergency contraception (H.R. 3326), E1514 [18JY]

Credit: require credit card issuers to apply low interest rates to credit extended to pay certain medical expenses and prohibit hospitals from immediately reporting patients who are delinquent with payment (H.R. 1238), E418 [10MR]

Credit cards: prohibit issuers from increasing interest rates of consumers which incur medical expenses and have difficulty repaying in a timely manner, H1975 [14AP]

Dallas, TX: anniversary of liver transplant program at Baylor University Medical Center, E2427 [18NO]

Dept. of HHS: bar-code medication technology funding, H5072, H5073 [23JN]

———community health centers funding, H5060, H5061 [23JN]

———community health centers programs funding, H389 [8FE], H591 [15FE]

———prohibit use of funding to implement a universal mental health screening program, H5145, H5146 [24JN]

———rural outreach grants and rural health research programs funding through reductions in OSHA funding, H5051-H5053 [23JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (H.R. 1741), H5562 [30JN]

———conduct demonstration project to improve Veterans Health Administration business practices, H5754 [13JY]

———establish Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers in the Veterans Health Administration, H5753 [13JY]

———establish Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers in the Veterans Health Administration (H.R. 2959), E1289 [20JN], E1311 [22JN]

———expand the capability to provide for the medical care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey (H.R. 3052), E1340 [24JN]

———making supplemental appropriations for veterans medical care (H.R. 3130), H5562-H5569, H5585-H5591, H5596 [30JN], H5712 [12JY], E1421 [1JY], E1447 [11JY], E1517 [18JY]

———pain management research programs funding, H4099 [26MY]

———permit veterans to transfer on a space-available basis from a veterans home in one State to a veterans home in another State regardless of State residency requirements (H.R. 3009), E1393 [28JN]

———reintegration services funding, H1432 [15MR], H1524 [16MR]

Disasters: ensure that private for-profit nursing homes affected by major disasters receive the same reimbursement as public nursing homes (H.R. 4002), E2033 [6OC]

Domestic violence: research health impact and prevention and provide training and Federal coverage for health care professionals to identify and treat families experiencing family violence, H1271 [10MR]

Dorchester, MA: anniversary of American Community Health Center Movement, E2388 [17NO]

Drugs: provide residential substance abuse treatment programs to those who pass a regularly administered drug-screening test and provide aftercare to prisoners formerly enrolled in such programs, H8473 [28SE]

Elizabeth, NJ: tribute to Comprehensive Cancer Center facility at Trinitas Hospital, E1793 [8SE]

Elizabethtown, KY: anniversary of Hospice and Palliative Care of Central Kentucky, E1544 [20JY]

Fairfax County, VA: anniversary of Fairfax County Health Dept. Adult Day Health Care Program, E144 [2FE]

Fire prevention: provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities (H.R. 4491), E2501 [8DE]

Fort Worth, TX: tribute to JPS Health Network for efforts to provide relief for States impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, E2185 [27OC]

Fremont, CA: anniversary of Washington Hospital Service League, E8 [4JA]

Georgetown, DE: tribute to La Red Health Center, E824 [28AP]

Georgetown County, SC: tribute, E1198 [9JN]

Glendale, CA: anniversary of Glendale Adventist Medical Center, E433 [14MR]

Grand Junction, CO: tribute to St. Mary's Hospital Careflight Unit, E747 [22AP]

Green, Veda: JPS Health Network Spirit of JPS Volunteer of the Year award recipient, E1347 [24JN]

Hainesport, NJ: anniversary of the Lester A. Drenk Behavorial Health Center, E290 [18FE]

Health: application of antitrust laws to labor negotiations by groups of health care professionals with HMO's (H.R. 3074), E1367 [27JN]

———authorize a demonstration grant program to provide patient navigator services to reduce barriers and improve health care outcomes (H.R. 1812), H4358-H4361 [13JN], E1231 [14JN], E1271 [17JN]

———expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas, H5222 [27JN]

———expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform abortions or make referrals regarding abortion services, H176 [25JA], H5032 [23JN]

———expand health care access to minorities, E819 [28AP]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors, H6999 [28JY]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (H.R. 3205), H6208 [21JY]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (S. 544), H6673-H6679 [27JY], H6997 [28JY]

———improve quality, efficiency, standards, and technology of health care, H6995 [28JY]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (H.R. 2259), E937 [11MY]

———reduce the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system, H996 [8MR], H4146 [7JN]

———set caps on noneconomic damages in medical liability lawsuits, H8718, H8719 [6OC]

———use of electronic medical records to decrease health care costs and improve patient safety, H569 [10FE], H8715 [6OC], H9365 [28OC], H9941-H9943 [7NO]

Health care professionals: clarify responsibilities of a pharmacy when a staff pharmacist refuses to fill a valid prescription for a drug on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions (H.R. 1652), E658 [15AP]

———provide for education and training of allied health professionals in exchange for a service commitment at a facility with critical shortages of allied health professionals (H.R. 215), E18 [4JA]

———reform the medical malpractice system, H6861 [27JY], E1640 [27JY]

———reform the medical malpractice system (H.R. 2657), H6408 [25JY]

HealthSource Saginaw, Inc.: groundbreaking of new facility, E2020 [6OC]

Henry Ford Health System: American Hospital Association Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service award recipient, E905 [5MY]

Hospice of Napa Valley, Inc.: tribute, E196 [9FE]

Houston, TX: tribute to Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Program, E287 [18FE]

———tribute to University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for efforts to provide relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, E2573 [17DE]

Huntington, WV: inclusion of Cabell Huntington Hospital in AARP list of best employers for workers over the age of 50, E1982 [29SE]

———inclusion of St. Mary's Hospital in AARP list of best employers for workers over the age of 50, E1982 [29SE]

Insurance: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (H.R. 1849), H9281 [27OC]

———reform the medical malpractice insurance business, limit frivolous lawsuits, and enhance patient access to medical care, H6110 [20JY], H7001, H7010, H7011 [28JY]

———reform the medical malpractice insurance business, limit frivolous lawsuits, and enhance patient access to medical care (H.R. 3359), E1540 [20JY]

John H. Bradley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Appleton, WI: designate (H.R. 1691), H9487-H9489 [2NO]

Kalamazoo, MI: Bronson Methodist Hospital recipient of NIST Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, E2463 [7DE]

Livonia, MI: St. Mary Mercy Hospital recipient of Health Grades, Inc., Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, E340 [2MR]

Los Angeles, CA: tribute to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center, E409 [10MR]

Ly, May Ying: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1176 [8JN]

Medicaid: anniversary, E1742 [29JY]

———GAO study on pharmacy reimbursements for enrollees' prescriptions, H10631 [17NO]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (H. Con. Res. 231), E1681 [29JY]

Medical Laboratory Week: observance, E755 [25AP]

Medicare: anniversary, H9934 [7NO], H10149 [10NO], H10190 [15NO], E1679, E1744 [29JY]

———assure equitable payment for physicians services (H.R. 4520), E2513 [13DE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 752), E1940 [22SE]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (H.R. 4371), E2391 [17NO]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (H.R. 2736), E1111 [26MY]

———prohibit Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens, H5123-H5125 [24JN]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 351), E212 [10FE]

———provide additional beneficiary protections (H.R. 2487), E1046 [20MY]

———provide whistleblower protection to employees of clinical laboratories (H.R. 686), H495 [9FE]

———require hospitals to make an effort to contact a surrogate decisionmaker of patients who arrive at an emergency department physically incapable of communicating with the attending health care practitioners (H.R. 2560), H3880 [24MY]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: implementation and funding, H1757-H1763 [5AP]

Mental health: provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis (H.R. 1940), H8989 [20OC]

Milbank Memorial Fund (organization): anniversary, E2498 [8DE]

