HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Amendments

Health: enhance adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care (S. 1418), S13247, S13261 [17NO]

———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 (H.R. 5), H6986 [28JY]

———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 (H.R. 5), consideration (H. Res. 385), H6869 [27JY]

National security: provide faster and smarter funding for first responders (H.R. 1544), H3223, H3228, H3229, H3230, H3231, H3234, H3263 [12MY]

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]

Bush Should Feel Doctors' Pain, E692 [19AP]

Federal Judge Throws Out Thousands of Silica Diagnoses, S8321 [14JY]

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

Little Bit Louder, Please, S8295 [14JY]

Passion for Excellence; U of L Doctor Leaves Enduring Mark Training Surgeons, S1865 [1MR]

Penalizing Veterans, S1224 [10FE]

Rx for Medicare, S4640 [9MY]

Rx—Radical Lawyerectomy, H6863 [27JY]

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

Silicosis Sheriff, S8320 [14JY]

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]

VA Straining To Treat Post-Traumatic Stress, E1638 [27JY]

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

Bills and resolutions

Abortion: require parental notification and intervention for minors seeking an abortion (see H.R. 2971), H4721 [17JN]

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

Animals: establish a competitive grant program to build capacity in veterinary medical education and expand the workforce of veterinarians engaged in public health practice and biomedical research (see S. 914), S4397 [27AP] (see H.R. 2206), H3060 [9MY]

Armed Forces: commend medical personnel for care of combat casualties (see H. Con. Res. 309), H11035 [18NO]

———establish a combat badge for helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews (see S. 612), S2644 [14MR] (see H.R. 1308), H1507 [15MR]

———standardize grade specified by law for the senior dental officer of the Air Force with that of the senior dental officer of the Army (see H.R. 1932), H2647 [27AP]

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 a grant program to provide comprehensive eye examinations (see H.R. 2238), H3113 [10MY]

———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]

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

Courts: allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals (see S. 88), S144 [24JA]

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

Crime: expand protections against the misuse of public safety officer uniforms (see H.R. 3604), H7560 [28JY]

Death and dying: support rights of individuals to make medical decisions and encourage all Americans to write living wills designating health care surrogates and other advance directives (see H. Res. 217), H2102 [14AP]

DeBakey, Michael E.: award Congressional Gold Medal (see S. 641), S2846 [16MR] (see H.R. 1375), H1691 [17MR]

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 Education: create a pilot program to increase the number of graduate educated nurse faculty to meet the future need for qualified nurses (see H.R. 3173), H5601 [30JN]

———revise regulations for student loan deferments with respect to borrowers who are medical or dental residents (see H.R. 2519), H3767 [23MY]

———revise regulations for student loan payment deferment for borrowers who are in postgraduate medical or dental internship, residency, or fellowship programs (see S. 1246), S6481 [14JN]

Dept. of HHS: establish a health information technology grant program (see H.R. 2234), H3112 [10MY]

———establish a Nurse Faculty Education Program to increase the number of doctorally-prepared nurse faculty (see S. 1575), S9467 [29JY]

———establish Office of Health Care Competition to administer National Practitioner Data Bank and to collect and make public more information on medical malpractice insurance (see H.R. 2399), H3434 [17MY]

———establish programs to address the shortage of medical laboratory personnel (see H.R. 1175), H1024 [8MR]

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

———provide grants to establish summer health career introductory programs for middle and high school students (see S. 823), S3817 [18AP]

———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 Homeland Security: develop and implement the Responsive Emergency Alert and Dissemination of Information Call (READICall) System (see H.R. 2101), H2977 [4MY]

———establish position of Chief Medical Officer (see H.R. 4632), H12167 [17DE]

———make grants to first responders (see H.R. 91), H135 [6JA]

———provide guidance and training to State and local governments relative to sensitive homeland security information (see S. 888), S4108 [21AP]

———reimburse State, local, and Indian tribal governments for certain costs relating to the mobilization of Reserves who are first responder personnel of such governments or tribes (see H.R. 154), H135 [6JA]

———tribute to employees, partners at all levels of government, and law enforcement agents and emergency response providers for service in the war against terrorism (see H. Res. 398), H7561 [28JY]

Dept. of HUD: establish pilot programs to assist teachers and public safety officers purchasing homes in their jurisdictions or locally-designated at-risk areas, H7558 [28JY]

———make single family housing owned by the Dept., available for purchase by teachers and public safety officers at a discount (see H.R. 4273), H10144 [9NO]

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

———dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners (see H.R. 693), H521 [9FE] (see H.R. 1585), H1895 [12AP]

———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]

———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]

———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]

———recalculate retirement annuities for certain health care professionals performing part-time services (see H.R. 4298), H10156 [10NO]

———require filling of prescriptions for drugs and medicines written by private physicians (see H.R. 2379), H3331 [16MY]

Disasters: authorize a program for the protection of the health and safety of residents, workers, volunteers, and others in a disaster area (see S. 1741), S10294 [21SE] (see H.R. 3850), H8247 [21SE]

———improve and encourage greater public participation in community disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation plans (see H.R. 3565), H7559 [28JY]

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

———enhance public and health professional awareness and understanding of lupus and strengthen research efforts to identify the causes and cure of lupus (see S. 756), S3413 [11AP] (see H.R. 3307), H5913 [14JY]

———fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention (see S. 602), S2482 [10MR] (see H.R. 1262), H1370 [10MR]

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

Drugs: educate concerning substance use disorders and addiction (see S. 538), S2148 [7MR] (see H.R. 1789), H2471 [21AP]

———establish an electronic controlled substances monitoring program in each State (see S. 518), S2004 [3MR]

———establish electronic systems in each State for practitioner monitoring of the dispensing of certain controlled substances (see H.R. 1132), H983 [3MR]

———lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices (see S. 45), S143 [24JA] (see H.R. 869), H718 [16FE]

———provide discounts to Medicaid and other Federal programs for the advertising costs of certain prescription drugs and ensure that these drugs are prescribed based on health needs rather than marketing (see S. 1128), S6021 [26MY]

Education: establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas (see S. 92), S144 [24JA]

———expand loan forgiveness and loan cancellation programs for teachers and nurses (see H.R. 1522), H1845 [6AP]

