HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Addresses

Health Care Reform: Edward M. Kennedy, S13302-S13306 [16DE]

Amendments

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: revise and extend (H.R. 2708), H9283 [31JY]

Medicare: update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (S. 1776), S10524 [19OC], S10581 [20OC], S10647, S10648 [21OC]

Social Security: extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), S854, S857, S859, S900, S929, S933, S936, S937, S938, S939, S940, S942, S943, S944, S945 [27JA], S955, S961, S962, S976, S978, S980, S986, S987, S999, S1000, S1001 [28JA], S1009, S1015, S1031, S1032, S1037, S1040, S1042, S1043, S1045, S1069, S1097, S1099, S1100, S1101, S1102 [29JA], S1232 [30JA], H934 [4FE]

Analyses

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Projects and Leases Authorization (S. 1310), S6848 [19JN]

Articles and editorials

Bike Safety Begins With a Helmet, E1128 [12MY]

Bourbon Heights Nursing Receives State Award, S333 [13JA]

Health Reform Could Harm Medicaid Patients—A Vast Expansion of the Program Will Impose Unsustainable Costs on Treatment Centers, S12749 [9DE]

Hospitalized Children Without Insurance Are More Likely To Die, a Study Finds, S11195 [5NO]

Malpractice Relief, S13775 [22DE]

Protecting the Elderly From Abuse, S3375 [18MR]

Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan, H1137 [10FE]

Teaching Residents To Know Their Patients as Individuals—the Aliki Initiative at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, E2522-E2524 [14OC]

3,000 Vets Face HIV Risk After Unsterile Procedure, H4000 [25MR]

Time To Tell the Story—Local Physician Administers Dose of History With New Book on Methodist Hospital, S1120 [30JA]

What Happened to Medical Charity of Years Past?, E2143 [31JY]

Your E-Health Records, S1427 [3FE]

Bills and resolutions

Abarbanel, Gail: tribute to founding of Rape Treatment Center at the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and creating the Fast Track Forensics Program to speed up DNA processing (see H. Res. 716), H9280 [31JY]

Alejandro Renteria Ruiz Dept. of Veterans Affairs Clinic, Artesia, NM: designate (see H.R. 4307), H14877 [14DE]

Armed Forces: allow members to sue the U.S. for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care (see S. 1347), S6993 [24JN] (see H.R. 1478), H3400 [12MR]

———enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces (see S. 1450), S7480 [14JY]

———ensure members receive hearing screenings before and after deployments and mandate tinnitus be treated by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence (see H.R. 2506), H5792 [19MY]

———express condolences to families and friends of victims of shooting at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty, Iraq (see H. Res. 471), H6013 [21MY]

———improve diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members and expand Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs telehealth and telemental health programs (see H.R. 667), H493 [23JA]

———provide vouchers for postal benefits for personal correspondence and small parcels to members serving or hospitalized overseas, and make such vouchers transferable (see H.R. 707), H601 [27JA]

Bankruptcy: make debts for personal injuries that result in permanent disability nondischargeable (see H.R. 2032), H4686 [22AP]

Barry L. Bell Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR: designate (see H.R. 2557), H6009 [21MY]

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago, IL: provide for joint use, transfer of property and personnel, and joint funding authority between the Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs (see S. 1322), S6938 [23JN]

Carthage, NC: express condolences to victims and community impacted by Pinelake Health and Rehab Center shootings (see S. Res. 101), S4311 [2AP]

Cass County, MN: restore State authority to waive distance requirement relative to designation of critical access hospital (see H.R. 3278), H8494 [21JY]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: improve surveillance and reporting for diseases and conditions (see S. 1028), S5435 [13MY] (see H.R. 805), H920 [3FE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend and expand the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program (see H.R. 3806), H11383 [14OC]

———extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program (see S. 1279), S6720 [17JN] (see S. 2922), S13785 [22DE] (see H.R. 3256), H8355 [17JY]

Children and youth: establish certain requirements relative to provision of services to minors by certain family planning projects (see H.R. 2752), H6305 [8JN]

———improve mental health and substance abuse services for juveniles by establishing new grant programs for increased training, technical assistance, and coordination of service providers (see H.R. 1931), H4521 [2AP]

Community health centers: recognize value, benefits, and importance (see S. Con. Res. 25), S6364 [9JN] (see H. Con. Res. 144), H6265 [4JN]

Contraceptives: prohibit Federal family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions (see S. 85), S41 [6JA] (see H.R. 614), H441 [21JA]

Contracts: require that agreements to arbitrate nursing home disputes be made after the dispute has arisen (see S. 512), S2691 [3MR]

Courts: extend Federal Tort Claims Act medical malpractice coverage to non-physician employees and officers of free clinics (see S. 1578), S8864 [5AU]

Dept. of Defense: conduct a study evaluating and comparing the effectiveness of programs designed to diagnose, treat, and prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (see H.R. 1535), H3437 [16MR]

———prohibit the provision of medical treatment to enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the same facilities as Armed Forces members or Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see H.R. 1042), H1519 [12FE]

———reform 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. 241), H69 [7JA]

———require emergency contraception to be available at all military health care treatment facilities (see S. 2904), S13383 [17DE] (see H.R. 4386), H15501 [16DE]

Dept. of Education: award grants to establish pediatric early literacy programs for health care providers and facilities (see S. 1345), S6993 [24JN] (see H.R. 1526), H3437 [16MR]

Dept. of HHS: authorize a community-based overweight and obesity prevention program (see H.R. 3894), H11581 [21OC]

———authorize grants to States for demonstration projects to expand State registries on childhood immunization or health to include data on body mass index (BMI) collected or submitted by health care providers (see H.R. 3955), H12044 [28OC]

———develop an individual chronic disease prevention and wellness achievement matrix (see H.R. 3830), H11457 [15OC]

———ensure that safety net family planning centers are eligible for assistance under the 340B Drug Pricing Program (see S. 310), S787 [22JA]

———establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program (see H.R. 3134), H7836 [8JY] (see H.R. 3664), H10069 [29SE]

———establish a loan program for eligible hospitals to establish residency training programs (see H.R. 914), H1079 [9FE]

———establish a small house nursing home loan program (see S. 776), S4172 [1AP]

———establish and implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative (see H.R. 745), H777 [28JA]

———establish Office of the Deputy Sec. for Health Care Fraud Prevention (see S. 2128), S10916 [29OC] (see H.R. 4222), H13627 (see H.R. 4222), H14371 [8DE]

———establish recruitment and retention programs for public health workers and eliminate critical workforce shortages in public health agencies and centers (see S. 1143), S5819 [21MY] (see H.R. 2810), H6538 [10JN]

———establish the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Program (see S. 1104), S5700 [20MY] (see H.R. 2754), H6305 [8JN]

———establish the School-Based Health Clinic Program (see H.R. 3003), H7145 [23JN]

———implement demonstration projects at federally qualified community health centers to prevent child maltreatment and promote family well-being through parenting practices and skills (see S. 1404), S7192 [7JY]

———include certain children's psychiatric hospitals under the program of payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs (see S. 830), S4445 [20AP] (see H.R. 2003), H4580 [21AP]

———integrate mental health services for older adults into primary care settings and provide grants for geriatric mental health treatment outreach teams (see H.R. 3191), H8024 [13JY]

———make grants to community health coalitions to assist in the development of integrated health care delivery (see S. 652), S3550 [19MR] (see H.R. 1614), H3703 [19MR]

———make grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services (see H.R. 195), H35 [6JA]

———make grants to promote professional retrofit installation of fire alarm detection systems and other fire detection and prevention technologies in nursing homes, hospice facilities and other appropriate facilities (see H.R. 1680), H3833 [24MR]

———make grants to States to establish medical malpractice tribunal pilot programs (see H.R. 4007), H12287 [3NO]

———optimize delivery of critical care medicine and expand the critical care workforce (see S. 1020), S5371 [12MY]

———protect human subjects in research (see H.R. 1715), H4026 [25MR]

———provide assistance for graduate medical education funding for women's hospitals (see S. 1742), S10061 [1OC] (see H.R. 4235), H13628 (see H.R. 4235), H14371 [8DE]

———provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital and ambulatory surgical center services and drugs (see H.R. 2566), H6009 [21MY]

———provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities (see H.R. 1642), H3704 [19MR]

———revise and expand the 340B Drug Pricing Program to improve provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers (see S. 1239), S6542 [11JN] (see H.R. 444), H162 [9JA]

Dept. of Justice: provide grants to States for health care tribunals (see H.R. 2787), H6537 [10JN]

Dept. of the Interior: convey the Alta-Hualapai Site to Las Vegas, NV, for the development of a cancer treatment facility (see H.R. 234), H69 [7JA]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: acknowledge receipt of medical, disability, and pension claims and other communications submitted by veterans (see S. 1394), S7138 [6JY] (see H.R. 1982), H4579 [21AP]

———affirm responsibility to support those veterans with combat wounds or service-connected disabilities (see H. Res. 261), H3641 [18MR]

———allow for increased flexibility in payments for State veterans homes (see H.R. 4241), H13628 (see H.R. 4241), H14371 [8DE]

———allow reimbursement of travel at a set rate for veterans receiving treatment at health care facilities (see H.R. 3283), H8495 [21JY]

———allow veterans enrolled in the health system the option of receiving covered health services through non-departmental facilities (see H.R. 2405), H5663 [14MY]

———assess feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities (see S. 1495), S7868 [22JY]

———assign a higher priority status for hospital care and medical services provided to certain veterans who are Medal of Honor recipients (see H.R. 1197), H2835 [25FE]

———authorize a major medical facility lease in Atlanta, GA (see H.R. 3704), H10456 [1OC]

———authorize a major medical facility project at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA (see S. 509), S2623 [2MR]

———authorize construction of a full service veterans hospital in far South Texas (see S. 699), S3784 [25MR] (see H.R. 1232), H2874 [26FE]

———authorize major medical facility leases (see S. 1717), S9869 [25SE]

———authorize major medical facility projects and leases (see S. 1310), S6845 [19JN]

———carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas (see H.R. 4048), H12587 [6NO]

———carry out demonstration projects on alternatives for expanding care for veterans in rural areas (see H.R. 3281), H8495 [21JY]

———carry out pilot program to provide outreach and training to certain college and university mental health centers on the mental health of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (see H.R. 785), H779 [28JA]

