Multi-Health Care Legislation Mark-Up

Multi-Health Care Legislation Mark-Up

I am supportive of the bills we have before the full committee today. These bills will maintain access to health care, improve the delivery of care by increasing integration of health information technology, and provide important resources to Children's Hospitals to train the next generation of pediatric medical specialists.

I am concerned though as we move forward with a clean reauthorization of community health centers without addressing some of the concerns I have raised before this committee in the past in relation to waiver authority available to HRSA. No one can question that community health centers have played an integral role in providing access to millions of uninsured Americans. I think we all share the goal to increase access to community health centers whether they be in our home districts or generally nationwide. However, I have been disappointed that HRSA has been unable to clarify how they can help other entities provide this type of care under a model that gives them time to meet certain program requirements but use some of the resources made available under this program for a time limited basis. I believe that the law has been unclear in this area and will address this issue in an amendment I plan to offer today to HR 5573, the Health Centers Renewal Act.

In some cases, I believe it is appropriate to adapt our current model to conditions that exist in the community and give willing entities a little help so they can provide low cost health care to needy Americans.

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