———increase amount of loans repayable for Selected Reserve officers who possess qualifications, or are being trained, in health professions needed to meet wartime combat medical skill shortages (see H.R. 3417), H6431 [25JY]

———make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs (see S. 89), S144 [24JA]

———make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program (see S. 91), S144 [24JA]

———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]

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

Emergency medical personnel: tribute to career and volunteer emergency medical technicians and paramedics (see H. Res. 301), H4142 [26MY]

Employment: establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals (see S. 444), S1623 [17FE]

———protect volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel responding to national emergencies from termination or demotion in their places of employment (see H.R. 3949), H8642 [29SE]

ERISA: exempt from preemption, under State tort actions to recover damages, any employee welfare benefit plan providing disability benefits that fails to provide timely benefits (see H.R. 3789), H8087 [15SE]

Family and Medical Leave Act: include nurse practitioners and domestic partners within the scope of coverage, and extend the period of family or medical leave for spouses employed by the same employer (see H.R. 279), H137 [6JA]

FDA: ensure autonomy and eliminate conflicts-of-interest relative to drug company fees and advisory panels, improve postmarket drug safety, regulate off-label uses, and clarify liability for approved drugs (see H.R. 2090), H2976 [4MY]

———withdraw approved application for the drug known as RU-486 and review process by which the FDA approved such drug (see S. 511), S2004 [3MR] (see H.R. 1079), H981 [3MR]

Federal aid programs: authorize capitation grants to increase the number of nursing faculty and students (see H.R. 3569), H7559 [28JY]

———establish a scholarship and loan repayment program for public health preparedness workforce development to eliminate critical public health preparedness workforce shortages (see S. 504, 506), S2003 [3MR]

Federal employees: authorize the use of clinical social workers to conduct evaluations to determine work-related emotional and mental illnesses (see S. 127), S145 [24JA] (see H.R. 234), H79 [4JA]

———increase amount of additional compensation payable to an employee who is disabled and requires the services of an attendant (see H.R. 4201), H9555 [2NO]

Federal Employees' Compensation Act: cover services provided to injured workers by physician assistants and nurse practitioners (see S. 1149), S6021 [26MY] (see H.R. 2561), H3892 [24MY]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 818), H629 [15FE]

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

FEMA: designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue System (see S. 446), S1623 [17FE]

Freedom of Information Act: exempt certain photographic images of deceased persons taken by or for medical examiners (see H.R. 1513), H1845 [6AP]

Global Health Corps: establish (see S. 850), S3897 [19AP]

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]

———combat obesity (see H. Con. Res. 204), H5637 [11JY]

———enhance adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care (see S. 1418), S8419 [18JY] (see H.R. 4642), H12289 [18DE]

———ensure the continued commercial availability of respirators and establish rules governing product liability actions against manufacturers and sellers of respirators (see S. 1406), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 2357), H3261 [12MY]

———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 grants to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and prevent obesity and eating disorders (see S. 1325), S7520 [28JN]

———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]

———establish programs for patients with fatal chronic illnesses (see H.R. 4249), H10038 [8NO]

———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 emergency medical services through medical liability reform and additional Medicare payments (see H.R. 3875), H8341 [22SE]

———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] (see H.R. 5), H6326 [21JY] (see H.R. 534), H349 [2FE]

———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 (H.R. 5), consideration (see H. Res. 385), H6649 [26JY]

———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]

———improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery through improvements in health care information technology (see S. 1223), S6299 [9JN]

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

———permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests (see H.R. 2792), H4295 [8JN]

———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 for expansion of Federal programs to prevent and manage vision loss (see H.R. 2671), H4139 [26MY]

———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 costs and improve efficiency and health care quality through the development of a nationwide interoperable health information system (see S. 1262), S6740 [16JN]

———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]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (see H. Res. 194), H1846 [6AP]

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

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

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

Housing: assist teachers and public safety officers in obtaining affordable housing (see H.R. 4278), H10145 [9NO]

Hurricanes: dedicate a percentage of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief funds for mental health services for victims and first responders (see H.R. 3708), H7813 [8SE]

———improve reporting relative to safety of workers in response and recovery activities related to Hurricane Katrina (see S. 1771), S10424 [26SE]

Immigration: admission requirements for certain nonimmigrant nurses (see H.R. 248), H136 [6JA]

———authorize Federal payment to emergency ambulance and medical services providers for the cost of uncompensated care of aliens aided by the border patrol or other Federal immigration official (see H.R. 2934), H4654 [16JN]

———remove limitation for nonimmigrant classification for nurses in health professional shortage areas (see H.R. 1285), H1416 [14MR]

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

Institute of Medicine: identify constraints encountered by nursing schools in admitting and graduating a sufficient number of nurses to meet health care needs (see H.R. 2184), H3054 [5MY]

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

———require group and individual health plans to provide coverage for second opinions (see H.R. 2936), H4654 [16JN]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral (see H.R. 2937), H4654 [16JN]

Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office, Covina, CA: designate (see H.R. 4053), H8809 [7OC]

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

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]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (see S. 1515), S9158 [27JY] (see H.R. 2716), H4141 [26MY]

———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (see S. 440), S1623 [17FE] (see H.R. 699), H521 [9FE]

———provide funding to States to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities (see H.R. 1264), H1371 [10MR]

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

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

———require staff working with developmentally disabled individuals to call emergency services in the event of a life-threatening situation (see H.R. 1649), H2101 [14AP]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see S. 647), S2994 [17MR] (see H.R. 1333), H1620 [16MR]

———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 right of beneficiaries to enter into private contracts with physicians and other health care professionals for services not payable under Medicare (see H.R. 709), H522 [9FE]

———coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 818), H629 [15FE]

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

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (see S. 604), S2517 [11MR] (see H.R. 1582), H1895 [12AP]

———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]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (see S. 1152), S6021 [26MY] (see H.R. 1125), H983 [3MR]

———establish a floor for physician payment rates (see H.R. 4078), H8985 [19OC]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (see S. 927), S4398 [27AP] (see H.R. 1946), H2647 [27AP]

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

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

———improve access to diabetes self-management training by designated certified diabetes educators (see S. 626), S2734 [15MR] (see H.R. 3612), H7561 [28JY]