———establish a grant program to assist veterans in highly rural areas by providing transportation to medical centers (see H.R. 3280), H8494 [21JY]

———establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in hospitals (see S. 1427), S7317 [9JY]

———establish centers of excellence for rural health research, education, and clinical activities (see H.R. 3279), H8494 [21JY]

———establish Committee on Care of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury (see H.R. 1546), H3525 [17MR]

———establish enhanced process for funding veterans health care programs and standards for access to health care (see H.R. 1004), H1248 [11FE]

———establish standards for access to health care (see H.R. 84), H31 [6JA]

———expand access to hospital care for veterans in major disaster areas (see H.R. 1075), H1605 [13FE]

———expand the capability to provide for the medical care needs of veterans in southern New Jersey (see H.R. 1416), H3145 [10MR]

———expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished in a non-departmental facility (see S. 404), S2079 [10FE] (see H.R. 1377), H3077 [6MR]

———furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, when the well water was contaminated (see S. 1518), S8134 [27JY]

———give priority to unemployed veterans in furnishing hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to certain veterans in the lowest priority category for enrollment (``Priority 8'') (see H.R. 2830), H6617 [11JN]

———improve quality of care provided to veterans in departmental medical facilities and encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities (see S. 246), S388 [14JA] (see H.R. 568), H380 [15JA]

———introduce pay-for-performance compensation mechanisms into contracts with community-based outpatient health care clinics (see S. 1302), S6804 [18JN]

———make certain improvements in administration of medical facilities (see H.R. 4062), H12971 [7NO]

———make certain improvements in insurance and health care programs (see H.R. 3219), H8183 [15JY]

———permit facilities to be designated as voter registration agencies (see S. 1556), S8681 [3AU]

———prohibit collection of certain copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans (see S. 821), S4311 [2AP] (see H.R. 1335), H3053 [5MR]

———prohibit recovery or collection of charges from a third party for hospital care or medical services provided to a veteran for a service-connected disability (see H.R. 1591), H3640 [18MR] (see H.R. 1658; H. Res. 264), H3705 [19MR]

———provide, without expiration, hospital, medical, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide and Persian Gulf Conflict veterans (see H.R. 2926), H6972 [17JN]

———provide for automatic enrollment of demobilizing members of the National Guard and Reserves in health care and dental care programs (see S. 1798), S10520 [19OC]

———provide for automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the VA medical system (see H.R. 3441), H9275 [31JY]

———provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans on hardship and priority under the outpatient enrollment system (see H.R. 3522), H9279 [31JY]

———provide medical care to family members of disabled veterans who serve as caregivers to such veterans (see H.R. 2734), H6264 [4JN]

———publish redacted medical quality-assurance records on the departmental Internet site (see H.R. 3843), H11457 [15OC]

———require provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all departmental medical centers (see S. 1204), S6255 [8JN] (see H.R. 1017), H1517 [12FE]

———revise certain requirements relative to the pilot program of enhanced contract care authority for health care needs of veterans in highly rural areas (see H.R. 3103), H7704 [26JN]

———submit quarterly reports on vacancies in mental health professional positions in medical facilities (see H.R. 784), H779 [28JA]

———waive charges for humanitarian care provided to family members accompanying severely injured veterans receiving medical care and provide assistance to family caregivers (see S. 801), S4310 [2AP]

Disabled: protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded in class action lawsuits on behalf of such resident (see H.R. 1255), H2923 [3MR]

Disasters: ensure that private for-profit nursing homes affected by major disasters receive the same reimbursement as public nursing homes (see H.R. 1494), H3400 [12MR]

Diseases: continue research into causes, treatment, education, and an eventual cure for diabetes, commend those involved, and support designation of Latino Diabetes Awareness Month (see H. Res. 69), H382 [15JA]

———Depts. of HHS and Education asthma programs funding and authority (see S. 1577), S8864 [5AU] (see H.R. 2260), H5168 [5MY]

———encourage State and local public health departments and all health care providers to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines relative to H1N1 influenza (see H. Res. 932), H13354 [19NO]

———improve National Program of Cancer Registries through expansion of data collection and allowing data sharing for public health objectives, while preserving patient confidentiality (see S. 792), S4310 [2AP]

———provide for an evidence-based strategy for voluntary screening for HIV/AIDS and other common sexually transmitted infections (see H.R. 4140), H13353 [19NO]

———provide for awareness program and study on a rare form of breast cancer (see H.R. 822), H921 [3FE]

———require public reporting of health care-associated infections data by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (see H.R. 3104), H7704 [26JN]

Drugs: allow for medicinal use of marijuana in accordance with State laws (see H.R. 2835), H6618 [11JN]

Foreign countries: withhold U.S. assistance equal to percentage of total costs incurred by U.S. hospitals and medical facilities for long-term care of unlawful aliens present from that country (see H.R. 4026), H12364 [4NO]

George H. O'Brien, Jr., Dept. of Veterans Medical Center, Big Spring, TX: designate (see S. 2751), S11290 [9NO] (see H.R. 4150), H13353 [19NO]

Health: assist trauma centers with uncompensated care costs, core mission services, emergency needs, and information technology to prevent further closures and downgrades (see S. 733), S3898 [26MR] (see H.R. 936), H1156 [10FE]

———codify and enhance existing regulations designed to promote healthy behaviors through voluntary participation in health promotion and disease prevention programs (see S. 2806), S11594 [19NO]

———enhance primary care workforce by modifying residency training programs and using qualified teaching health centers and State primary care scholarship and loan repayment programs (see H.R. 2930), H6972 [17JN]

———enhance the conduct and support of federally funded comparative effectiveness research on health care treatment options (see H.R. 2824), H6617 [11JN]

———enroll Members of Congress who participate in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program in any public plan (see S. Res. 243), S8865 [5AU]

———enroll Members of Congress who participate in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program in any public plan and subject them to tax increases levied as a result of health care reform (see H. Res. 626), H8008 [10JY] (see H. Res. 657), H8355 [17JY]

———ensure victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services (see S. 957), S5014 [1MY] (see H.R. 2231), H5095 [4MY]

———establish Blueprint for Health system of care incorporating medical homes and improving delivery and affordability through disease prevention, health promotion, and education (see H.R. 2535), H5891 [20MY]

———establish Federal standards for resolution of medical malpractice claims (see S. 2662), S10990 [2NO]

———establish guidelines to enhance use and interoperability of electronic medical records with personal health records, including for purposes of Medicare and Medicaid payment incentives (see H.R. 4216), H13550 [7DE]

———give critical access hospitals health information technology grant priority, expand drug pricing program participation, study Medicaid pharmacy dispensing fees, and continue State rural health offices funding (see S. 2838), S12413 [4DE]

———implement best practices in the delivery of health care (see H.R. 2948), H7022 [18JN]

———improve access to emergency medical services (see H.R. 1998), H4580 [21AP]

———improve access to emergency medical services and provide additional Medicare physician payments for such services (see S. 468), S2473 [25FE] (see H.R. 1188), H2834 [25FE]

———improve emergency medical services for children (see S. 408), S2080 [10FE]

———improve medical justice system by encouraging prompt and fair resolution of disputes, fostering alternatives to litigation, and combating defensive medicine (see H.R. 4039), H12586 [6NO]

———improve palliative and end-of-life care provided to patients with life-threatening conditions (see S. 1150), S5819 [21MY] (see H.R. 2911), H6971 [17JN]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology (see S. 179), S211 [8JA]

———incorporate sustainable wellness programs in national health care system to address underlying causal factors associated with chronic disease (see H. Con. Res. 58), H2632 [24FE]

———make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (see H.R. 3652), H9998 [25SE]

———optimize delivery of critical medicine and expand the critical care workforce (see H.R. 1581), H3640 [18MR]

———prevent health care facility-acquired infections (see S. 1305), S6804 [18JN] (see H.R. 2937), H7021 [18JN]

———prohibit Federal funding of abortions under any national health care plan (see H. Con. Res. 169), H8809 [24JY]

———promote development of health care cooperatives to help businesses pool the health care purchasing power of employers (see S. 1165), S5943 [2JN]

———protect health care workers and first responders at risk of workplace exposure to infectious agents and drug resistant infections, such as MRSA (see S. 1299), S6804 [18JN]

———protect patient right to choose health care provider (see H. Con. Res. 162), H7836 [8JY]

———provide for the treatment of certain hospitals (see S. 1479), S7779 [21JY]

———provide for use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers (see S. 890), S4669 [23AP] (see H.R. 3124), H7836 [8JY]

———reform health care delivery by providing incentives for bringing health services to the patient through locating health centers near settings already serving a target population (see H.R. 3158), H7946 [9JY]

———terminate all Government-administered health benefits for Members of Congress until comprehensive health care reform is enacted into law (see H.R. 4230), H13628 (see H.R. 4230), H14371 [8DE]

———urge Members of Congress favoring a public, federally-run health insurance option to forgo participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and agree to enroll in such option (see H. Res. 615), H7837 [8JY] (see H. Res. 642), H8100 [14JY]

Health care professionals: address health workforce shortages (see H.R. 1946), H4522 [2AP]

———assure that a nonemergency department physician is available to hospital patients 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week in all non-Federal hospitals with 100 or more beds (see H.R. 2388), H5580 [13MY]

———establish and carry out a pediatric specialty loan repayment program (see S. 1206), S6255 [8JN] (see H.R. 4273), H14743 [10DE]

———establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals (see S. 1031), S5435 [13MY] (see H.R. 2273), H5306 [6MY]

———establish recruitment and retention programs for public health workers and eliminate critical workforce shortages in Federal, State, local, and tribal public health agencies (see H.R. 2620), H6011 [21MY]

———exempt from Federal antitrust laws in negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers (see H.R. 1493), H3400 [12MR]

———impose admitting privilege requirements with respect to physicians who perform abortions (see S. 98), S42 [6JA]

———increase number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and improve patient access to primary care services (see S. 1174), S6030 [3JN] (see H.R. 2350), H5483 [12MY]

———promote and improve allied health professionals (see S. 1176), S6030 [3JN]

———provide for a loan repayment program for faculty members at programs of general dentistry or pediatric dentistry to alleviate faculty shortages (see H.R. 1930), H4521 [2AP]

———reduce amount of paperwork and improve payment policies for health care services and prevent fraud and abuse through health care provider education (see H.R. 2785), H6537 [10JN]