Millinocket, ME: anniversary of Millinocket Regional Hospital, E1411 [30JN]

Mineola, NY: Winthrop-University Hospital recipient of Health Grades, Inc., Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, E200 [9FE]

Moore, David L.: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1214 [14JN]

Morgantown, WV: inclusion of West Virginia University Hospitals in AARP list of best employers for workers over the age of 50, E1982 [29SE]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (H.R. 3373), E1563 [21JY]

National Health Center Week: support goals and ideals (H. Res. 289), H6390-H6392 [25JY], E1654 [27JY], E1716 [29JY], E1762 [6SE]

National Hospice Month: observance, H9559 [3NO]

National Nurses Week: observance, H3201 [12MY]

National Time Out Day: support goals and ideas (H. Res. 150), E420 [10MR]

New Kensington, PA: opening of Joslin Diabetic Clinic, E1228 [14JN]

Newmarket, NH: tribute to Lampsey Health Center, H591 [15FE]

Newport, VT: tribute to North Country Hospital new heating and electricity co-generation system, E2552 [15DE]

NIH: funding, H1630, H1646 [17MR], H10518, H10521, H10522, H10523 [17NO]

Olivas, Alma: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1218 [14JN]

Oncology Nursing Society: anniversary, E723 [21AP], E745 [22AP], E773 [26AP]

OSHA: enforcement of respirator standards relative to workplace protection from tuberculosis, H5053, H5054, H5055 [23JN]

Pamela B. Katten Memorial Leukemia Research Foundation: tribute, E2296 [8NO]

Parma, OH: tribute to Parma Veterans Center, E1146 [7JN]

Pharmaceuticals: establish uniform standards for restocking of unused drugs, H2652 [28AP]

Pregnancy Care Centers (organization): anniversary, E694 [19AP]

Providence Pediatric Medical Day Care, Inc.: tribute, E713 [21AP]

Reach Out and Read (organization): tribute, E1019 [19MY]

Roche, Inc.: anniversary, E1169 [8JN], E1214, E1225 [14JN], E1234 [15JN]

Royal Oak, MI: anniversary of William Beaumont Hospital, E64 [25JA]

San Antonio, TX: tribute to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care, E787 [27AP]

San Leandro, CA: anniversary of Davis Street Family Resource Center RotaCare Free Acute Medical Clinic, E1528 [19JY]

———tribute to George Mark Children's House, E850 [3MY]

San Mateo County, CA: anniversary of San Mateo County Medical Association, E1891 [20SE]

Schiavo, Terri: legal dispute over removal of feeding tubes, H1427 [15MR], H1835-H1837 [6AP]

Schwartz, William: American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award recipient, E628 [12AP]

Secaucus, NJ: tribute to Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, E2115 [18OC]

Senior citizens: provide greater health care freedom (H.R. 580), E133 [2FE]

St. Barnabas, PA: anniversary of Village at St. Barnabas (retirement community), E1526 [19JY]

Telephones: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on health and human services (H.R. 896), E284 [18FE]

Thomas Jefferson University: tribute to hospital, E1830 [13SE]

Toledo, OH: anniversary of St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, E353 [3MR]

U.S. Health Service: establish, H2982 [5MY]

United Health Centers of San Joaquin Valley, Inc.: opening of Kernan Health Center, E1577 [22JY]

University of California, San Francisco, Fresno: tribute to Fresno, CA, Medical Education and Research Center opening, E675 [18AP]