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

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

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

———make improvements to payments to ambulance providers in rural areas (see S. 1108), S5851 [24MY] (see H.R. 2525), H3768 [23MY]

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

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (see S. 2080), S13451 [12DE]

———protect enrollees eligible for prescription drug benefit coverage from abusive marketing practices (see H.R. 4645), H12289 [18DE]

———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 a minimum update for physicians' services (see S. 1081), S5531 [19MY] (see S. 1574), S9467 [29JY]

———provide access to audiologists (see S. 277, 277), S978 [3FE] (see H.R. 415, 415), H234 [26JA]

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

———provide beneficiaries access to information on the quality of care provided by skilled nursing facilities and provide incentives for such facilities to improve the quality of care (see S. 708), S3200 [5AP]

———provide eligibility for coverage of home health services on the basis of a need for occupational therapy (see H.R. 3022), H4984 [22JN]

———provide exception to reduction in unused medical residency positions for small family practice residency programs (see H.R. 4039), H8808 [7OC]

———provide for value-based purchasing in payment for physicians' services (see H.R. 3617), H7611 [29JY]

———provide geographic equity in fee-for-service reimbursement for providers (see H.R. 1627), H1969 [13AP]

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

———provide incentives to physicians for writing electronic prescriptions (see S. 1910), S11768 [24OC]

———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]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (see H.R. 2356), H3261 [12MY]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see S. 911), S4397 [27AP] (see H.R. 872), H719 [16FE]

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

———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]

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (see S. 300), S1049 [7FE] (see H.R. 11), H71 [4JA]

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

———provide coverage for end-of-life planning consultations and raise awareness about and assist in preparation of advance directives on end-of-life decisionmaking (see S. 347), S1260 [10FE] (see S. 570), S2383 [9MR] (see H.R. 2058), H2879 [3MY]

———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]

———extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits (see H.R. 4579), H12047 [16DE]

———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]

———increase number of well-trained mental health service professionals providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents (see S. 537), S2148 [7MR] (see H.R. 1106), H982 [3MR]

———raise awareness about the importance of social worker and case worker safety (see H. Con. Res. 278), H9275 [26OC]

Morality and ethics: 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]

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 Corps Loan Repayment Program: count fellowship training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry as obligated service (see H.R. 3046), H5100 [23JN]

National Nurse Practitioners Week: honor goals and ideals (see H. Con. Res. 290), H9695 [4NO]

National Nurses Week: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 245), H2648 [27AP]

National security: establish a first responder interoperable communications grant program (see S. 1645), S9833 [8SE] (see S. 1762), S10378 [22SE]

———provide faster and smarter funding for first responders (see H.R. 1544), H1893 [12AP]

———provide faster and smarter funding for first responders (H.R. 1544), consideration (see H. Res. 269), H3112 [10MY]

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

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week: designate (see S. Res. 130), S4547 [28AP]

Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act: extend changes to requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas (see S. 1550), S9285 [28JY]

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

Public Health Service Act: provide liability protections for employees and contractors of health centers who provide services in emergency areas (see H.R. 3962), H8643 [29SE]

———provide liability protections for volunteer practitioners at health centers (see S. 1058), S5301 [17MY] (see S. 1344), S7820 [30JN] (see H.R. 1313), H1508 [15MR]

———provide protections for first responders (see S. 1437), S8559 [20JY]

Public safety officers: provide benefits to those who die or become disabled as a result of certain injuries (see H.R. 1147), H1023 [8MR]

———provide collective bargaining rights for State or local government employees (see S. 513), S2004 [3MR] (see H.R. 1249), H1370 [10MR]

Rural areas: establish demonstration programs to address shortages (see H.R. 1654), H2101 [14AP]

———provide practitioners with training in preventive health care (see S. 67), S143 [24JA]

Safety: encourage cell phones and other devices to show personal emergency contacts under the acronym ICE (In Case of Emergency) so emergency personnel can contact family and friends (see H. Con. Res. 236), H7742 [7SE]

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

———provide mental health screening and treatment services, integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams (see S. 1116), S5921 [25MY] (see H.R. 2629), H4072 [25MY]

Taxation: allow a business credit for qualified expenditures for medical professional malpractice insurance (see H.R. 2291), H3197 [11MY]

———allow a nonrefundable credit for elder care expenses (see S. 835), S3817 [18AP]

———allow credit for cost of insurance against negative outcomes from surgery and malpractice of a physician (see H.R. 3076), H5252 [27JN]

———exclude benefits from income, employment taxes, and wage withholding property tax rebates, provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders (see S. 1906), S11744 [21OC] (see H.R. 1405), H1692 [17MR]

———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]

———make the additional tax on early distributions from certain pension plans inapplicable for public safety employees (see H.R. 448), H283 [1FE]

———permit tax-free distribution from governmental retirement plans for payment of health and long-term care insurance premiums for public safety officers (see H.R. 2177), H3054 [5MY]

———provide a credit to physicians who provide charity care (see H.R. 3614), H7561 [28JY]

———provide a credit to physicians who serve a substantial number of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 3299), H5913 [14JY]

———provide a credit to primary health providers who establish practices in health professional shortage areas (see S. 824), S3817 [18AP]

———provide a refundable tax credit to public safety volunteers (see S. 625), S2734 [15MR] (see H.R. 385), H233 [26JA] (see H.R. 934), H793 [17FE]

———provide a tax credit for police officers and professional firefighters and exclude from income certain benefits received by public safety volunteers (see H.R. 2822), H4296 [8JN]

Telecommunications: develop and implement an emergency backup communications system (see S. 1703), S10037 [14SE]

———ensure availability of certain spectrum for public safety entities by establishing a certain date by which the transition to digital television shall be completed (see S. 1237), S6481 [14JN] (see S. 1268), S6825 [20JN]

———promote and enhance public safety and encourage rapid deployment of IP-enabled voice services for emergency response networks (see S. 1063), S5437 [18MY] (see H.R. 2418), H3554 [18MY]

———strengthen Federal leadership, provide grants, enhance outreach and guidance, and provide other support to State and local officials to enhance emergency communications capabilities (see S. 1725), S10187 [19SE]