———reduce cost of health care and ensure patient access to doctors by ending excessive malpractice verdicts through common-sense lawsuit reform (see S. 1734), S9982 [30SE]

———reform the medical malpractice and liability system (see H.R. 3459), H9276 [31JY]

Hospitals: provide emergency contraceptives to women who are survivors of sexual assault (see H.R. 1236), H2874 [26FE]

House Rules: continue application of certain procedures applicable to Medicare funding (see H.R. 2321), H5398 [7MY]

Houston, TX: anniversary of Harris County Health District Thomas Street Health Center (see H. Res. 930), H13354 [19NO]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: reauthorize and extend (see S. 1790), S10487 [15OC]

———revise and extend (see H.R. 2708), H6263 [4JN]

Insurance: provide patient-centered medical homes to improve effectiveness and efficiency in medical assistance under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 1114), S5700 [20MY]

———require coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (see S. 688), S3658 [24MR] (see H.R. 1691), H3834 [24MR]

Kansas City Animal Health Corridor: recognize region (see S. Res. 174), S6364 [9JN] (see H. Res. 317), H4397 [1AP]

Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center, Long Beach, CA: designate (see H.R. 4360), H15499 [16DE]

Max J. Beilke Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Alexandria, MN: designate (see S. 1483), S7779 [21JY] (see H.R. 3157), H7946 [9JY]

Medicaid: establish a disproportionate share hospital (DSH) redistribution pool from unexpended allotments to increase allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for certain health access networks (see H.R. 3141), H7945 [9JY]

———establish programs to improve the quality, performance, and delivery of pediatric care (see S. 225), S337 [13JA] (see S. 314), S826 [26JA]

———increase price transparency of hospital information and provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs (see H.R. 2249), H5168 [5MY]

———provide coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 53), S40 [6JA]

———provide for a demonstration project on reimbursements for stabilization of emergency medical conditions by non-publicly owned or operated institutions for mental diseases (see S. 1130), S5819 [21MY] (see H.R. 1415), H3145 [10MR]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see S. 683), S3657 [24MR] (see H.R. 1670), H3748 [23MR]

———remove exclusion from medical assistance of items and services for patients in mental institutions (see H.R. 619), H442 [21JA]

———require coverage for freestanding birth center services (see S. 1423), S7317 [9JY] (see H.R. 2358), H5484 [12MY]

———require States to report information on payments to abortion providers (see H.R. 1981), H4579 [21AP]

———restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics (see H.R. 398), H160 [9JA]

———revise regulations implementing statutory reporting and auditing requirements for the disproportionate share hospital payment program to be consistent statutorily and avoid policy changes (see H.R. 4250), H14445 [9DE]

Medicare: allow waiver of drive requirement for designations of critical access hospitals (see H.R. 487), H195 [13JA]

———clarify intent of counting residents in a nonhospital setting (see S. 1300), S6804 [18JN]

———continue ability of hospitals to supply a needed workforce of nurses and allied health professionals by preserving funding for hospital operated nursing and allied health education programs (see H.R. 2176), H4999 [29AP]

———continue using current practice expense relative value units for certain cardiology services (see H.R. 4371), H15500 [16DE]

———cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care (see S. 1295), S6804 [18JN]

———create a value indexing mechanism for the physician work component of the physician hospital service and for inpatient hospital services (see H.R. 3074), H7703 [26JN]

———delay implementation of new hospital geographic wage reclassification criteria until the Dept. of HHS revises the hospital wage index classification system to address certain considerations (see H.R. 2753), H6305 [8JN]

———deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 330), S894 [27JA] (see H.R. 684), H525 [26JA] (see H.R. 2860), H6743 [12JN]

———distribute additional residency positions (see S. 973), S5127 [5MY] (see H.R. 2251), H5168 [5MY]

———eliminate the sunset for reimbursement for services furnished by certain Indian hospitals and clinics (see H.R. 4313), H14980 [15DE]

———establish a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the program (see S. 1181), S6185 [4JN]

———establish a prospective payment system for covered services provided by federally qualified health centers and expand such services to account for certain other expansions (see S. 648), S3550 [19MR] (see H.R. 1643), H3704 [19MR]

———establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes (see H.R. 2959), H7022 [18JN]

———establish collaborative care networks to reduce use of expensive hospital and provider resources and to provide more comprehensive and coordinated care to low-income individuals (see H.R. 3430), H9206 [30JY]

———establish Independence at Home Chronic Care Coordination Demonstration Project (see S. 1131), S5819 [21MY]

———expand coverage of paramedic intercept services (see H.R. 1915), H4520 [2AP]

———expand development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services and implement a performance-based payment methodology for such services (see H.R. 1776), H4128 [30MR]

———extend and improve protections for sole community hospitals (see H.R. 1051), H1519 [12FE]

———extend certain laws to provide regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals (see S. 935), S4963 [30AP] (see H.R. 2124), H4839 [27AP]

———extend Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (see H.R. 1639), H3704 [19MR]

———improve access to health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (see S. 318), S826 [26JA] (see S. 1355), S7070 [25JN] (see H.R. 3896), H11581 [21OC]

———improve access to physical medicine and rehabilitation services (see H.R. 1137), H2602 [23FE]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers (see S. 382), S1542 [4FE]

———improve payment methodology for radiopharmaceuticals under hospital outpatient prospective payment system and ensure equitable payment and access to certain radiopharmaceuticals (see H.R. 3917), H11712 [22OC]

———improve quality and efficiency through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and provide payments to certain groups of providers and suppliers for hospitalization relative to high cost diagnoses (see S. 295), S719 [21JA]

———improve quality of care in skilled nursing facilities through requiring the reporting of expenditures for nursing (see H.R. 1125), H2601 [23FE]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 902), H1043 [4FE]

———improve the provision of services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see S. 712), S3897 [26MR]

———include costs incurred by certain agencies, health centers, or drug assistance programs toward the out-of-pocket threshold of the prescription drug program (see S. 1201), S6255 [8JN] (see H.R. 2777), H6414 [9JN]

———increase inpatient hospital payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 1501), H3401 [12MR]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (see H.R. 2094), H4733 [23AP]

———make permanent the program of Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (see H.R. 1386), H3104 [9MR]

———make temporary improvements to the inpatient payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals (see H.R. 3422), H9205 [30JY]

———modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers (see H.R. 2049), H4686 [22AP]

———modernize quality improvement organization (QIO) program (see H.R. 2858), H6743 [12JN]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (see S. 687), S3658 [24MR]

———permit pass-through payment of costs for nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals (see S. 1585), S8864 [5AU] (see H.R. 3151), H7946 [9JY]

———preserve access to ambulance services (see S. 1066), S5555 [18MY] (see H.R. 2443), H5665 [14MY]

———preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals (see S. 1218), S6364 [9JN] (see H.R. 2574), H6009 [21MY]

———preserve care for ventilator-dependent patients (see S. 716), S3897 [26MR]

———prevent payments being lost to fraud, waste, or abuse (see S. 2774), S11382 [16NO]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers (see S. 1157), S5820 [21MY]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (see S. 54), S40 [6JA]

———provide a certain limit for the practice expense and the work expense geographic practice cost indices (GPCI) (see H.R. 2201), H5060 [30AP]

———provide beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management and coordination services (see S. 1004), S5281 [7MY] (see H.R. 2307), H5397 [7MY]

———provide equity in the calculation of disproportionate share hospital payments for hospitals in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 1502), H3401 [12MR]

———provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of critical access hospital designation and exempt beds provided for veterans from certain limitations (see S. 307), S787 [22JA] (see H.R. 668), H493 [23JA]

———provide for a Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with VA medical centers and for certain contiguous areas (see H.R. 2686), H6154 [3JN]

———provide for a pilot program to improve the quality of oncology care (see H.R. 2939), H7021 [18JN]

———provide payment to hospitals for costs of expanded advanced practice nurse training programs (see H.R. 3185), H8024 [13JY]

———provide payments to Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions (see H.R. 3365), H8959 [28JY]

———provide temporary improvements to inpatient hospital payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals and use the non-wage adjusted PPS rate under the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program (see H.R. 362), H158 [9JA]

———reform payments and coverage for hospice care (see H.R. 3454), H9276 [31JY]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 56), S41 [6JA]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see S. 46), S40 [6JA] (see H.R. 43), H29 [6JA]

———require continued application of budget neutrality on a national basis in calculation of the urban and rural State hospital wage index floor (see S. 1108), S5700 [20MY] (see H.R. 2525), H5891 [20MY]

———require hospitals to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching (see H.R. 63), H30 [6JA]

———require that certain tests performed by an independent laboratory of a specimen collected by a hospital be treated as services for which payment may be made directly to the laboratory (see S. 1220), S6364 [9JN] (see H.R. 1699), H4025 [25MR]

———restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals (see S. 1171), S6030 [3JN] (see H.R. 2692), H6154 [3JN]

———stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services (see S. 1522), S8196 [28JY] (see H.R. 4373), H15500 [16DE]

———treatment of certain physician pathology services (see S. 947), S4963 [30AP] (see H.R. 2534), H5891 [20MY]

———treatment of didactic and scholarly activities and training in outpatient settings for purposes of payment for graduate medical education (see H.R. 2301), H5397 [7MY]

———update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (see S. 1776), S10362 [13OC]

———waive 35-mile rule to permit recognition of Gadsden Community Hospital in Quincy, FL, as a critical access hospital (see H.R. 2644), H6014 [21MY]

———waive 35-mile rule to permit recognition of Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, PA, as a critical access hospital (see H.R. 3637), H9899 [23SE]

Medicare/Medicaid: amend qualifications of the director of food services of a skilled nursing facility (see H.R. 1636), H3704 [19MR]

———improve transparency of information on nursing and skilled nursing facilities and clarify and improve enforcement of requirements on such facilities (see S. 647), S3550 [19MR]

———provide the authorized representative of a deceased beneficiary full access to information with respect to the deceased beneficiary's benefits (see S. 1680), S9554 [17SE]

———require provider payments to be made through direct deposit or electronic funds transfer (EFT) at insured depository institutions (see S. 1521), S8196 [28JY] (see H.R. 3369), H8959 [28JY]

Mental health: establish national centers of excellence for the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders (see S. 1857), S10700 [22OC] (see H.R. 4204), H13519 [3DE]