Veterans: health care funding, H398-H402 [8FE], H512-H518 [9FE], H525 [10FE], H589, H604, H621-H626 [15FE], H1432, H1477, H1478, H1481 [15MR], H1524, H1563, H1609 [16MR], H1644-H1646, H1662 [17MR], H2709, H2710, H2715 [28AP], H4078-H4084, H4092-H4095, H4105, H4106, H4111 [26MY], H4909, H4910 [22JN], H5148, H5166 [24JN], H5221 [27JN], H5255, H5268-H5273, H5294 [28JN], H5367, H5371, H5385, H5386, H5470 [29JN], H5482 [30JN], H5646 [12JY], H5744, H5745, H5746, H5747, H5748, H5749, H5753, H5754 [13JY], H5884, H5897-H5900 [14JY], H5919-H5923, H5948, H5949 [18JY], H5979 [19JY], H6458-H6463 [26JY], H7020, H7021, H7022 [28JY], H9956-H9959 [7NO], H10120, H10124, H10126 [9NO], H10153 [10NO], H10921-H10924 [18NO], E184 [8FE], E1493 [15JY], E1586 [22JY], E1620 [27JY], E1732, E1742 [29JY]

———health care funding (H.R. 515), H517 [9FE], H9993 [8NO], E178 [8FE]

———mental health services funding, H1432 [15MR], E1638 [27JY]

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey: anniversary of Hospice Program, E1517 [18JY]

White River Junction, VT: White River Junction VA Medical Center recipient of Dept. of Veterans Affairs Robert W. Carey Trophy Award for Organizational Excellence, E1 [4JA]

Women: prenatal care for pregnant women funding, H7962 [15SE]

———reduce preterm labor, delivery, and risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity (H.R. 2861), H10167 [15NO], E1185 [9JN]

Remarks in Senate

Afghan Medical Relief Foundation: funding, S8533, S8534 [20JY]

Albuquerque, NM: designate the Albuquerque Indian Health Center as a critical access facility and provide funds for that Center (S. 972), S4586-S4589 [28AP]

American Academy of Pediatrics: anniversary (S. Res. 204), S10150 [15SE]

Armed Forces: role in relief efforts for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, S9945-S9947 [13SE]

Ashland, KY: King's Daughters Medical Center designation as one of Solucient Top 100 Hospitals in America, S3551 [13AP]

Atlanta, GA: anniversary of St. Joseph's Hospital, S13779 [16DE]

Bankruptcy: establish a Federal homestead exemption for debtors whose financial situations were caused by serious medical problems, S1895-S1900, S1906, S1907, S1924 [2MR], S2324 [9MR]

———exempt from means testing debtors whose financial situations were caused by serious medical problems, S1895-S1900, S1907, S1913, S1923 [2MR], S2203 [8MR], S2324 [9MR]

———exempt from means testing economically distressed caregivers to ill or disabled family members, S1923, S1924, S1925 [2MR]

———nondischargeability of debts incurred as a result of abortion clinic protests, S2203-S2215 [8MR]

Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes: anniversary, S9981 [13SE]

Boston, MA: VA Boston Healthcare System Continuing Education Committee hosting of conference on preparing for acute and long-term needs of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, S877 [2FE]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: rename certain buildings in honor of Senators Harkin and Specter, S11794 [25OC]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (S. 1405), S8318 [14JY]

———reduce administrative costs, S11756 [24OC]

Charities: reform liability for certain charitable contributions (S. 1125), S5932 [25MY]

Children's Hospice International (organization): anniversary, S5843 [24MY]

Consumers: provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital services and drugs (S. 1827), S11220 [6OC]

Contraceptives: require equitable coverage of drugs, devices, and services under health insurance plans (S. 1214), S6316-S6318 [9JN]

Delaware: tribute to community health centers, S9452 [29JY]

Dept. of Defense: Defense Health Program funding for force protection work and medical care at the Vaccine Health Care Centers, S3890 [19AP]

Dept. of HHS: community health centers programs funding, S11789 [25OC]

———community health centers programs funding for areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita, S11906 [26OC]

———expand the National Practitioner Data Bank (S. 948), S4567 [28AP]

———reauthorize and extend the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention and services program (S. 1722), S10184, S10193 [19SE]

———reauthorize Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program (S. 285), S9056 [26JY]

———telehealth programs funding, S11908 [26OC], S11958 [27OC]