Terrorism: establish a realistic, threat-based allocation of grant funds for first responders (see H.R. 228), H136 [6JA]

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

Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act: change manner of allocation of first responder grant funds (see H.R. 1093), H982 [3MR]

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

———permit eligible veterans to receive direct access to chiropractic care (see H.R. 917), H793 [17FE]

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

Women: establish programs to increase awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers (see S. 1172), S6100 [6JN] (see H.R. 1245), H1369 [10MR]

———reduce health care costs and promote improved health by providing supplemental grants for preventive health services (see H.R. 3086), H5361 [28JN]

———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]

———repeal law that gags doctors and denies women information and referrals concerning their reproductive health options (see S. 839), S3897 [19AP]

Declarations

Condition of Terri Schiavo: William M. Hammesfahr, H1711 [20MR]

———William Maxfield, H1711 [20MR]

Descriptions

New York, NY, Fire Dept.-Mount Sinai Hospital Partnership, S11956 [27OC]

World Trade Center Health Registry, S11957 [27OC]

Letters

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]

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

Disapproval of EPA rule to delist coal and oil-direct utility units from the source category list under the Clean Air Act relative to mercury emissions: several health organizations, S9955 [13SE]

Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act: Representative Barton, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), H3212 [12MY]

———Representative Boehlert, Committee on Science (House), H3212 [12MY]

———Representative Cox, Committee on Homeland Security (House), H3212, H3213 [12MY]

———Representative Don Young, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H3212 [12MY]

———Representative Sensenbrenner, Committee on the Judiciary (House), H3213 [12MY]

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]

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: Joan Claybrook and Frank Clemente, Public Citizen (organization), H6979 [28JY]

———Michael Balboni, National Conference of State Legislatures, H6978 [28JY]

———Miles J. Zaremski, ABA, H6979 [28JY]

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 Mental Health Copayment Equity Act: James H. Scully, Jr., American Psychiatric Association, S6051 [26MY]

———Mental Health Liaison Group, S6052 [26MY]

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

Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act: George Thomas, American Osteopathic Association, S5539 [19MY]

———Michael D. Maves, American Medical Association, S5538 [19MY]

Prosecution of physicians for prescribing certain controlled substances for pain relief or management: National Association of Attorneys General, E691 [19AP]

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

Restore certain funding for New York emergency services and rescue and recovery personnel relative to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: George E. Pataki, Governor of New York, S11956 [27OC]

———several New York, NY, officials, S11956 [27OC]

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

Council on Foreign Relations task force on preparedness and first responders members, S8163 [13JY]

Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act letters of support, H6868 [27JY]

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

Weather Channel Interactive, Inc., ``Heroes of the Storm'' honorees, S3138 [4AP]

Memorandums

Digital Television Transition Date: Several First Responders Organizations, S12198 [2NO]

Motions

Health: 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 (H.R. 5), H7007 [28JY]

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]

Proclamations

Tribute to Ahmad Kalla: Representative Ney, E1894 [20SE]

Remarks in House

Africa: develop plan to protect blood supply from infectious diseases, H5286 [28JN]

Aguillon, Mariela: PacifiCare Foundation Latino Health Scholarship recipient, E2165 [25OC]

AMA: removal of Texas from list of States in medical liability crisis, H3268 [16MY]

American Dental Association: observance of Give Kids a Smile! National Children's Dental Access Day, E237 [15FE]

Armed Forces: establish a combat badge for helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews, H3921 [25MY]

———establish a combat badge for helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews (H.R. 1308), H2749 [3MY]

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]

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina: tribute, E1987 [29SE]

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]

Burn Awareness Week: observance, E297 [18FE]

CareFlite (organization): anniversary, E1719 [29JY]

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

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]

Chester County, PA: tribute to Uwchlan Ambulance Corps, E749 [22AP]

Children and youth: establish a grant program to provide comprehensive eye examinations (H.R. 2238), E936 [11MY]

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

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

Coatesville, PA: Westwood Fire Co., Emergency Medical Services recipient of Pennsylvania State Ambulance Service of the Year Award, E1797 [8SE]

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]

Courts: guarantee incapacitated individuals explicit due process rights of hapeas corpus when a court orders their death by removal of nutrition, hydration, and medical treatment, H972 [3MR]

Crime: exempt taxi and bus drivers and certain health care professionals from prohibition on taking minors across State lines to avoid State laws requiring parental notification of abortions, H2607-H2609 [27AP]

———expand protections against the misuse of public safety officer badges and uniforms, H8430 [28SE]

Crowder, Ron: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1224 [14JN]

Curry, Ulysses S.: West Fresno Health Care Coalition Community Health Champion Award recipient, E2397 [18NO]

Daffron, Jeanne: St. Joseph, MO, YWCA Women of Excellence Award for Women in the Workplace recipient, E1241 [15JN]

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

Death and dying: encourage all Americans to write living wills designating health care surrogates and other advance directives, H10113 [9NO]

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

———establish a health information technology grant program (H.R. 2234), H3265 [16MY], H9643 [4NO], E930 [11MY]

———Healthy Communities Access Program funding, H5049, H5062, H5063 [23JN]

———Office of Women's Health programs funding to increase awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers, H5034, H5061, H5062 [23JN]

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

Dept. of Homeland Security: make grants to the National Medical Preparedness Consortium to standardize training, health care policies, and standards of care to prepare for mass casualties from a terrorist event, H3481, H3482 [18MY]

Dept. of Justice: prohibit funding to prevent implementation of State laws relative to the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, H4519-H4524 [15JN], E1312 [22JN]

Dept. of State: make available unused EB-3 visas to help bring nurses into the U.S., H3119, H3120 [11MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: conduct demonstration project to improve Veterans Health Administration business practices, H5754 [13JY]

Disasters: authorize a program for the protection of the health and safety of residents, workers, volunteers, and others in a disaster area (H.R. 3850), E1912 [21SE]

Diseases: fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention (H.R. 1262), E416 [10MR]

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: establish electronic systems in each State for practitioner monitoring of the dispensing of certain controlled substances (H.R. 1132), H6681-H6686 [27JY], E691 [19AP], E1811 [8SE], E1989 [29SE]

———lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices (S. 45), H6679-H6681 [27JY]