———provide for research on, and services for, individuals with postpartum depression and psychosis (see S. 324), S826 [26JA] (see H.R. 20), H28 [6JA]

———provide for research on, and services for individuals with, post-abortion depression and psychosis (see H.R. 1350), H3054 [5MR]

Merril Lundman Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Havre, MT: designate (see S. 226), S337 [13JA]

National Autism Awareness Month: designate (see H. Res. 349), H4582 [21AP]

National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month: designate (see H. Res. 373), H4915 [28AP]

Oscar G. Johnson Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility, Iron Mountain, MI: designate circle drive as Sergeant First Class James D. Priestap Drive (see H.R. 1424), H3145 [10MR]

Paired Kidney Exchange: tribute to Barnes Jewish Hospital, Henry Ford Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Integris Baptist Hospital for completion of successful 16-person kidney transplant (see H. Res. 664), H8495 [21JY]

Population: allow continuation of critical access hospital designation for certain hospitals in geographic areas experiencing population growth (see H.R. 3391), H9055 [29JY]

Portland, ME: tribute to servicemen for rescue and Maine Medical Center staff for performance of open-heart surgery on Iraqi girl (see S. Res. 127), S5065 [4MY]

Robley Rex Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, KY: designate (see S. 1493), S7868 [22JY] (see H.R. 3304), H8706 [23JY]

Rural areas: provide infrastructure, nutrition, and housing assistance (see S. 323), S826 [26JA]

Rural Health Quality Advisory Commission: establish (see H.R. 2599), H6011 [21MY]

Senior citizens: establish long-term services and supports through single-entry point systems, evidence based disease prevention and health promotion programs, and enhanced nursing home diversion programs (see S. 1257), S6543 [11JN] (see H.R. 2852), H6743 [12JN]

———expand pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers (see S. 631), S3368 [18MR] (see H.R. 2223), H5061 [30AP]

———provide greater health care freedom (see H.R. 164), H34 [6JA]

Social Security: conduct comparative effectiveness research on health care treatment options by establishing a private Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (see S. 1213), S6364 [9JN]

———continue sole community hospital treatment for certain hospitals (see H.R. 2610), H6011 [21MY]

———disregard, for purposes of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (see S. 1674), S9371 [15SE]

———enhance program and provider protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance programs (see H.R. 4390), H15501 [16DE]

———establish AmeriCare program to assure health insurance coverage to all residents (see H.R. 193), H35 [6JA]

———expand coverage options under the State Children's Health Insurance Program through premium assistance (see H.R. 321), H89 [8JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 275), S652 [16JA] (see H.R. 2), H194 [13JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), consideration (see H. Res. 52), H193 [13JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), consideration of Senate amendment (see H. Res. 107), H919 [3FE]

———improve access to State Children's Health Insurance Program by providing exemptions to eligibility waiting period requirements (see H.R. 2496), H5791 [19MY]

———provide additional resources for primary care services, create new Medicare service payment models, and expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services (see S. 1262), S6580 [15JN]

———provide transparency between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or supplies paid for under Medicare, Medicaid, or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 301), S786 [22JA] (see H.R. 3138), H7945 [9JY]

———reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 326), S826 [26JA] (see H.R. 688), H526 [26JA]

———reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance Program and limit income eligibility expansions under that program until the lowest income eligible individuals are enrolled (see S. 82), S41 [6JA]

———report on access to primary care and efforts to avoid displacement of private coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program and urge use of surveys to measure physician access (see H.R. 298), H88 [8JA]

SSI: disregard, for purposes of eligibility, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (see H.R. 2866), H6805 [15JN]

States: allow voluntary development of qualifying best practices for health care and provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment consistent with such practices under Medicare and Medicaid (see S. 438), S2322 [13FE]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit to military retirees for certain Medicare premiums (see H.R. 237), H69 [7JA]

———allow long-term care insurance to be offered under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and provide additional consumer protections for long-term care insurance (see S. 702), S3785 [25MR] (see H.R. 2096), H4733 [23AP]

———allow medical care providers a credit for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care (see H.R. 1497), H3400 [12MR]

———allow refunds of Federal motor fuel excise taxes on fuels used in mobile mammography vehicles (see S. 2051), S10915 [29OC] (see H.R. 2964), H7084 [19JN]

———allow veterans a deduction for certain travel expenses to Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical centers for examinations or treatments relating to service-connected disabilities (see H.R. 953), H1157 [10FE]

———increase deduction for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers (see H.R. 1087), H1605 [13FE]

———provide a credit for eldercare expenses (see S. 1604), S8992 [6AU]

———treat certain hospital support organizations as qualified organizations for purposes of determining acquisition indebtedness (see S. 112), S42 [6JA]

Telephones: facilitate nationwide availability of 2-1-1 telephone service for information and referral on health and human services (see S. 211), S308 [12JA] (see H.R. 211), H35 [6JA]

U.S. Health Service: establish (see H.R. 3000), H7145 [23JN]

Vermilion County, IL: convey a portion of the campus of the Illiana Health Care System of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to Danville Area Community College (see H.R. 1563), H3526 [17MR]

Veterans: ensure access to services in at least one Veterans Health Administration full-service hospital in their State or comparable contract services in the State (see S. 239), S388 [14JA] (see H.R. 190), H35 [6JA]

———improve health care for veterans who live in rural areas (see S. 658), S3550 [19MR] (see H.R. 2879), H6806 [15JN]

———issue veterans health care stamp (see H.R. 2638), H6012 [21MY] (see H.R. 3942), H11868 [27OC]

———provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities (see H.R. 2738), H6265 [4JN]

William C. Tallent Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Knoxville, TN: designate (see H.R. 402), H160 [9JA]

Women: tribute to pregnancy resource centers (see H. Res. 21), H37 [6JA]

Bulletins

Tell Congress—Remove Abortion Funding & Mandates From Needed Health Care Reform: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, H12437 [5NO]

Cloture motions

Medicare: update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (S. 1776), motion to proceed, S10465 [15OC], S10614 [21OC]

Cost Estimates

State Children's Health Insurance Program extension and improvement (H.R. 2): CBO, H211-H213 [14JA]

Letters

Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases authorization: Eric K. Shinseki, Sec. of Veterans Affairs, S6847 [19JN]

Health care choices for veterans: Raymond C. Kelley, AMVETS, H12556 [6NO]

———Thomas Zampieri, Blinded Veterans Association, H12557 [6NO]

National centers of excellence for the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders establishment: Charles F. Reynolds III, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, S10704 [22OC]

———David L. Shern, Mental Health America (organization), S10704 [22OC]

———Robert Gebbia and Paula J. Clayton, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, S10705 [22OC]

———Robert L. Hendren, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, S10705 [22OC]

Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act: Carlo J. DiMarco, American Osteopathic Association, S6045 [3JN]

———Jan D. Zieren, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, S6045 [3JN]

———Rose Gonzalez, American Nurses Association, S6045 [3JN]

Prohibit Federal funding of abortions under any national health care plan: C. Everett Koop, S11087 [4NO]

State Children's Health Insurance Program extension and improvement: Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, H213 [14JA]

———Robert A. Sunshine, CBO, H251 [14JA]

———several Representatives, H205 [14JA], H930 [4FE]

State Children's Health Insurance Program under Affordable Health Care for America Act: several Representatives, H12879 [7NO]

Lists

Congressional Black Caucus Health and Wellness Taskforce benchmarks for the 111th Congress, H5695 [18MY]

Deaths of individuals attributed to not seeking treatment due to a lack of health insurance identified by congressional districts, H12351-H12353 [4NO]

Minnesota and national organizations supporting S. 2904, Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act, S13389 [17DE]

Motions

Social Security: extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), S1031 [29JA], H264 [14JA], H961 [4FE]

Petitions and memorials

Texas: support establishment of a veterans hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, E2145 [31JY]

Press releases

Alaska Physicians' Group—Senator Erred on Tort Reform: Alaska State Medical Association, S13775 [22DE]

Health Care Reform Is About Saving Lives, Not Destroying Them: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, H12437 [5NO]

Remarks in House

Advisory Committee on Health Workforce Evaluation and Assessment: monitor adequacy of health care workforce and report workforce shortages, H14861 [14DE]

Alexander City, AL: anniversary of Bill Nichols State Veterans Home, E2821 [19NO]

———Bill Nichols State Veterans Home recipient of American Health Care Association Quality Award, E2821 [19NO]

Alexandria, LA: inclusion of Rapides Regional Medical Center on Thomson Reuters (company) 100 Top Hospitals list, E3050 [17DE]

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: impact of stimulus funding on economy, H6977 [18JN]

American University of Beirut: tribute to Medical Center designation as magnet facility by American Nurses Credentialing Center, E2855 [1DE]

Armed Forces: ensure members receive hearing screenings before and after deployments and mandate tinnitus be treated by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excellence (H.R. 2506), H5808 [20MY]

———express condolences to families and friends of victims of shooting at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty, Iraq (H. Res. 471), H5987 [21MY], H6038-H6040 [2JN]

———provide vouchers for postal benefits for personal correspondence and small parcels to members serving or hospitalized overseas, and make such vouchers transferable, H7379, H7380 [25JN]

———provide vouchers for postal benefits for personal correspondence and small parcels to members serving or hospitalized overseas, and make such vouchers transferable (H.R. 707), E1216 [20MY]

Aurora, CO: Fitzsimons Veterans Affairs Hospital funding, H7957 [10JY]

Baddoura, Walid J.: St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center Foundation Kendrick P. Lance, MD Distinguished Physician Award recipient, E2585 [20OC]

Baltimore, MD: tribute to Johns Hopkins Center for Innovative Medicine Aliki Initiative, E2522 [14OC]

Barcikowski, Mary: 2d Congressional District of Maryland Veterans Advisory Council Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award recipient, E874 [2AP]

Baton Rouge, LA: Baton Rouge General recipient of Louisana State Nurses Association Hospital of the Year award, E901 [21AP]

Bay Pines, FL: Bay Pines Hospital recipient of Dept. of Veterans Affairs Robert W. Carey Trophy for Performance Excellence Award, E2645 [28OC]

———Bay Pines VA Healthcare System recipient of Dept. of Veterans Affairs Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Award, E68 [13JA]

Beaverton, OR: tribute to Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, E2115 [31JY]

