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103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4431

To authorize demonstration grants for the renovation of facilities and the

purchase of equipment for existing free health clinics that exclusively

serve individuals who are without health insurance.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 17, 1994

Mr. BATEMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To authorize demonstration grants for the renovation of facilities and the purchase of equipment for existing free

health clinics that exclusively serve individuals who are

without health insurance.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Free Health Clinic Ex5 pansion Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR EXISTING FREE

2 HEALTH CLINICS; RENOVATION OF FACILI3 TIES AND PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and

5 Human Services may in accordance with this section make

6 grants to nonprofit private health clinics that do not im7 pose any charge for the provision of health services.

8 (b) PURPOSE OF GRANT.—The Secretary may make

9 a grant under subsection (a) only if the clinic involved

10 agrees that the grant will not be expended for any purpose

11 other than the renovation of facilities, and the purchase

12 of equipment, for providing health services through the

13 clinic.

14 (c) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF GRANT.—A grant

15 under subsection (a) may not exceed $4,000,000.

16 (d) REQUIREMENTS REGARDING FREE CARE.—The

17 Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if

18 the clinic involved meets the following conditions:

19 (1) The clinic provides health services, with pri20 ority given to the provision of primary health care.

21 (2) The clinic does not impose any charge for

22 the provision of health services.

23 (3) The health services of the clinic are made

24 available only to individuals who are without health

25 insurance and whose income does not exceed 125

26 percent of the official poverty line.
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1 (4) None of the health care providers of the

2 clinic receives any compensation for the provision of

3 services through the clinic.

4 (5) Not more than 1 individual among the staff

5 of the clinic receives any compensation for the provi6 sion of services to the clinic, subject to paragraph

7 (4).

8 (6) The clinic agrees to continue operating the

9 clinic in accordance with the conditions described in

10 paragraphs (1) through (5).

11 (e) CRITERIA REGARDING LACK OF HEALTH INSUR12 ANCE.—For purposes of subsection (d)(3), an individual

13 is without health insurance if—

14 (1) the individual is not covered under any

15 health insurance policy or plan (including a group

16 health plan or prepaid plan and including an em17 ployee welfare benefit plan under the Employee Re18 tirement Income Security Act of 1974); and

19 (2) the individual is not covered under the pro20 gram of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or the

21 program of title XIX of such Act, or any other gov22 ernment program that entitles the individual to re23 ceive health services.

24 (f) APPLICATION FOR GRANT.—The Secretary may

25 make a grant under subsection (a) only if an application
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1 for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the appli2 cation is in such form, is made in such manner, and con3 tains such agreements, assurances, and information as the

4 Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this

5 section.

6 (g) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:

7 (1) The term ‘‘official poverty line’’ means the

8 official poverty line established by the Director of

9 the Office of Management and Budget and revised

10 by the Secretary in accordance with section 673(2)

11 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981,

12 which line is applicable to the size of the family in13 volved.

14 (2) The term ‘‘primary health care’’ means the

15 following medical specialities: Family medicine, gen16 eral internal medicine, general pediatrics, and ob17 stetrics and gynecology.

18 (3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

19 of Health and Human Services.

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