———prohibit prosecution of physicians for prescribing certain controlled substances for pain relief or management, E691 [19AP]

Education: 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]

———workforce development and education funding, H5158, H5161, H5162 [24JN]

Edwards, CO: tribute to Freedom Park Memorial, E668 [15AP]

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]

FDA: ensure autonomy and eliminate conflicts-of-interest relative to drug company fees and advisory panels, H4245-H4247 [8JN]

———withdraw approved application for the drug known as RU-486 and review process by which the FDA approved such drug, H6209 [21JY]

———withdraw approved application for the drug known as RU-486 and review process by which the FDA approved such drug (H.R. 1079), H1332 [10MR], E357 [3MR]

First Responder Grants Board: add Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator to board, H3228, H3229 [12MY]

———coordinate with State, local, and tribal governments in establishing criteria for prioritizing applications for grants, H3229, H3230 [12MY]

FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Inc.: tribute to Active for Life program, E1418 [1JY]

Forest Hill, TX: tribute to Forest Hill Fire-Rescue station, E1374 [28JN]

Genesee County, MI: tribute to Genesee County Medical Society, E2235 [1NO]

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

Georgia: tribute to citizens and organizations for efforts to provide relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H8107 [20SE]

Government regulations: uphold State licensing standards for persons practicing dentistry in the U.S., E2044 [6OC]

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]

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]

———combat obesity, H5806 [14JY]

———effects of smoking during pregnancy, H8251 [22SE]

———ensure the continued commercial availability of respirators and establish rules governing product liability actions against manufacturers and sellers of respirators (H.R. 2357), H8953 [19OC]

———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 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, H1218-H1224 [9MR], H2541-H2547 [26AP]

———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 (H.R. 5), H6383 [25JY], H6438, H6439 [26JY], H6654, H6655, H6656 [27JY], H6974-H7013 [28JY], H8714-H8720 [6OC], E1640 [27JY], E1721, E1722 [29JY]

———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 (H.R. 5), consideration (H. Res. 385), H6860-H6869 [27JY]

———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 (H.R. 5), motion to recommit, H7010 [28JY]

———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 (H.R. 5), unanimous-consent request, H6984, H6986 [28JY]

———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]

———integrate medical and mental health services to coordinate more effective diagnosis and treatment, H2399 [21AP], H9943-H9945 [7NO]

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

———provide for expansion of Federal programs to prevent and manage vision loss (H.R. 2671), E1113 [26MY]

———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]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (H. Res. 194), E584 [7AP]

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

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

Holyoke Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.: anniversary, E2162 [25OC]

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

Hurricanes: dedicate a percentage of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief funds for mental health services for victims and first responders (H.R. 3708), H7823 [13SE]

———tribute to emergency personnel assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina, E1810 [8SE]

———tribute to first responders participating in relief efforts for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H8166, H8168 [21SE]

Immigration: authorize Federal payment to emergency ambulance and medical services providers for the cost of uncompensated care of aliens aided by the border patrol or other Federal immigration official (H.R. 2934), E1259 [17JN]

Indian Medical Association: anniversary, E1054 [23MY]

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]

———require group and individual health plans to provide coverage for second opinions (H.R. 2936), E1266 [17JN]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral (H.R. 2937), E1265 [17JN]

Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office, Covina, CA: designate (H.R. 4053), H9981, H9982 [8NO]

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]

Lum, Joann: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1237 [15JN]

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

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

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

Medicaid: anniversary, E1742 [29JY]

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

———reform, E2409 [18NO], E2443 [6DE]

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]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (H.R. 1582), E626 [12AP]

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

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (H.R. 1125), H1757 [5AP]

———establish pay for performance system to adequately reimburse physicians, H10367 [16NO]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (H.R. 1946), E779 [27AP]

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

———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]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (H.R. 2356), E990 [16MY]

———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: extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits (H.R. 4579), H12125-H12128 [17DE]

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

Monterey County, CA: tribute to Emergency Services Center, E125 [1FE]

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

Morality and ethics: 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]

Mosely, Edward R.: West Fresno Health Care Coalition Community Health Champion Award recipient, E2403 [18NO]

National Addiction Counselors' Day: observance, E1895 [20SE]

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

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month: observance, E1903 [20SE], E1978 [28SE]

National Health Corps Loan Repayment Program: count fellowship training in geriatric medicine or psychiatry as obligated service (H.R. 3046), E1369 [27JN]

National Hospice Month: observance, H9559 [3NO]

National Men's Health Week: observance, H4492 [15JN]

National Nurses Week: observance, H3201 [12MY], E946 [11MY]

———support goals and ideals (H. Res. 245), E936 [11MY], E967 [13MY]

National security: establish a first responder interoperable communications grant program, H10631 [17NO]

———provide faster and smarter funding for first responders, H6302, H6303 [21JY], H8692 [6OC], H11520 [14DE]

———provide faster and smarter funding for first responders (H.R. 1544), H3211-H3237 [12MY], H5232-H5237 [27JN], E998 [17MY], E1097 [25MY]

———provide faster and smarter funding for first responders (H.R. 1544), amendment process, H3028 [5MY]

———provide faster and smarter funding for first responders (H.R. 1544), consideration (H. Res. 269), H3204-H3211 [12MY]

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

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

New York: workers compensation and worker retraining funding for first responders to terrorist attacks upon the U.S., H5047-H5049 [23JN]

NIH: funding, H1630, H1646 [17MR]

Norton, Ruth Ann: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1157 [8JN]

Nuclear Medicine Week: observance, E2058 [7OC]

Ohio: tribute to first responders from 18th District participating in relief efforts for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H8166 [21SE]

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

Olympidis, Gus: Asian-American Medical Association Crystal Globe award recipient, E2266 [3NO]

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]

Paco, John: American Ambulance Association Star of Life award recipient, E865 [4MY]

Pfizer, Inc.: tribute to humanitarian support for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami, E298 [18FE]

Pharmaceuticals: development of electronic prescribing systems to improve patient safety and quality of care for patients, H722 [17FE]

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

———health risks associated with non-FDA-approved inhaled compounded drugs in nebulizers, H2788 [3MY]

———require pharmacists manage and monitor medications for patients with chronic illness, H8737 [7OC]