Betz, Charles W.: 2d Congressional District of Maryland Veterans Advisory Council Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award recipient, E878 [2AP]

Big Sur, CA: anniversary of Big Sur Health Center, E1706 [9JY]

Bisbee, AZ: anniversary of Copper Queen Community Hospital, E2410 [1OC]

Blood Management Awareness Week: support goals and ideals, E2681 [2NO]

Bronxville, NY: anniversary of Lawrence Hospital Center, E988 [27AP]

Burns, Jacqueline: St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center Foundation William F. Johnson Award recipient, E2580 [20OC]

Carlsbad, NM: tribute to Carlsbad Mental Health Center, E2428 [1OC]

Centralia, IL: anniversary of St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital, E3046 [17DE]

Children and youth: establish certain requirements relative to provision of services to minors by certain family planning projects, H11150 [8OC]

Cleveland, OH: tribute to Thomas F. McCafferty Health Center, E1697 [9JY]

Clifton Springs, NY: anniversary of Clifton Hills Hospital and Clinic Auxilliary, E926 [22AP]

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act: impact on facilities, H3743 [23MR]

Columbus, OH: anniversary of Pilot Club, E2873 [2DE]

Colville, WA: anniversary of Mount Carmel Hospital, E1616 [26JN]

———anniversary of Whitman Hospital and Medical Center, E1614 [26JN]

Community health centers: recognize value, benefits, and importance, H7746 [8JY]

Congressional Black Caucus: budget priorities, H5695-H5700 [18MY]

Contraceptives: prohibit Federal family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions, H7858 [9JY]

———prohibit Federal family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions (H.R. 614), H427, H428 [21JA], H446 [22JA], H13471 [3DE]

Dallas, TX: anniversary of White Rock Lake Doctors Hospital, E2341 [23SE]

———inclusion of Children's Medical Center in U.S. News & World Report (publication) ``Best Children's Hospitals'' list, E1577 [26JN]

———use of economic stimulus funds to promote health care, infrastructure rehabilitation, and education projects, H4528 [21AP]

Dept. of Defense: assess feasibility and efficacy of providing service members with post-deployment mental health screening, H7373 [25JN]

———determine whether use of therapy animals to treat wounded warriors should be expanded to additional facilities, H7362 [25JN]

———report to Congress on use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, H9083 [30JY]

———Stryker MEV funding, H5628 [14MY]

Dept. of Energy: designate hospitals, universities, and public safety facilities as potential selectees for infrastructure reliability projects, H11600 [22OC]

Dept. of HHS: Critical Access Hospital program funding, H8782 [24JY]

———establish a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program (H.R. 3134), H7950 [10JY], H10074 [30SE]

———establish a loan program for eligible hospitals to establish residency training programs (H.R. 914), H3744 [23MR], H4125 [30MR], H7950 [10JY], H11379 [14OC]

———establish and implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative (H.R. 745), H4067 [30MR]

———establish the School-Based Health Clinic Program, H13012 [17NO]

———include certain children's psychiatric hospitals under the program of payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs (H.R. 2003), E896 [21AP]

———tribute to Area Health Education Centers, E778 [25MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: affirm responsibility to support those veterans with combat wounds or service-connected disabilities (H. Res. 261), H3677, H3678 [19MR]

———authorize a major medical facility lease in Atlanta, GA (H.R. 3704), H10560 [7OC]

———authorize a major medical facility project at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA (S. 509), H12165-H12167 [2NO], E2696 [3NO]

———authorize major medical facility leases (S. 1717), H10559-H10561 [7OC]

———expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished in a non-departmental facility (H.R. 1377), H4069, H4070 [30MR], E833 [31MR]

———make certain improvements in insurance and health care programs (H.R. 3219), H8813-H8818 [27JY], E2033 [28JY], E2178 [31JY]

———prohibit collection of certain copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans, H8816 [27JY]

———quality of health care administered at health care facilities, H7114 [23JN]

———report on use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in departmental medical facilities, H7986, H7987 [10JY]

———VA Ann Arbor, MI, Health System funding, E1733 [13JY]

Derby, CT: anniversary of Griffin Hospital, E2947 [10DE]

Disasters: ensure that private for-profit nursing homes affected by major disasters receive the same reimbursement as public nursing homes (H.R. 1494), E659 [12MR]

Diseases: continue research into causes, treatment, education, and an eventual cure for diabetes, commend those involved, and support designation of Latino Diabetes Awareness Month (H. Res. 69), H8451-H8455 [21JY]

———provide for an evidence-based strategy for voluntary screening for HIV/AIDS and other common sexually transmitted infections (H.R. 4140), E2824 [19NO]

District of Columbia: Whitman-Walker Clinic funding, E204 [4FE]

Elkhart, IN: anniversary of Elkhart General Hospital, E2662 [29OC]

FEMA: Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding, H7187 [24JN]

Florida Blood Services (organization): observance of National Blood Donor Month, E162 [28JA]

Friends of Yale—New Haven Children's Hospital (organization): anniversary, E2964 [10DE]

Galveston, TX: tribute to reopening of University of Texas Medical Branch emergency room, H9167 [30JY]

Ged, Eugene C.: St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center Foundation William F. Johnson Award recipient, E2575 [20OC]

Germany: tribute to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Hospital personnel, E2766 [16NO]

Grand Blanc, MI: tribute to staff of Genesys Regional Medical Center, E1207 [19MY]

Health: coverage of mental health and substance abuse prevention and screening, E1862 [21JY]

———deaths of individuals attributed to not seeking treatment due to a lack of health insurance, H11558 [21OC], H12031-H12034 [28OC], H12350-H12355 [4NO], H13119 [18NO]

———emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens funding, H8306 [17JY], H9412 [10SE]

———encourage use of electronic medical records, H6614 [11JN]

———enhance the conduct and support of federally funded comparative effectiveness research on health care treatment options (H.R. 2824), H6909 [17JN]

———ensure victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services (H.R. 2231), H5173 [6MY]

———establish guidelines to enhance use and interoperability of electronic medical records with personal health records, including for purposes of Medicare and Medicaid payment incentives (H.R. 4216), E2897 [7DE]

———impact of economic stimulus legislation on health care, H1136 [10FE], H1219 [11FE], H1592 [13FE]

———improve access to emergency medical services and provide additional Medicare physician payments for such services (H.R. 1188), E2868 [2DE]

———improve palliative and end-of-life care provided to patients with life-threatening conditions, H9261 [31JY]

———improve palliative and end-of-life care provided to patients with life-threatening conditions (H.R. 2911), E1474 [17JN]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology, H6390, H6391 [9JN]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 3962), H12218 [3NO]

———prohibit Federal funding of abortions under any national health care plan, H8104 [15JY], H8281-H8287 [16JY], H8571, H8572 [22JY], H8590, H8701 [23JY], H12221, H12222, H12229, H12231 [3NO], H12338 [4NO], H12434-H12441 [5NO], H12551, H12562 [6NO], H12921-H12927 [7NO], E2775 [16NO], E2779 [17NO], E2823 [19NO]

———provide for use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers (H.R. 3124), H14861 [14DE]

———provide health insurance education and outreach, in coordination with the SBA, to hard-to-reach communities, H12844 [7NO]

———reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform, H8907 [28JY], H9499 [15SE], H9638 [16SE], H11293, H11294 [13OC], H11377 [14OC], H11565-H11567 [21OC], H11779, H11780, H11782 [26OC], H12260, H12265, H12285 [3NO], H12337 [4NO], H12369, H12446 [5NO], H12606, H12620, H12841, H12856, H12882, H12888, H12956 [7NO], H13048, H13050, H13056 [17NO], E2151 [31JY]

———reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform and apply savings to establish a Seniors Protection and Medicare Regional Payment Equity Fund, H12966, H12967 [7NO]

———require Federal elected officials favoring a public, federally-run health insurance option to forgo participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and enroll in such option, H8421 [21JY]

———restore reliability to the medical justice system by fostering alternatives to medical tort litigation, H8885 [28JY]

———strengthen privacy protections for consumer access to electronic medical records, H1027 [4FE], H3740 [23MR]

———terminate all Government-administered health benefits for Members of Congress until comprehensive health care reform is enacted into law (H.R. 4230), H13523 [7DE], E2911 [8DE]

———urge Members of Congress favoring a public, federally-run health insurance option to forgo participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and agree to enroll in such option, H8440 [21JY], H12222 [3NO], H12368 [5NO]

———urge Members of Congress favoring a public, federally-run health insurance option to forgo participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and agree to enroll in such option (H. Res. 615), H7840, H7930, H7931 [9JY], H8014 [13JY], H8104 [15JY], H8887 [28JY], H9183, H9184 [30JY], H9348 [9SE], H9956 [24SE], H11823, H11863 [27OC]

Health care professionals: exempt from Federal antitrust laws in negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers (H.R. 1493), E655 [12MR]

———increase number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and improve patient access to primary care services (H.R. 2350), H6612 [11JN], H7744 [8JY]

———prohibit physician ownership in new hospitals and limit the growth of existing physician-owned hospitals, H8559 [22JY]

———provide for a loan repayment program for faculty members at programs of general dentistry or pediatric dentistry to alleviate faculty shortages (H.R. 1930), E855 [2AP]

———reform the medical malpractice and liability system, H9554, H9555, H9557 [16SE]

———support physician-owned hospitals, H12853 [7NO]

HealthSouth Corp.: tribute to HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals of New Jersey, E1282 [2JN]

Houston, TX: Riverside General Hospital veterans post-traumatic stress disorder funding, H15002 [16DE]

Indianapolis, IN: tribute to Franklin Central High School students for raising money for the Riley Hospital for Children, E792 [26MR]

Insurance: require coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (H.R. 1691), H3759 [24MR], E2456 [6OC], E2666 [29OC]

Jacobs, Darrel: Phoenix, AZ, VA Health Care Systems Volunteer of the Year award recipient, E1332 [8JN]

Johnson, Nancy J.: Scottsdale Healthcare (organization) ``Salute to Military'' honoree, E2782 [17NO]

Johnson, Steven P.: American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion Award for Pennsylvania recipient, H5272 [6MY]

Johnson City, TN: anniversary of Appalachian Christian Village Inc., E1836 [17JY]

———tribute to opening of Niswonger Children's Hospital, H1279 [12FE]

Kansas City Animal Health Corridor: recognize region (H. Res. 317), H9509-H9513 [15SE], E2280 [16SE]

