IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 99

Directing Congress to enact legislation by October 2004 that provides access

to comprehensive health care for all Americans.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 4, 2001

Mr. CONYERS (for himself, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. TIERNEY, Ms. LEE, Mrs.

CHRISTENSEN, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. NADLER, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. LEWIS

of Georgia, Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. FRANK, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. OLVER, Mr.

THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. STARK, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, and Mr.

CAPUANO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Directing Congress to enact legislation by October 2004 that

provides access to comprehensive health care for all

Americans.

Whereas the United States has the most expensive health

care system in the world in terms of absolute costs, per

capita costs, and percentage of gross domestic product

(GDP);

Whereas despite being first in spending, the World Health

Organization has ranked the United States 37th among

all nations in terms of meeting the needs of its people;
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Whereas 43 million Americans, including 10 million children,

are uninsured;

Whereas tens of millions more Americans are inadequately insured, including medicare beneficiaries who lack access to

prescription drug coverage and long term care coverage;

Whereas racial, income, and ethnic disparities in access to

care threaten communities across the country, particularly communities of color;

Whereas health care costs continue to increase, jeopardizing

the health security of working families and small businesses;

Whereas dollars that could be spent on health care are being

used for administrative costs instead of patient needs;

Whereas the current health care system too often puts the

bottom line ahead of patient care and threatens safety

net providers who treat the uninsured and poorly insured;

and

Whereas any health care reform must ensure that health care

providers and practitioners are able to provide patients

with the quality care they need: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress shall enact legislation by

3 October 2004 to guarantee that every person in the United

4 States, regardless of income, age, or employment or health

5 status, has access to health care that—

6 (1) is affordable to individuals and families,

7 businesses and taxpayers and that removes financial

8 barriers to needed care;
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1 (2) is as cost efficient as possible, spending the

2 maximum amount of dollars on direct patient care;

3 (3) provides comprehensive benefits, including

4 benefits for mental health and long term care serv5 ices;

6 (4) promotes prevention and early intervention;

7 (5) includes parity for mental health and other

8 services;

9 (6) eliminates disparities in access to quality

10 health care;

11 (7) addresses the needs of people with special

12 health care needs and underserved populations in

13 rural and urban areas;

14 (8) promotes quality and better health out15 comes;

16 (9) addresses the need to have adequate num17 bers of qualified health care caregivers, practi18 tioners, and providers to guarantee timely access to

19 quality care;

20 (10) provides adequate and timely payments in

21 order to guarantee access to providers;

22 (11) fosters a strong network of health care fa23 cilities, including safety net providers;

24 (12) ensures continuity of coverage and con25 tinuity of care;
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1 (13) maximizes consumer choice of health care

2 providers and practitioners; and

3 (14) is easy for patients, providers and practi4 tioners to use and reduces paperwork.

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