Dept. of Homeland Security: acquisition of an integrated mobile medical system for testing and evaluation, S8165 [13JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: commend efforts of staff in response to Hurricane Katrina, S10348 [22SE]

———commend efforts of staff in response to Hurricane Katrina (S. Res. 259), S10603 [28SE]

———commend efforts of staff in response to Hurricane Katrina (S. Res. 263), S10911 [3OC]

———commend efforts to provide long-term care to veterans, S8744 [22JY]

———ensure adequate veterans' health care funding and conduct a pilot program to improve access to health care for rural veterans (S. 963), S6400 [13JN]

———establish Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health Administration (S. 1537), S9297 [28JY]

———improve health care for veterans (S. 1182), S6161-S6163 [7JN]

———improve mental health services at all facilities (S. 1177), S6157 [7JN]

———improve the Veterans Beneficiary Travel Program (S. 996), S4939 [11MY]

———making supplemental appropriations for veterans medical care (H.R. 3130), unanimous-consent request, S7797-S7799 [30JN], S8394 [18JY]

———Readjustment Counseling Service funding, S10351, S10357 [22SE]

Depts. of Labor, HHS, and Education, and related agencies: across-the-board funding reduction, S13600-S13603, S13605, S13607 [15DE]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: provide for reimbursement of certain for-profit hospitals (S. 1393), S8237 [13JY]

Foreign aid: global gag rule issued as executive order to deny U.S. funds to overseas health clinics that use private monies to fund abortions, S14176 [20DE]

Fort Sam Houston, TX: tribute to Depts. of Veterans Affairs and Defense nurse anesthetist training program located at U.S. Army Medical Dept. Center and School, S4391 [27AP]

French, Elizabeth J.: Camp Lejeune, NC, Naval Hospital Officer of the Year award recipient, S8212 [13JY]

Frist, Senator: investigation of sale of HCA Inc., stock, S10470 [27SE]

Hawaii: improve provision of health care and services to veterans (S. 1176), S6157 [7JN]

Health: authorize a demonstration grant program to provide patient navigator services to reduce barriers and improve health care outcomes (H.R. 1812), S7200 [22JN]

———establish a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services and an advisory council made up of non-Federal representatives of the emergency medical services community (S. 611), S2646 [14MR]

———establish programs and activities to assist in mobilizing appropriate healthcare workforce in the event of a health emergency or natural disaster (S. 1638), S9844 [8SE]

———expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (S. 1225), S6407-S6409 [13JN]

———expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform abortions or make referrals regarding abortion services, S4217-S4219 [25AP], S4254 [26AP]

———expand applicability of laws preventing governmental discrimination against health care entities who refuse to perform or provide training in performing abortions (S. 1983), S12614 [9NO]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 354), S1603-S1605 [17FE]

———improve palliative and end-of-life care provided to children with life-threatening conditions (S. 174), S581-S583, S586 [26JA]

———improve patient safety and reduce incidence of medical errors (S. 544), S8713, S8714 [21JY], S8741-S8744 [22JY], S9060 [27JY]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology (S. 1227), S6410-S6413 [13JN]

———promote a culture of safety within the health care system through the establishment of a National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation Program (S. 1784), S10599 [28SE]

———promote development of health care cooperatives to help businesses pool the health care purchasing power of employers (S. 820), S3749 [15AP]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (S. 1012), S5075 [12MY]

———provide programs for stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation (S. 1064), S5441 [18MY]

———provide State grants for developing trauma care systems (S. 265), S894 [2FE]

———reduce health care costs, expand access to affordable coverage, improve health care, and strengthen the health care safety net (S. 1503), S8963 [26JY]

———reduce health care disparities and improve health care quality of minorities by improving data collection, providing performance incentives, and expanding programs seeking to eliminate health disparities, S12322 [3NO]

———restore reliability to the medical justice system by fostering alternatives to medical tort litigation (S. 1337), S7635-S7639 [29JN]