Kern, Susan: 2d Congressional District of Maryland Veterans Advisory Council Congressional Volunteer Recognition Award recipient, E875 [2AP]

La Crosse, WI: Gundersen Lutheran Hospital Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care recipient of National Quality Measures for Breast Centers highest level of distinction, E724 [19MR]

Lake County, CA: anniversary of Sutter Lakeside Hospital, E2797 [18NO]

Laredo, TX: anniversary of Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center, E2989 [14DE]

Livonia, MI: anniversary of St. Mary Mercy Hospital, H10488 [6OC]

———anniversary of St. Mary Mercy Livonia, E2253 [14SE]

Madera, CA: anniversary of Guilds of Children's Hospital Central California, E2900 [7DE]

Max J. Beilke Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Alexandria, MN: designate (H.R. 3157), H12167, H12168 [2NO]

Mayo Clinic: tribute, H10525 [7OC]

Medicaid: increase price transparency of hospital information and provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs, H11379 [14OC]

———increase price transparency of hospital information and provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs (H.R. 2249), H5293 [6MY]

———require coverage for freestanding birth center services (H.R. 2358), E1119 [12MY]

———require States to report information on payments to abortion providers (H.R. 1981), H4589 [22AP]

Medicare: allow for certain physician-owned hospitals, H260, H261 [14JA]

———deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 684), H7130 [23JN]

———eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefit, H7025 [19JN], H7130 [23JN]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers, H8033 [14JY], H8438, H8490, H8492 [21JY], H12262 [3NO], H12882, H12884, H12900, H12955 [7NO], E2155 [31JY]

———make permanent the program of Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (H.R. 1386), E606 [10MR]

———modernize quality improvement organization (QIO) program (H.R. 2858), H7841 [9JY]

———preserve access to ambulance services (H.R. 2443), E1158 [14MY]

———preventative services insurance coverage, H11699 [22OC]

———provide payments to Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for items and services provided to eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions (H.R. 3365), E2122 [31JY]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (H.R. 43), E19 [6JA]

———stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services (H.R. 4373), E3048 [17DE]

———update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (S. 1776), H11794, H11796 [27OC]

Medicare/Medicaid: amend qualifications of the director of food services of a skilled nursing facility (H.R. 1636), E728 [19MR]

Mental health: establish national centers of excellence for the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders (H.R. 4204), E2888 [3DE]

———provide for research on, and services for, individuals with postpartum depression and psychosis (H.R. 20), H4081-H4084 [30MR]

Miami, FL: dedication of Bruce W. Carter Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, E1076 [6MY]

———tribute to opening of Miami Children's Center Michael Fux Family Center, H11267 [13OC]

Minnesota: tribute to Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, H9538 [15SE]

Monterey, CA: anniversary of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, E2580 [20OC]

Muse, Phyllis: Boone County, IA, Hospital Brown Award recipient, E295 [23FE]

Nanticoke, PA: anniversary of Mercy Special Care Hospital, E1526 [23JN]

National Autism Awareness Month: designate (H. Res. 349), E1043 [30AP]

———observance, H4917 [29AP]

National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month: designate (H. Res. 373), H8842, H8843 [27JY], H9016 [29JY], E1000 [28AP]

New Haven, CT: anniversary of Hill Health Center, E1111 [11MY]

Northern Mariana Islands: lack of proper health care equipment, H9554 [16SE]

Patient Safety Day: observance, E1909 [23JY]

Pennsylvania State University: tribute to Dance Marathon (THON) to raise money for the Penn State Children's Hospital Four Diamonds Fund to support pediatric cancer research, patients, and their families, H2608 [24FE]

Quakertown, PA: tribute to St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital participation in Premier healthcare alliance QUEST—High-Performing Hospitals collaborative, E2652 [28OC]

Rakove, Roberta: Illinois Hospital Association and American Hospital Association Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award recipient, E1201 [19MY], E1213 [20MY]

Republican Club of Central Pasco (organization): tribute for support of the Fisher House at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, E2621, E2623 [23OC]

Rockford, IL: anniversary of Crusader Community Health Center, E2597 [21OC]

Ronald McDonald Charities of the Central Valley, Inc.: anniversary, E2896 [7DE]

San Francisco, CA: prohibit funding for Angel Island Immigration Station hospital rehabilitation, H7434, H7435 [25JN]

SBA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program medical technology research funding, H7776, H7777 [8JY]

Senior citizens: provide greater health care freedom (H.R. 164), E15 [6JA]

Social Security: eligibility of citizens from Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia for coverage under State Children's Health Insurance Program, H974 [4FE]

———eliminate exemption for certain States to cover children under State Children's Health Insurance Program whose family income exceeds 300 percent of the Federal poverty level, H962 [4FE]

———establish AmeriCare program to assure health insurance coverage to all residents (H.R. 193), E22 [6JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), H200, H201, H202, H203, H216-H268, H279 [14JA], H368 [15JA], H516-H521 [26JA], E93, E94, E95, E97, E101 [15JA], E107 [16JA], E113, E118 [21JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), Senate amendment, H879 [3FE], H926, H927, H934-H975 [4FE], E219 [9FE], E227 [10FE]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), consideration (H. Res. 52), H203-H216 [14JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), consideration of Senate amendment (H. Res. 107), H928-H934 [4FE]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), motion to recommit, H266 [14JA]

———extend funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, H2888 [3MR]

———preserve the State Children's Health Insurance Program, H12878 [7NO], H13011 [17NO]

———prohibit the use of increased tobacco taxes to offset the cost of expanded State Children's Health Insurance Program coverage, H974 [4FE], H4400 [2AP]

———reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 688), H933 [4FE]

———require a waiting period for legal aliens before applying for State Children's Health Insurance Program assistance, H967, H968, H973 [4FE]

Southampton, NY: anniversary of Southampton Hospital, E1007 [29AP]

SSI: disregard, for purposes of eligibility, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (H.R. 2866), E1419 [15JN]

St. Cloud, MN: inclusion of St. Cloud Hospital on Thomson Reuters (company) 100 Top Hospitals list, E1249, E1253 [21MY]

St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing: anniversary, H4721 [23AP]

Stillwater, MN: inclusion of Lakeview Hospital on Thomson Reuters (company) 100 Top Hospitals list, E1249, E1253 [21MY]

Sulpher Springs, TX: anniversary of Hopkins County Memorial Hospital, E2843 [1DE]

Syniverse Technologies, Inc.: tribute to health clinic and wellness initiative, H8881 [28JY]

Tampa, FL: tribute to James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Fisher House, E2627 [23OC]

Taxation: allow medical care providers a credit for uncompensated emergency medical care and to allow hospitals a deduction for such care (H.R. 1497), E657 [12MR]

———increase deduction for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers (H.R. 1087), H10442 [1OC], H12105 [29OC]

Texas: tribute to National Guard 386th Engineering Battalion, E861 [2AP]

———tribute to portable inflatable hospitals for role in disaster preparedness, E914 [21AP]

Toledo, OH: VA medical facility funding, H7972 [10JY]

Torrance, CA: anniversary of South Bay Family Health Care, E2605 [22OC]

Tucson, AZ: tribute to El Rio Community Health Center nursing staff, E1069 [6MY]

Veterans: concerns over possible exposure to HIV at VA hospitals, H3999 [25MR]

———ensure access to services in at least one Veterans Health Administration full-service hospital in their State or comparable contract services in the State (H.R. 190), E22 [6JA]

———health care choices, H12556 [6NO], H12848 [7NO]

———health care facilities funding through reductions in National Endowment for the Arts funding, H4134 [31MR]

———health care funding, H3698-H3700 [19MR], H4421 [2AP], H6142, H6144 [3JN], H14465, H14466 [10DE]

———provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities, H8825 [27JY]

———provide travel expenses for family caregivers accompanying veterans to medical treatment facilities (H.R. 2738), H8034 [14JY]

Virginia, MN: tribute to Virginia Regional Medical Center RehabCare team bicycle helmet safety outreach program, E1128 [12MY], E1195 [19MY]

Whittemore Peterson Institute: tribute to discovery of link between recently discovered retrovirus and certain neuroimmune diseases, H11301 [14OC]

William C. Tallent Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Knoxville, TN: designate (H.R. 402), H8037-H8039 [14JY]

Winter Haven, FL: Winter Haven Hospital designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center nursing magnet hospital, E651 [12MR]

Woodbridge, VA: Greater Prince William Community Health Center funding, H5102 [5MY]

Woodcliff Lake, NJ: tribute to VFW Post 8946 for visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, E2923 [10DE]

Remarks in Senate

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: impact of stimulus funding on economy, S9174 [9SE]

———impact of stimulus funding on Florida economy, S6160 [4JN]

Arkansas: improve access, quality, and affordability of health care for State residents, S4626 [23AP]

Armed Forces: enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces, S7519 [15JY]

BIA: Indian safety, health, and water development emergency funding, S9647 [22SE]

Birth control: restore nominal prices of oral contraceptives for family planning clinics that do not receive Federal funding and university-based clinics, S2817 [5MR]

Carthage, NC: express condolences to victims and community impacted by Pinelake Health and Rehab Center shootings (S. Res. 101), S4398 [2AP]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: improve surveillance and reporting for diseases and conditions (S. 1028), S5437 [13MY]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program, S12655 [8DE]

Cleveland, OH: commend efforts of health care professionals and volunteers to provide free health care to the underinsured and uninsured, S8526 [30JY]

Community health centers: recognize value, benefits, and importance, S12573-S12575 [7DE], S12697 [8DE]

Courts: extend Federal Tort Claims Act medical malpractice coverage to non-physician employees and officers of free clinics, S13692 [21DE]

———extend Federal Tort Claims Act medical malpractice coverage to non-physician employees and officers of free clinics (S. 1578), S8866 [5AU]

Dept. of Defense: require emergency contraception to be available at all military health care treatment facilities (S. 2904), S13388 [17DE]

Dept. of Education: award grants to establish pediatric early literacy programs for health care providers and facilities (S. 1345), S7009 [24JN]

Dept. of HHS: establish Office of Deputy Sec. for Health Care Fraud Prevention (S. 2128), S10950 [30OC], S10973 [2NO]

———establish Office of the Deputy Sec. for Health Care Fraud Prevention, S13768, S13769 [22DE]

———establish Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, S1795 [6FE]