Poe, Katrina: Staff Care Inc., County Doctor of the Year award recipient, E2532 [14DE]

Public Health Service Act: provide liability protections for volunteer practitioners at health centers (H.R. 1313), H1678 [17MR], H8717 [6OC]

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

Reed, Charles: NurseWeek (publication) and Nursing Spectrum (publication) Nursing Excellence Award finalist, E2421 [18NO]

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]

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]

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

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

Sensenbrenner, Representative: recusal from legislative consideration of Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act due to conflict of interest, H6868 [27JY]

Smith, Noel: West Fresno Health Care Coalition Community Health Champion Award recipient, E2401 [18NO]

Spina Bifida Association of America: tribute, E2038 [6OC]

Spoor, Kathy: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Award recipient, E1239 [15JN]

St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing: anniversary, E1759 [6SE]

Taxation: allow credit for cost of insurance against negative outcomes from surgery and malpractice of a physician (H.R. 3076), E1365 [27JN]

———make the additional tax on early distributions from certain pension plans inapplicable for public safety employees, H11770 [15DE]

———provide a credit to physicians who provide charity care (H.R. 3614), E1693 [29JY]

———provide a tax credit for police officers and professional firefighters and exclude from income certain benefits received by public safety volunteers (H.R. 2822), E1170 [8JN]

Television: move forward the date on which the transition to digital television is to occur, H10628-H10630 [17NO]

Texas: State constitutional amendment allowing caps on noneconomic damages in medical liability lawsuits, H8106 [20SE]

———tribute to citizens and organizations for efforts to provide relief for Moldovan woman who was the victim of sex trafficking in Turkey, E1971 [28SE]

———tribute to health care professionals for efforts to provide relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H7823 [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]

Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act: change manner of allocation of first responder grant funds (H.R. 1093), H973 [3MR]

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, E1638 [27JY]

———permit eligible veterans to receive direct access to chiropractic care (H.R. 917), E624 [12AP]

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

Volunteer workers: tribute to citizens and organizations for efforts to provide relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H8501-H8504 [28SE]

West Milford, NJ: tribute to Upper Greenwood Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corps, E2231 [1NO]

Women: establish programs to increase awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers, E2551 [15DE]

———establish programs to increase awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers (H.R. 1245), H5034 [23JN], E925 [10MY]

———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

AID: Child Survival and Maternal Health Program funding, S2727 [15MR], S2945 [17MR], S7893 [1JY]

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

American Ambulance Association: tribute to Star of Life Award recipients, S6653 [15JN]

American Medical Women's Association: anniversary, S878 [2FE]

American Veterinary Medical Association: tribute, S9439 [29JY]

Animals: establish a competitive grant program to build capacity in veterinary medical education and expand the workforce of veterinarians engaged in public health practice and biomedical research (S. 914), S4404 [27AP]

Armed Forces: establish a combat badge for helicopter medical evacuation ambulance (Medevac) pilots and crews (S. 612), S2647 [14MR]

———make oral and maxillofacial surgeons eligible for special pay for Reserve health professionals in critically short wartime specialties, S8806 [25JY]

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]

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

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]

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

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

Courts: allow clinical social workers to perform psychiatric examinations on certain criminals (S. 88), S256 [24JA]

———require justification at the start of class action lawsuits for obtaining protective orders for document secrecy, S1230, S1244 [10FE]

DeBakey, Michael E.: award Congressional Gold Medal (S. 641), S2852 [16MR]

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

Dept. of Education: revise regulations for student loan payment deferment for borrowers who are in postgraduate medical or dental internship, residency, or fellowship programs (S. 1246), S6492 [14JN]

Dept. of HHS: establish a Nurse Faculty Education Program to increase the number of doctorally-prepared nurse faculty (S. 1575), S9496 [29JY]

———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: first responder interoperable communications funding, S8157, S8160 [13JY], S8253, S8254 [14JY]

———first responders, seaport security, and Border Patrol funding, S2833-S2835 [16MR], S2923 [17MR]

———provide guidance and training to State and local governments relative to sensitive homeland security information (S. 888), S4132 [21AP]

Dept. of State: make available unused EB-3 visas to help bring nurses into the U.S., S3887 [19AP]

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]

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

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

———tribute to Excellence in Nursing and Advancement of Nursing Programs award recipients, S5216 [16MY]

Diseases: enhance public and health professional awareness and understanding of lupus and strengthen research efforts to identify the causes and cure of lupus (S. 756), S3431 [11AP]

———fund breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease research while providing more help to caregivers and increasing public education about prevention (S. 602), S2495, S2496 [10MR]

Drugs: educate concerning substance use disorders and addiction (S. 538), S2162 [7MR]

———establish an electronic controlled substances monitoring program in each State (S. 518), S2026 [3MR], S6014 [26MY]

———establish electronic systems in each State for practitioner monitoring of the dispensing of certain controlled substances (H.R. 1132), S9584 [29JY]

———lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices (S. 45), S231 [24JA], S829 [1FE], S8501 [19JY]

———provide discounts to Medicaid and other Federal programs for the advertising costs of certain prescription drugs and ensure that these drugs are prescribed based on health needs rather than marketing (S. 1128), S6056, S6057 [26MY]

Education: establish a psychology post-doctoral fellowship program specializing in underserved treatment areas (S. 92), S259 [24JA]

———make certain clinical psychology graduate programs eligible to participate in various health professions loan programs (S. 89), S257 [24JA]

———make social work students and schools eligible for certain programs and grants, and establish a social work training program (S. 91), S258 [24JA]

———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]

Edwards, CO: tribute to Freedom Park Memorial, S3409 [11AP]

Employment: establish a demonstration project to train unemployed workers for employment as health care professionals (S. 444), S1607, S1657 [17FE]

FDA: condemn delay of decision on the approval of over-the-counter emergency contraceptives, S10249 [21SE]

———ensure autonomy and eliminate conflicts-of-interest relative to drug company fees and advisory panels, S10217 [20SE]

———Inspector General investigation funding relative to delay of decision on the approval of over-the-counter emergency contraceptives, S11907 [26OC]

———withdraw approved application for the drug known as RU-486 and review process by which the FDA approved such drug (S. 511), S2020 [3MR]

