IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 99
Directing the Congress to enact legislation by October 2005 that provides 
access to comprehensive health care for all Americans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2003
Mr. CONYERS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Directing the Congress to enact legislation by October 2005 
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; 
Whereas 42,000,000 Americans, including 8,000,000 chil-
dren, are uninsured;
•HCON 99 IH 
Whereas tens of millions more Americans are inadequately in-
sured, 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, particu-
larly communities of color; 
Whereas health care costs continue to increase, jeopardizing 
the health security of working families and small busi-
nesses; 
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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), that the Congress shall enact legislation by 
October 2005 to guarantee that every person in the United 
States, regardless of income, age, or employment or health 
status, has access to health care that—
(1) is affordable to individuals and families, 
businesses and taxpayers and that removes financial 
barriers to needed care; 
(2) is as cost efficient as possible, spending the 
maximum amount of dollars on direct patient care;
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(3) provides comprehensive benefits, including 
benefits for mental health and long term care serv-
ices; 
(4) promotes prevention and early intervention; 
(5) includes parity for mental health and other 
services; 
(6) eliminates disparities in access to quality 
health care; 
(7) addresses the needs of people with special 
health care needs and underserved populations in 
rural and urban areas; 
(8) promotes quality and better health out-
comes; 
(9) addresses the need to have adequate num-
bers of qualified health care caregivers, practi-
tioners, and providers to guarantee timely access to 
quality care; 
(10) provides adequate and timely payments in 
order to guarantee access to providers; 
(11) fosters a strong network of health care fa-
cilities, including safety net providers; 
(12) ensures continuity of coverage and con-
tinuity of care; 
(13) maximizes consumer choice of health care 
providers and practitioners; and
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(14) is easy for patients, providers and practi-
tioners to use and reduces paperwork.
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