———establish recruitment and retention programs for public health workers and eliminate critical workforce shortages in public health agencies and centers (S. 1143), S5850 [21MY]

———implement demonstration projects at federally qualified community health centers to prevent child maltreatment and promote family well-being through parenting practices and skills (S. 1404), S7196 [7JY]

———revise and expand the 340B Drug Pricing Program to improve provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers (S. 1239), S6546 [11JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: assess feasibility and advisability of using service dogs for treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, S11268 [9NO]

———authorize a major medical facility project at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA (S. 509), S7573 [15JY]

———authorize major medical facility leases (S. 1717), S9889 [25SE]

———authorize major medical facility projects and leases (S. 1310), S6847 [19JN]

———enhance ability to recruit and retain health care administrators and providers in underserved rural areas, S11326 [10NO]

———establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in hospitals, S7255 [8JY]

———expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished in a non-departmental facility (H.R. 1377), S13468, S13469 [18DE]

———expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished in a non-departmental facility (S. 404), S2080 [10FE]

———funding, S2821 [5MR]

———furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, when the well water was contaminated (S. 1518), S8136 [27JY]

———improve quality of care provided to veterans in departmental medical facilities and encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities, S11023 [3NO]

———improve quality of care provided to veterans in departmental medical facilities and encourage highly qualified doctors to serve in hard-to-fill positions in such medical facilities (S. 246), S394 [14JA]

———introduce pay-for-performance compensation mechanisms into contracts with community-based outpatient health care clinics (S. 1302), S6816 [18JN]

———permit facilities to be designated as voter registration agencies, S7697 [20JY]

———permit facilities to be designated as voter registration agencies (S. 1556), S8683 [3AU]

———waive charges for humanitarian care provided to family members accompanying severely injured veterans receiving medical care and provide assistance to family caregivers (S. 801), S4350 [2AP], S11262 [9NO], S11544 [19NO]

Durham, NC: tribute to the Duke Eye Center, S3367 [18MR]

Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health: funding, S2620 [2MR], S2676 [3MR], S2798-S2801, S2807, S2813 [5MR]

Foreign countries: analysis of universal health care coverage plans, S12501-S12504 [5DE]

Health: eligibility of physician group practices for electronic medical records technology incentives, S1670, S1671 [5FE]

———establish dedicated trust fund with mandatory spending for community health centers and National Health Service Corps, S12573 [7DE], S12697 [8DE]

———impact of economic stimulus legislation on health care, S2197, S2199 [12FE]

———improve emergency medical services for children (S. 408), S2084 [10FE], S3110 [16MR]

———improve palliative and end-of-life care provided to patients with life-threatening conditions (S. 1150), S5862 [21MY]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology (S. 179), S226-S228 [8JA]

———prohibit abortions from being defined a preventive service, S12130 [2DE], S12274, S12277 [3DE]

———prohibit Federal funding of abortions under any national health care plan, S11087 [4NO], S11822 [19NO]

———promote development of health care cooperatives to help businesses pool the health care purchasing power of employers (S. 1165), S5948 [2JN]

———provide access to comprehensive primary health care services and improve primary health care delivery through expansion of community health center and National Health Service Corps programs, S980 [28JA]

———provide for use of improved health information technology with respect to certain safety net health care providers (S. 890), S4694 [23AP]

———reduce health care and insurance costs through medical malpractice tort reform, S8242 [29JY], S10415 [14OC], S10533, S10538-S10542, S10560 [20OC], S11837 [20NO], S11954 [21NO], S11996 [30NO], S12109-S12112, S12125, S12137-S12139, S12146 [2DE], S12496-S12501, S12504, S12505, S12508 [5DE], S12523-S12528, S12532-S12543 [6DE], S13774 [22DE]

———require Federal elected officials favoring a public, federally-run health insurance option to forgo participation in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and enroll in such option, S13804-S13806 [23DE]

———strengthen privacy protections for consumer access to electronic medical records, S1426 [3FE], S2016 [9FE], S2303 [13FE]

Health care professionals: establish and carry out a pediatric specialty loan repayment program (S. 1206), S6266 [8JN]

———establish direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in hospitals (S. 1031), S5441 [13MY]

———increase number of primary care physicians and primary care providers and improve patient access to primary care services (S. 1174), S6035 [3JN]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act: reauthorize and extend, S13181 [14DE], S13626 [20DE]

———reauthorize and extend (S. 1790), S10493 [15OC]

———revise and extend, S10404, S10405 [14OC]

Insurance: provide patient-centered medical homes to improve effectiveness and efficiency in medical assistance under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 1114), S5729 [20MY]

———review mergers and repeal antitrust exemption for health insurance companies and establish a medical insurance rate authority, S10976 [2NO]

James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Chicago, IL: designate, S11325 [10NO]

Marion, IL: allegations of malpractice at Marion VA Medical Center, S11023 [3NO]

Medicaid: provide coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 53), S59 [6JA]

———provide for a demonstration project on reimbursements for stabilization of emergency medical conditions by non-publicly owned or operated institutions for mental diseases (S. 1130), S5829 [21MY]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (H.R. 1670), S8121-S8124 [27JY]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (S. 683), S3675 [24MR]

———require coverage for freestanding birth center services (S. 1423), S7320 [9JY]

Medicare: allow geographic reclassification of certain cancer hospitals in order to receive higher reimbursements, S981, S982 [28JA]

———cover transitional care services to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of care (S. 1295), S6812 [18JN], S10596 [21OC]

———deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 330), S894 [27JA]

———establish a demonstration project to examine whether community-level public health interventions can result in lower rates of chronic disease for individuals entering the program (S. 1181), S6189 [4JN]

———establish a prospective payment system for covered services provided by federally qualified health centers and expand such services to account for certain other expansions (S. 648), S3556, S3557 [19MR]

———establish an accountable care organization pilot program to reduce the growth of expenditures and improve health outcomes, S11133, S11137, S11138 [5NO]

———establish Independence at Home Chronic Care Coordination Demonstration Project, S11910 [21NO], S13852 [23DE]

———establish Independence at Home Chronic Care Coordination Demonstration Project (S. 1131), S5829 [21MY]

———extend certain laws to provide regulatory stability during the development of facility and patient criteria for long-term care hospitals (S. 935), S4965 [30AP]

———improve access to health care for beneficiaries in rural areas, S10599 [21OC]

———improve access to health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 318), S835 [26JA]

———improve access to health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 1355), S7077 [25JN], S7185 [7JY]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers, S13773 [22DE], S13849 [23DE]

———improve quality and efficiency through measurement of readmission rates and resource use and provide payments to certain groups of providers and suppliers for hospitalization relative to high cost diagnoses (S. 295), S723 [21JA]

———improve the provision of services to beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 712), S3899 [26MR]

———include costs incurred by certain agencies, health centers, or drug assistance programs toward the out-of-pocket threshold of the prescription drug program (S. 1201), S6265 [8JN]

———long-term care insurance reform, S13862 [23DE]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (S. 687), S3690 [24MR]

———permit pass-through payment of costs for nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals (S. 1585), S8871 [5AU]

———prevent payments being lost to fraud, waste, or abuse (S. 2774), S11385 [16NO]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers, S7608 [16JY]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers (S. 1157), S5898 [1JN], S5994 [3JN], S8756 [4AU]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 54), S59 [6JA]

———provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of critical access hospital designation and exempt beds provided for veterans from certain limitations (S. 307), S791 [22JA]

———provide temporary improvements to inpatient hospital payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals and use the non-wage adjusted PPS rate under the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program, S13694 [21DE]

———reduce coverage gap in prescription drug coverage through savings resulting from medical malpractice tort reform, S13592 [20DE]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 56), S61 [6JA]

———require that certain tests performed by an independent laboratory of a specimen collected by a hospital be treated as services for which payment may be made directly to the laboratory (S. 1220), S6382 [9JN]

———restore State authority to waive the 35-mile rule for designating critical access hospitals (S. 1171), S6033 [3JN]

———update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (S. 1776), S10366, S10382 [13OC], S10385 [14OC], S10589, S10592, S10616 [21OC], S10659, S10689 [22OC]

———update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (S. 1776), motion to proceed, S10604-S10609, S10611-S10614 [21OC]

———update physician fee schedule and sunset application of sustainable growth rate formula (S. 1776), unanimous-consent agreement, S10517 [19OC]

Medicare/Medicaid: improve transparency of information on nursing and skilled nursing facilities and clarify and improve enforcement of requirements on such facilities (S. 647), S3554-S3556 [19MR]

Mental health: establish national centers of excellence for the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders (S. 1857), S10704 [22OC]

Merril Lundman Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Havre, MT: designate (S. 226), S342 [13JA]

Milwaukee, WI: anniversary of Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, S11114 [4NO]

Moultrie, GA: anniversary of Colquitt Regional Medical Center, S10680 [22OC]

National Health Center Week: observance, S8983 [6AU]

Paris, KY: Bourbon Heights Nursing Home recipient of Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities best nursing home in the State award, S333 [13JA]

Philadelphia, PA: tribute to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, S7358 [10JY]

Portland, ME: tribute to servicemen for rescue and Maine Medical Center staff for performance of open-heart surgery on Iraqi girl (S. Res. 127), S5085 [4MY]

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago: tribute, S3541 [19MR]

Robley Rex Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, KY: designate (S. 1493), S7887 [22JY]

Rural areas: home health agencies funding, S1800 [6FE]

———improve access to and delivery of health services, S2012 [9FE]

San Francisco, CA: anniversary of San Francisco VA Medical Center, S9178 [9SE]

Senior citizens: establish long-term services and supports through single-entry point systems, evidence based disease prevention and health promotion programs, and enhanced nursing home diversion programs (S. 1257), S6564 [11JN]

———expand pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers, S12699 [8DE]

———expand pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers (S. 631), S3375 [18MR]

Social Security: clarify that new paperwork and enrollment barriers are not created in the State Children's Health Insurance Program Express Lane Enrollment option, S1040, S1044 [29JA]

———codify rule specifying eligibility for unborn children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1009, S1015, S1031, S1032 [29JA]

———conduct comparative effectiveness research on health care treatment options by establishing a private Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, S11888 [20NO]

———conduct comparative effectiveness research on health care treatment options by establishing a private Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (S. 1213), S6371-S6380 [9JN]