Health care professionals: clarify responsibilities of a pharmacy when a staff pharmacist refuses to fill a valid prescription for a drug on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions (S. 809), S3685 [14AP]

———provide for education and training of allied health professionals in exchange for a service commitment at a facility with critical shortages of allied health professionals (S. 473), S1805 [28FE]

Health Workforce Advisory Commission: establish (S. 831), S3823 [18AP]

Hospitals: provide emergency contraceptives and post-exposure prophylaxis to women who are survivors of sexual assault (S. 1264), S6759 [16JN]

Hurricanes: provide emergency health care relief for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, S12106-S12114 [1NO], S12301 [3NO]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: revise and extend (S. 1057), S5329, S5365 [17MY], S14177 [20DE]

Insurance: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (S. 910), S4263 [26AP]

———medical malpractice insurance reform, S3813 [18AP]

Las Vegas, NV: tribute to efforts of Nathan Adelson Hospice to expand care to underserved minority communities, S733 [1FE]

Lincoln County, WV: anniversary of Lincoln Primary Care Center, S7816 [30JN]

Louisville, KY: tribute to participation by WAMZ-Radio and Mother's Cookie Co., in softball game benefiting St. Jude Children's Hospital, S9726 [7SE]

Massachusetts General Hospital: tribute, S8661 [21JY]

Medicaid: anniversary (S. Con. Res. 49), S9542-S9544 [29JY]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 66), S245 [24JA]

———ensure that rural remote pharmacies receive reimbursements for enrollees' prescriptions, S12325 [3NO]

———exclude discounts provided to mail order and nursing facility pharmacies from the determination of average manufacturer price, S12318 [3NO]

———exclude prompt-pay discounts from pharmacy reimbursement methodology, S12327 [3NO]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (S. 1592), S9511 [29JY]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (S. 401), S1535-S1540 [16FE]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (S. Con. Res. 65), S13185 [17NO]

Medicare: amend bad debt collection policy, S12327 [3NO], S12443 [7NO]

———anniversary, S9425 [29JY]

———anniversary (S. Con. Res. 50), S9544-S9547 [29JY]

———clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonhospital setting (S. 2071), S13377 [18NO]

———clarify payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by critical access hospitals (S. 236), S744 [1FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 345), S1272, S1273 [10FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 873), S4137 [21AP], S4157 [22AP], S10525 [27SE]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at federally qualified health centers (S. 1593), S9514 [29JY]

———ensure that savings from reducing overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans is reserved for deficit reduction and to strengthen the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, S2937 [17MR]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries, S3121 [4AP]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (S. 1001), S4941 [11MY]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (S. 933), S4549 [28AP]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers (S. 411), S1555 [16FE]

———make improvements in payments to hospitals (S. 1002), S4946-S4950 [11MY]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (S. 1148), S6042 [26MY]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 351), S1279 [10FE]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 71), S247 [24JA]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 71), star print, S1218 [9FE]

———provide incentives for provision of high quality care (S. 1356), S7848-S7850 [30JN], S9108 [27JY]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (S. 1297), S7301 [23JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage, S16 [4JA]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 70), S246 [24JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: assist pharmacies in facilitating enrollment of dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (S. 2173), S14334 [21DE]

———ensure that pharmacies receiving reimbursements fill all valid prescriptions without unnecessary delay or interference (S. 778), S3564 [13AP]

National Academies of Practice: grant Federal charter (S. 87), S256 [24JA]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (S. 1405), S8318 [14JY]

National Health Center Week: designate (S. Res. 31), S824 [1FE], S8500 [19JY], S9452 [29JY]

National Time Out Day: support goals and ideas (S. Res. 40), S1062 [7FE], S7199 [22JN]

NIH: funding, S2762-S2768, S2808 [16MR], S13290, S13291 [18NO], S13603, S13604 [15DE], S14285, S14288 [21DE]

NOAA: National Waterborne Disease Recognition and Disaster Preparedness Program funding, S10075 [15SE]