Federal aid programs: establish a scholarship and loan repayment program for public health preparedness workforce development to eliminate critical public health preparedness workforce shortages (S. 506), S2010 [3MR]

Federal employees: authorize the use of clinical social workers to conduct evaluations to determine work-related emotional and mental illnesses (S. 127), S316 [24JA]

Federal Employees' Compensation Act: cover services provided to injured workers by physician assistants and nurse practitioners (S. 1149), S6043 [26MY]

FEMA: designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue System (S. 446), S1659 [17FE]

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]

Global Health Corps: establish (S. 850), S4097 [21AP], S6348 [13JN]

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

———coordination of health care for senior citizens, S4640 [9MY]

———enhance adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care (S. 1418), S8393, S8420 [18JY], S8546 [20JY], S8591 [21JY], S13260-S13277 [17NO]

———ensure the continued commercial availability of respirators and establish rules governing product liability actions against manufacturers and sellers of respirators (S. 1406), S8320 [14JY]

———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 grants to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and prevent obesity and eating disorders (S. 1325), S7531, S7537 [28JN]

———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]

———grant for inovative programs to address dental workforce needs in rural and underserved communities, S11906 [26OC], S11958 [27OC]

———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, S833 [2FE]

———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]

———improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery through improvements in health care information technology (S. 1223), S6333 [9JN]

———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 compensation for injuries resulting from smallpox countermeasures, provide protection against chemical or radiological agents, increase distribution of vaccines, and improve vaccine injury compensation, S1598 [17FE]

———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 costs and improve efficiency and health care quality through the development of a nationwide interoperable health information system, S8393 [18JY]

———reduce health care costs and improve efficiency and health care quality through the development of a nationwide interoperable health information system (S. 1262), S6752-S6754 [16JN]

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

Hurricanes: improve reporting relative to safety of workers in response and recovery activities related to Hurricane Katrina (S. 1771), S10435, S10436, S10460 [26SE], S10520 [27SE]

———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: continue State oversight of association health plans, S8940 [26JY]

———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]

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]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (S. 1515), S9186 [27JY]

———include pharmacy benefit managers as liable third party payors, S14205 [21DE]

———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (S. 440), S1655 [17FE]

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

———reform, S14116, S14117 [20DE], S14220 [21DE]

———require Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to post public notification of State waivers, S12326 [3NO]

Medicare: 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]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (S. 604), S2521 [11MR]

———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]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (S. 1152), S6051 [26MY]

———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]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (S. 927), S4422 [27AP]

———funding, S14116 [20DE], S14208, S14215 [21DE]

———improve access to diabetes self-management training by designated certified diabetes educators (S. 626), S2740 [15MR]

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

———make improvements to payments to ambulance providers in rural areas (S. 1108), S5852 [24MY]

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (S. 2080), S13453 [12DE]

———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 a minimum update for physicians' services (S. 1081), S5537, S5538 [19MY]

———provide a minimum update for physicians' services (S. 1574), S9495 [29JY]

———provide access to audiologists (S. 277), S982 [3FE], S8294 [14JY]

———provide beneficiaries access to information on the quality of care provided by skilled nursing facilities and provide incentives for such facilities to improve the quality of care (S. 708), S3214 [5AP]

———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]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (S. 911), S4399 [27AP]

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

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (S. 300), S1053 [7FE]

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

———provide coverage for end-of-life planning consultations and raise awareness about and assist in preparation of advance directives on end-of-life decisionmaking (S. 347), S1275 [10FE]

———provide coverage for end-of-life planning consultations and raise awareness about and assist in preparation of advance directives on end-of-life decisionmaking (S. 570), S2385, S2404 [9MR], S2500 [10MR]

Mental health: increase number of well-trained mental health service professionals providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents (S. 537), S2159 [7MR]

Morality and ethics: 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]

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

National Addiction Counselors' Day: observance, S10229 [20SE]

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

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: develop and implement a comprehensive program to promote compliance with State and local laws to increase the safe and efficient operation of first responder vehicles, S4377 [27AP]

National security: establish a first responder interoperable communications grant program, S9962-S9965, S9973 [13SE], S10003 [14SE]

———establish a first responder interoperable communications grant program (S. 1645), S9849 [8SE]

———first responders funding, S2678-S2680, S2684, S2693 [15MR], S2953 [17MR], S8128, S8129 [12JY], S8158, S8163-S8169, S8191-S8202 [13JY]

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

New York: restore certain funding for emergency services and rescue and recovery personnel relative to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, S11955-S11957 [27OC]

NIH: funding, S2762-S2768, S2808 [16MR]

North American Occupational Safety and Health Week: designate (S. Res. 130), S4602 [28AP]

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]

Public Health Service Act: provide liability protections for volunteer practitioners at health centers (S. 1058), S5366 [17MY]

Public safety officers: provide collective bargaining rights for State or local government employees (S. 513), S2021 [3MR], S2641 [14MR]

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 practitioners with training in preventive health care (S. 67), S245 [24JA]

Senate: clarify treatment of outside income and expenses relative to the practice of medicine, S13104-S13114 [17NO]

Senior citizens: provide mental health screening and treatment services, integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams (S. 1116), S5923 [25MY]

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

Taxation: allow a nonrefundable credit for elder care expenses (S. 835), S3831 [18AP]

———exclude benefits from income, employment taxes, and wage withholding property tax rebates, provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders (S. 1906), S11745 [21OC]

———provide a refundable tax credit to public safety volunteers (S. 625), S2739 [15MR]

Telecommunications: allocate certain excess proceeds from the spectrum auction to deficit reduction, emergency communications interoperability, and assistance to disaster-affected coastal States, S12310 [3NO]

———develop and implement an emergency backup communications system (S. 1703), S10045 [14SE], S10716 [29SE]

———ensure availability of certain spectrum for public safety entities by establishing a certain date by which the transition to digital television shall be completed (S. 1237), S6486 [14JN]

———ensure availability of certain spectrum for public safety entities by establishing a certain date by which the transition to digital television shall be completed (S. 1268), S6828 [20JN], S9973 [13SE]

———strengthen Federal leadership, provide grants, enhance outreach and guidance, and provide other support to State and local officials to enhance emergency communications capabilities (S. 1725), S10196 [19SE]