———develop State Children's Health Insurance Program's best practice recommendations and ensure coverage of low-income children, S976, S982, S986 [28JA]

———disregard, for purposes of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid, compensation for participation in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions (S. 1674), S9379 [15SE]

———eliminate exemption for certain States to cover children under State Children's Health Insurance Program whose family income exceeds 300 percent of the Federal poverty level, S1015, S1016, S1019, S1023-S1025, S1029, S1031 [29JA]

———ensure redistributed State Children's Health Insurance Program funds cover low-income children rather than children from higher income families, S961, S968 [28JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), S797, S801-S805, S820-S822 [26JA], S852-S866, S885 [27JA], S949-S989 [28JA], S1007-S1038, S1040-S1050 [29JA], S1121, S1232 [30JA]

———extend and improve the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2), unanimous-consent agreement, S792 [22JA]

———extend funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S10508 [19OC]

———extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program for a limited amount of time in order to enact bipartisan comprehensive health care reform, S1036-S1038 [29JA]

———limit income eligibility expansions under State Children's Health Insurance Program until the lowest income eligible individuals are enrolled, S1017, S1018 [29JA]

———prevent fraud and restore fiscal accountability to Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program by improving improper payment rates, S986, S987 [28JA], S1044 [29JA]

———prioritize assistance for outreach and enrollment under State Children's Health Insurance Program to States with highest percentages of uninsured children, S1045 [29JA]

———prohibit Federal matching payment for Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program coverage of noncitizen children or pregnant women relative to State enrollment of low-income uninsured children, S857-S859, S867, S869, S880 [27JA]

———prohibit State Children's Health Insurance Program coverage for higher income children and payment to States in which income eligibility level for Medicaid exceeds State Children's Health Insurance Program, S962-S965, S968, S969 [28JA]

———prohibit the use of increased tobacco taxes to offset the cost of expanded State Children's Health Insurance Program coverage, S957 [28JA]

———provide additional resources for primary care services, create new Medicare service payment models, and expand provision of non-institutionally-based long-term services (S. 1262), S6589 [15JN]

———provide transparency between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or supplies paid for under Medicare, Medicaid, or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 301), S787-S789 [22JA], S9729 [23SE]

———reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 326), S838 [26JA]

———require States to impose cost-sharing for enrollees in the State Children's Health Insurance Program whose income is more than double the poverty line, S860, S879 [27JA]

———require States to offer premium assistance for coverage of children through private plans under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid if State expands eligibility levels, S987, S988 [28JA], S1030 [29JA]

———strengthen the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S12002 [30NO], S12981 [11DE]

———treat certain income received by hedge fund managers as ordinary income and reduce increase in tobacco excise taxes to fund State Children's Health Insurance Program extension, S875 [27JA], S972, S978, S979 [28JA]

States: impact of national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures on State employees' self-insurance plans, S13774 [22DE]

———permit use of tax credits to negotiate health care premium rates, S13862 [23DE]

Taxation: allow long-term care insurance to be offered under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and provide additional consumer protections for long-term care insurance (S. 702), S3793 [25MR]

———treat certain hospital support organizations as qualified organizations for purposes of determining acquisition indebtedness (S. 112), S85 [6JA]

Veterans: ensure access to services in at least one Veterans Health Administration full-service hospital in their State or comparable contract services in the State (S. 239), S390, S391 [14JA]

———health care funding, S4247, S4266 [2AP], S11316 [10NO]

Reports

Effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on the Federal Budget and the Balance in the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund: CBO, S13812 [23DE]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 2, State Children's Health Insurance Program Extension and Improvement: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 52) (H. Rept. 111-1), H193 [13JA]

Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. 2, State Children's Health Insurance Program Extension and Improvement: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 107) (H. Rept. 111-10), H919 [3FE]

Expand Veteran Eligibility for Reimbursement for Emergency Treatment Furnished in a Non-Dept. of Veterans Affairs Facility: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House) (H.R. 1377) (H. Rept. 111-55), H4061 [26MR]

Family Caregiver Program Act: Committee on Veterans Affairs (Senate) (S. 801) (S. Rept. 111-80), S9868 [25SE]

Indian Health Care Improvement Act Reauthorization and Extension: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 1790), S13319 [16DE]

Mom's Opportunity To Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression (MOTHERS) Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 20) (H. Rept. 111-48), H3747 [23MR]

State Children's Health Insurance Program Extension and Improvement: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 275), S652 [16JA]

Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act: Committee on Veterans' Affairs (House) (H.R. 3219) (H. Rept. 111-223), H8706 [23JY]

Summaries

AmeriCare Health Care Act (H.R. 193), E23 [6JA]

Senate Votes in 110th Congress on Codifying Rule Specifying Eligibility for Unborn Children Under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1011 [29JA]

Tables

Committee on the Budget (Senate) appropriations allocation revisions to S. Con. Res. 70, setting forth the Federal budget for 2008-2013, S886 [27JA]

Testimonies

Medicare Reimbursement Formula Improvement: Erin Murphy, E2156 [31JY]

———Maria Rudd, E2157 [31JY]

———Shane Davis, E2157 [31JY]

———Thomas Huntley, E2156 [31JY]

Texts of

H. Res. 52, consideration of H.R. 2, State Children's Health Insurance Program extension and improvement, H203 [14JA]

H. Res. 69, continue research into causes, treatment, education, and an eventual cure for diabetes, commend those involved, and support designation of Latino Diabetes Awareness Month, H8451 [21JY]

H. Res. 107, consideration of Senate amendment to H.R. 2, State Children's Health Insurance Program extension and improvement, H928 [4FE]

H. Res. 317, recognize Kansas City Animal Health Corridor region, H9509 [15SE]

H. Res. 373, National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, H8842 [27JY]

H. Res. 471, express condolences to families and friends of victims of shooting at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty, Iraq, H6038 [2JN]

H.R. 2, State Children's Health Insurance Program extension and improvement, S1206-S1232 [30JA], H216-H245 [14JA]

H.R. 20, Mom's Opportunity To Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression (MOTHERS) Act, H4081 [30MR]

H.R. 402, William C. Tallent Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Knoxville, TN, H8037 [14JY]

H.R. 1377, expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Dept. of Veterans Affairs facility, H4069 [30MR]

H.R. 3157, Max J. Beilke Dept. of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Alexandria, MN, H12167 [2NO]

H.R. 3219, Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act, H8814 [27JY]

S. 53, Nursing School Clinics Act, S59 [6JA]

S. 54, Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, S60 [6JA]

S. 56, Autonomy for Psychologists and Social Workers Act, S62 [6JA]

S. 112, treat certain hospital support organizations as qualified organizations for purposes of determining acquisition indebtedness, S86 [6JA]

S. 239, Veterans Health Equity Act, S391 [14JA]

S. 295, Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act, S724-S726 [21JA]

S. 307, Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act, S791 [22JA]

S. 326, Kids First Act, S838-S843 [26JA]

S. 330, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S895 [27JA]

S. 404, Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act, S2081 [10FE]

S. 408, improve emergency medical services for children, S2084 [10FE]

S. 509, Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, Walla Walla, WA, major medical facility project authorization, S7573 [15JY], H12165 [2NO]

S. 648, Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act, S3556 [19MR]

S. 683, Community Choice Act, S3676-S3680 [24MR]

S. 687, Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act, S3690 [24MR]

S. 702, Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act, S3793 [25MR]

S. 712, Rural Medicare Equity Act, S3899 [26MR]

S. 801, Family Caregiver Program Act, S4350-S4353 [2AP]

S. 890, Health Information Technology (IT) Public Utility Act, S4694-S4696 [23AP]

S. 957, Public Health Emergency Response Act, S5020-S5022 [1MY]

S. 1028, Strengthening America's Public Health System Act, S5437-S5439 [13MY]

S. 1114, Medical Homes Act, S5729-S5732 [20MY]

S. 1131, Independence at Home Act, S5830-S5834 [21MY]

S. 1143, Public Health Workforce Development Act, S5850-S5852 [21MY]

S. 1150, Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act, S5863-S5872 [21MY]

S. 1165, Promoting Health Care Purchasing Cooperatives Act, S5949 [2JN]

S. 1174, Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act, S6036-S6045 [3JN]

S. 1181, Healthy Living and Healthy Aging Demonstration Project Act, S6190 [4JN]

S. 1201, Helping Fill the Medicare Rx Gap Act, S6265 [8JN]

S. 1213, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act, S6372-S6378 [9JN]

S. 1220, Patient Access to Critical Lab Tests Act, S6383 [9JN]

S. 1239, 340B Program Improvement and Integrity Act, S6546-S6548 [11JN]

S. 1257, Project 2020—Building on the Promise of Home and Community-Based Services Act, S6564-S6568 [11JN]

S. 1262, Medical Efficiency and Delivery Improvement of Care (MEDIC) Act, S6590-S6607 [15JN]

S. 1295, Medicare Transitional Care Act, S6813 [18JN]

S. 1302, Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, S6817 [18JN]

S. 1310, Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility projects and leases authorization, S6847 [19JN]

S. 1322, Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Act, S6942-S6944 [23JN]

S. 1345, Prescribe a Book Act, S7009 [24JN]

S. 1404, Supporting Child Maltreatment Prevention Efforts in Community Health Centers Act, S7196-S7199 [7JY]

S. 1493, Robley Rex Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, KY, S7887 [22JY]

S. 1556, Veteran Voting Support Act, S8684 [3AU]

S. 1578, extend Federal Tort Claims Act medical malpractice coverage to non-physician employees and officers of free clinics, S8867 [5AU]

S. 1585, permit Medicare pass-through payment of costs for nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals, S8871 [5AU]

S. 1717, Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility leases, H10559 [7OC]

S. 1717, Dept. of Veterans Affairs major medical facility leases authorization, S9889 [25SE]

S. 2904, Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act, S13388 [17DE]

S. Con. Res. 25, recognize value, benefits, and importance of community health centers, S6388 [9JN]

S. Res. 101, express condolences to victims and community impacted by Pinelake Health and Rehab Center shootings in Carthage, NC, S4387, S4398 [2AP]

S. Res. 127, tribute to servicemen for rescue and Maine Medical Center staff for performance of open-heart surgery on Iraqi girl, S5085 [4MY]

S. Res. 174, recognize Kansas City Animal Health Corridor region, S6385 [9JN]

S. Res. 243, enroll Members of Congress who participate in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program in any public plan, S8873 [5AU]