North Dakota: tribute to health care professionals, S9153 [27JY]

Northwest Research and Education Institute: tribute, S14053 [19DE]

Oncology Nursing Society: anniversary, S4104 [21AP], S4255 [26AP]

Plummer, ID: Benewah Medical Center and Coeur d'Alene Tribal Wellness Center recipient of Johnson & Johnson Community Health Care Leadership Award, S4541 [28AP]

Public Health Service Act: increase affordability of inpatient drugs for Medicaid and safety net hospitals (S. 1840), S11230 [6OC]

Reach Out and Read (organization): tribute, S5918 [25MY]

Royal Oak, MI: anniversary of William Beaumont Hospital, S141 [24JA]

Rural areas: education, health access, and health outreach programs funding, S2831, S2832 [16MR]

———provide grants for rural health information technology development activities (S. 1952), S12240 [2NO]

Social Security: advertising campaign designed to build public support for privatization proposals, S547 [26JA]

Veterans: ensure that future health care funding accounts for inflation and population changes, S8801 [25JY]

———health care funding, S1223 [10FE], S1588 [17FE], S3451-S3468 [12AP], S4500 [28AP], S4826 [10MY], S7420 [27JN], S7486, S7489-S7491, S7498-S7500, S7509 [28JN], S7545-S7547, S7550, S7568-S7582, S7587 [29JN], S7678, S7807, S7871 [30JN], S7897 [1JY], S7946, S7966, S7979 [11JY], S8106-S8110 [12JY], S8207 [13JY], S8394 [18JY], S8902, S8918 [26JY], S9332-S9334, S9367, S9370-S9372 [29JY], S10346, S10347, S10349 [22SE], S11100, S11117 [5OC], S11914 [26OC], S12635, S12636 [10NO], S12941 [16NO], S14294 [21DE]

———improve treatment provided to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (S. 1448), S8678-S8680 [21JY]

———provide for the care of veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina (S. 1646), S9849 [8SE]

Women: reduce preterm labor, delivery, and risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity (S. 707), S3212-S3214 [5AP], S12739 [14NO]

Reports filed

Children's Hospitals Educational Equity and Research (CHEER) Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 285) (S. Rept. 109-66), S4936 [11MY]

Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1812) (H. Rept. 109-104), H4185 [7JN]

———Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 898) (S. Rept. 109-73), S5920 [25MY]

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3205) (H. Rept. 109-197), H6932 [27JY]

Veterans Health Care Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Senate) (S. 1182) (S. Rept. 109-177), S12681 [10NO]

Statements

Expand Applicability of Laws Preventing Governmental Discrimination Against Health Care Entities Who Refuse To Perform or Provide Training in Performing Abortions: Senator Boxer, S4221-S4223 [25AP]

Improving Quality of Care—How the VA Outpaces Other Systems in Delivering Patient Care: RAND Corp., S1588 [17FE]

NIH and Dept. of Education Funding: Senator Specter, S2764 [16MR]

Studies

Illness and Injury as Contributors to Bankruptcy: David U. Himmelstein, Elizabeth Warren, Deborah Thorne, and Steffie Woolhandler, H2056-H2058 [14AP]

Summaries

Dept. of Defense Support for Hurricane Katrina Relief, S9946 [13SE]

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (S. 544), S8741 [22JY]

Tables

Senator Santorum voting record on veterans health care funding: Democratic Policy Committee, S7571-S7573 [29JN]

Texts of

H. Res. 220, tribute to America's Blood Centers (organization), H9055 [25OC]

H. Res. 289, support goals and ideals of National Health Center Week, H6390 [25JY]

H.R. 1691, John H. Bradley Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Appleton, WI, H9488 [2NO]

H.R. 1812, Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act, H4358 [13JN]

H.R. 3130, Dept. of Veterans Affairs supplemental appropriations for veterans medical care, H5585 [30JN]

H.R. 4500, rename certain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention buildings in honor of Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa, H11459 [13DE]

