IA

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 241

To ensure all residents equal access to quality health care services if a

managed competition health plan is enacted.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 27, 1993

Mr. STARK introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Energy and Commerce

JOINT RESOLUTION

To ensure all residents equal access to quality health care

services if a managed competition health plan is enacted.

Whereas over thirty-seven million Americans have no health

insurance and therefore inadequate access to necessary

health care and tens of millions more residents have inadequate health insurance;

Whereas one solution to the health care crisis in the United

States of America currently being considered would encourage competition between large groups of providers

(Accountable Health Plans or AHP’s) to provide health

care to large groups of buyers (Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperatives or HIPC’s);
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HJ 241 IH

Whereas this proposed plan calls for the creation of a national health board which would define a standard package of health benefits and HIPC’s would negotiate prices

with competing AHP’s which would compete on the basis

of price, and quality of services;

Whereas tens of millions of Americans will be unable to afford more than the lowest bidding AHP in a given geographic area and will, de facto, be locked into that plan

(for example, there will be no real freedom of choice for

these individuals);

Whereas the lowest bidding AHP in a given HIPC is less

likely to include adequate numbers of higher quality providers (such as tertiary hospital trauma centers, rehabilitation, and a full range of mental health facilities);

Whereas the proposed plan would allow each State significant

flexibility to organize and manage the HIPC’s and such

flexibility may result in quality differences between the

State;

Whereas the health industry has traditionally avoided the

Medicaid population, the poor, the unemployed, and the

chronically ill, assurances should be provided to guarantee true equal access to quality health care to high-risk

populations;

Whereas one of the members of the Alliance of Managed

Competition has submitted testimony to the House Committee on the District of Columbia stating that it has

many providers who do not want poor people in their

waiting rooms and therefore would not participate in a

managed care operation that included large numbers of

Medicaid clients;
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HJ 241 IH

Whereas concern has been expressed by representatives of the

disabled, chronically ill, and high-risk populations that

they will continue to have unequal access to quality

health care under managed competition proposals;

Whereas approximately 25 percent of the population of this

country still lives in rural areas which have small hospitals or none at all and few, if any, physicians, and concern has been expressed that rural residents will not have

universal access to quality health care;

Whereas most residents will feel secure and confident about

health care reform legislation when they have equal access to quality health care regardless of income, place of

residence, status of health, or employment;

Whereas Members of Congress should not force millions of

their constituents into health care systems they themselves are unwilling to join; and

Whereas Members of Congress and their families who participate in the lowest bidding AHP in their congressional

district will provide an immediate warning of quality

problems, deficiencies, and underservice, and thus will ensure that everyone, regardless of income, place of residence, status of health, or employment will have access

to quality health care: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That all Members of Congress and their families enroll

4 in the lowest bidding AHP in their home of record.

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