Television: move forward the date on which the transition to digital television is to occur, S12197, S12201, S12202 [2NO], S12308, S12309 [3NO]

Tennessee: first responder personnel readiness funding, S1598 [17FE]

University of Minnesota: partnership with Rwanda to institute comprehensive medical training and support program for Rwandans infected with HIV/AIDS, S8534 [20JY]

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]

Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.: tribute to ``Heroes of the Storm'' series and honorees, S3138 [4AP]

Women: establish programs to increase awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect to gynecologic cancers (S. 1172), S6109, S6110 [6JN]

———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]

———repeal law that gags doctors and denies women information and referrals concerning their reproductive health options (S. 839), S3957 [19AP], S4038 [20AP]

Reports

Preparedness and First Responders: Council on Foreign Relations, S8168 [13JY]

Reports filed

Assure Emergency and Interoperable Communications for First Responders Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1725), S10722 [29SE]

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]

Consideration of H.R. 5, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 385) (H. Rept. 109-185), H6649 [26JY]

Consideration of H.R. 1544, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 269) (H. Rept. 109-77), H3112 [10MY]

Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 1544) (H. Rept. 109-65), H2734 [28AP]

IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1063) (S. Rept. 109-211), S14185 [20DE]

Lift the Patient Limitation on Prescribing Drug Addiction Treatments by Medical Practitioners in Group Practices: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 869) (H. Rept. 109-116), H4354 [9JN]

———Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 869) (H. Rept. 109-116), H5637 [11JY]

Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office, Covina, CA: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (H.R. 4053), S13786 [16DE]

National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1132) (H. Rept. 109-191), H6932 [27JY]

———Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 518) (S. Rept. 109-117), S9466 [29JY]

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]

Wired for Health Care Quality Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1418) (S. Rept. 109-111), S9157 [27JY]

Statements

American Veterinary Medical Association Convention: Henry E. Childers, American Veterinary Medical Association, S9439 [29JY]

Deficit Reduction Act Provisions Relative to Medicaid Benefits: Mark B. McClellan, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, S14117 [20DE], S14211 [21DE]

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]

Medical Malpractice—Is MAG Mutual Gouging Its Doctors? American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, H6980 [28JY]

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

Tribute to Tim Burgess: Arvin Short, E658 [15AP]

Walter Ginter Recovering Drug Addict: Walter Ginter, E1903 [20SE]

Studies

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

Summaries

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

Senior Elder Care Relief and Empowerment (SECURE) Act (S. 835), S3832 [18AP]

Tables

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

Texts of

H. Res. 269, consideration of H.R. 1544, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act, H3204 [12MY]

H. Res. 385, consideration of H.R. 5, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, H6860 [27JY]

H.R. 5, Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, H6974-H6977 [28JY]

H.R. 1132, National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, H6681-H6683 [27JY]

H.R. 1544, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act, H3223-H3228 [12MY]

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

H.R. 3614, Charity Care for the Uninsured Act, E1693 [29JY]

H.R. 4053, Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office, Covina, CA, H9981 [8NO]

H.R. 4579, extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, H12125 [17DE]

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

S. 45, lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices, S232 [24JA], S8501 [19JY], H6679 [27JY]

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

S. 67, Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act, S246 [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. 88, Psychiatric and Psychological Examinations Act, S256 [24JA]

S. 89, Strengthen the Public Health Service Act, S257 [24JA]

S. 91, Strengthen Social Work Training Act, S259 [24JA]

S. 92, Psychologists in the Service of the Public Act, S259 [24JA]

S. 127, Clinical Social Workers' Recognition Act, S316 [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. 347, Advance Directives Improvement and Education Act, S1275-S1277 [10FE]

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

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

S. 446, designate New Jersey Task Force 1 as part of the National Urban Search and Rescue System, S1659 [17FE]

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

S. 511, RU-486 Suspension and Review Act, S2020 [3MR]

S. 513, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, S2022 [3MR]

S. 537, Child Health Care Crisis Relief Act, S2159-S2161 [7MR]

S. 538, Health Professionals Substance Abuse Education Act, S2162-S2164 [7MR]

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

S. 570, Advance Directives Education Act, S2386 [9MR]

S. 641, award Congressional Gold Medal to Michael E. DeBakey, S2853 [16MR]

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. 835, Senior Elder Care Relief and Empowerment (SECURE) Act, S3832 [18AP]

S. 850, Global Health Corps Act, S3903-S3905 [19AP]

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

S. 888, Homeland Security Information Guidance and Training Act, S4132 [21AP]

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

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

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

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

S. 1063, IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act, S5440 [18MY]

S. 1116, Positive Aging Act, S5924-S5926 [25MY]

S. 1172, Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act, S6110 [6JN]

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

S. 1223, Information Technology for Health Care Quality Act, S6334-S6337 [9JN]

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

S. 1246, Medical Education Affordability Act, S6492 [14JN]

S. 1262, Health Technology To Enhance Quality (Health TEQ) Act, S6754-S6758 [16JN]

S. 1268, Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement To Improve Vital Emergency Services (SAVE LIVES) Act, S6828-S6831 [20JN]

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

S. 1325, Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity (IMPACT) Act, S7534-S7537 [28JN]

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

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

S. 1418, Wired for Health Care Quality Act, S8421-S8426 [18JY], S13261-S13271 [17NO]

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

S. 1515, Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act, S9186 [27JY]

S. 1574, Affordable Access to Medicare Providers Act, S9495 [29JY]

S. 1575, Nurse Faculty Education Act, S9496 [29JY]

S. 1703, Communications Security Act, S10045 [14SE]

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

S. 1725, Assure Emergency and Interoperable Communications for First Responders Act, S10196-S10200 [19SE]

S. 1906, exclude benefits, employment taxes, and wage withholding property tax rebates, provided to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders from income tax, S11745 [21OC]

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

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

S. 2080, Equal Access to Medicare Act, S13453 [12DE]

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

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

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. 130, North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, S4596, S4604 [28AP]

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]

Transcripts

Bethalto Doctor Closes Office Due to Rising Medical Malpractice Rates: Erin O'Neill, KSDK-TV (St. Louis, MO), H6383 [25JY]

``We Become Silent,'' Kevin P. Miller, E1649-E1652 [27JY]