S. 4, Healthy America Act, S9160-S9182 [27JY]

S. 66, Nursing School Clinics Act, S245 [24JA]

S. 70, Autonomy for Psychologists and Social Workers Act, S247 [24JA]

S. 71, Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, S247 [24JA]

S. 87, National Academies of Practice Recognition Act, S256 [24JA]

S. 174, Children's Compassionate Care Act, S583-S586 [26JA]

S. 265, Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act, S894 [2FE]

S. 285, Children's Hospitals Educational Equity and Research (CHEER) Act, S9056 [26JY]

S. 345, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S1273 [10FE]

S. 401, Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act, S1536-S1539 [16FE]

S. 411, MediFair Act, S1556 [16FE]

S. 473, Allied Health Reinvestment Act, S1807-S1810 [28FE]

S. 544, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act, H6673-H6676 [27JY]

S. 707, Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers Who Deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Act, S3212 [5AP]

S. 809, Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act, S3685 [14AP]

S. 820, Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperative Act, S3750 [15AP]

S. 831, Health Workforce Advisory Commission Act, S3824 [18AP]

S. 873, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S4114 [21AP]

S. 898, Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act, S4191 [25AP]

S. 948, Safe Health Care Reporting Act, S4567 [28AP]

S. 972, Albuquerque Indian Health Center Act, S4589 [28AP]

S. 1001, Medicare Hospice Demonstration Act, S4944-S4946 [11MY]

S. 1012, Patients' Bill of Rights Act, S5075-S5099 [12MY]

S. 1057, Indian Health Care Improvement Act revision and extension, S5329-S5365 [17MY]

S. 1148, Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act, S6043 [26MY]

S. 1176, Neighbor Islands Veterans Health Care Improvements Act, S6227 [8JN]

S. 1177, Veterans Mental Health Care Capacity Enhancement Act, S6158 [7JN]

S. 1182, Veterans Health Care Act, S6163-S6165 [7JN]

S. 1227, Health Information Technology Act, S6414-S6417 [13JN]

S. 1264, Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act, S6760 [16JN]

S. 1297, Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act, S7301 [23JN]

S. 1337, Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act, S7637 [29JN]

S. 1405, Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act, S8319 [14JY]

S. 1448, Post-Traumatic Stress Order Treatment Improvement Act, S8680 [21JY]

S. 1503, Healthy America Act, S8964-S8986 [26JY]

S. 1537, establish Parkinson's Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers and Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence in the Veterans Health Administration, S9298 [28JY]

S. 1646, provide for the care of veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina, S9849 [8SE]

S. 1722, Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act, S10189-S10193 [19SE]

S. 1827, Hospital Price Reporting and Disclosure Act, S11220 [6OC]

S. 1952, Critical Access to Health Information Technology Act, S12241 [2NO]

S. 1983, Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, S12615 [9NO]

S. 2071, Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act, S13377 [18NO]

S. Con. Res. 49, Medicaid anniversary, S9541 [29JY]

S. Con. Res. 50, Medicare anniversary, S9544 [29JY]

S. Con. Res. 65, recognize importance of Medicaid prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers, S13184 [17NO]

S. Res. 31, National Health Center Week, S823 [1FE], S8500 [19JY]

S. Res. 40, support goals and ideals of National Time Out Day, S7199 [22JN]

S. Res. 40, support goals and ideas of National Time Out Day, S1062 [7FE]

S. Res. 124, increase awareness of autism spectrum disorder, support programs for research and improved treatment, and improve training for health care professionals, S4264 [26AP]

S. Res. 204, American Academy of Pediatrics anniversary, S8683 [21JY], S10150 [15SE]

S. Res. 259, commend efforts of Dept. of Veterans Affairs staff in response to Hurricane Katrina, S10603 [28SE]

S. Res. 263, commend efforts of Dept. of Veterans Affairs staff in response to Hurricane Katrina, S10827, S10911 [3OC]

S. Res. 331, address fertility issues facing cancer survivors, S13591 [14DE]