Calls to Congress

SHIRE would like to remind website visitors that now is a critical time to increase efforts to urge U.S. Representatives and Senators to support essential health components of the Budget Resolution.  These include, but are not limited to:

Members of Congress can be reached toll-free
at 1-800-828-0498.

Minority Health Legislation

H.R. 1328: Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007

H.R. 1328, sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ) and 33 cosponsors, was introduced to the House on March 6, 2007 to amend and extend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.  This extensive bill includes specifications for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases and health conditions among American Indians.  It was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ways and Means.  To view this bill, search “Legislation in Current Congress” for “HR 1328” at http://thomas.loc.gov/.   

S. 429: Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization Act

S. 429, which was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (HI) and Daniel K. Akaka (HI), calls to amend and extend the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act based on a list of Congressional findings regarding the “unmet needs and health disparities” among native Hawaiian people.  This bill is part of the process of reviewing and assessing programs in accordance with the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act and recommending additional programs or assistance to ensure health parity for Native Hawaiians.  It has been referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.  To view this bill, search “Legislation in Current Congress” for “S 429” at http://thomas.loc.gov/.   

H.R. 789: Office of Men’s Health Act of 2007

H.R. 789, the “Office of Men’s Health Act of 2007,” was introduced by Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY), Rep. Donna M. Christensen (VI), Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI), and Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) on January 31, 2007.  This bill calls for the creation of an Office of Men’s Health within the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate interventions meant to improve men’s health outcomes, as well as eliminate chronic diseases and health conditions that affect American men. 

Although this proposed legislation proposes a health office for all American men and does not specifically address the intervention in and elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities, many sections of the bill directly point out inequities in health care access and outcomes among communities of color.  The improvement of social determinants that negatively affect men’s health with the establishment of an Office of Men’s Health (as stated in the Introduction) could contribute to the efforts in eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities.  It has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  To view this bill, search “Legislation in Current Congress” for “HR 789” at http://thomas.loc.gov/.   

H.R. 1192: Lupus Research, Education, Awareness, Communication, and Healthcare Amendments of 2007

H.R. 1192, sponsored by Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (FL) and 14 cosponsors, was introduced to the House on February 27, 2007.  This bill proposes to amend the Public Health Service Act by calling for more research to identify the causes and cure of lupus—a disease that disproportionately affects minorities, especially women of color—and promoting increased awareness and understanding of lupus among health professionals and the public.  It was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  To view the bill, search “Legislation in Current Congress” for “HR 1192” at http://thomas.loc.gov/.   

 H. CON. RES. 86: Expressing the sense of Congress that an appropriate month should be recognized as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public awareness of mental illness, especially within minority communities

H. CON. RES. 86, submitted by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH), proposes the establishment of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to raise awareness of mental illness, notably its disproportionate effect on communities of color.  This concurrent resolution was submitted on March 8, 2007 and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  To view the resolution, search “Legislation in Current Congress” for “HCON 86” at http://thomas.loc.gov/.

State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Legislation

Congressional reauthorization of SCHIP funding is being considered.  Enacted in 1997 to extend health insurance coverage to low-income uninsured children, SCHIP currently provides health insurance coverage for more than 6 million children across all states over the course of a year.  Children covered by SCHIP are more likely to get preventative care and treatment from a physician and Genevieve Kenney of the Urban Institute attests that SCHIP coverage has resulted in a narrowing of socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic gaps in coverage and access to care (Kenney, 2007). 

Despite these vast improvements, coverage still needs to be expanded to guarantee health insurance for the 8 million children who are uninsured in the United States (Rowland, 2007), 2 million of whom are eligible for SCHIP but remain uninsured (Kenney and Cook, 2007).  Funding shortfalls would therefore not only impede state outreach to children eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP, but the ability of states to expand coverage to the uninsured who are not currently eligible.  In addition to reauthorizing SCHIP at a federal funding level sufficient to maintain SCHIP’s current projects, $50-$60 billion is required over the next five years to enroll those who are eligible for SCHIP but uninsured.  For more information about SCHIP reauthorization and policy alerts, visit: “Where Things Stand” [http://ga3.org/ct/u1NwZG61qXQM/] on the Families USA website. 

H.R. 593: Children’s Health Insurance Promotion Act of 2007

H.R. 593, sponsored by Rep. David G. Reichert (WA) and Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY) was introduced to the House on January 19, 2007.  This bill would amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to provide grants for outreach and enrollment of U.S. children under the Medicaid and State children’s health insurance programs (SCHIP).  It was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  To view the bill, search “Legislation in Current Congress” for “HR 593” at http://thomas.loc.gov/.    

New Bill to Expand Health Insurance to All American Children

On March 13, 2007, the same day that the public held a rally to demonstrate support for the reauthorization of congressional funding for SCHIP, Rep. John D. Dingell and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton proposed a bill to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program.  The bill would allocate $50 in additional federal funds over the next five years—which would triple spending on the program—to ensure that virtually all uninsured children in the United States would have access to medical coverage.  For more information, see “Top Democrats Propose Expanding Health Insurance for Children” by Robert Pear in The New York Times, accessible via internet: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/
washington/14health.html. 

Maryland House Bill 754: Children and Working Families Healthcare Act

The Children and Working Families Healthcare Act, sponsored by Chairman Peter Hammen of District 46, passed the House Health and Government Operations Committee on Friday, March 9, 2007.  This bill would expand Medicaid coverage to more than 100,000 (up to 250,000) uninsured Marylanders.  In addition to Medicaid expansion, $50 million would be allocated for the maintenance of Prince George’s Hospital over five years.  The bill would be funded by a $1 per pack increase of the tobacco tax—which would provide an estimated $212 million—as well as federal funds.  The third reading of the bill will be held the week of March 16, 2007, after which a final vote will take place in the House.  If the bill passes as expected, it will move to the Senate by the afternoon of the 16th.  For more information about the bill, visit: http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/billfile/hb0754.htm.

Health Information Technology

Legislatures in the United States are increasingly recognizing the numerous values of Health Information Technology (HIT), including promises to secure patient safety, help prevent medical errors, improve health care quality and access, achieve administrative efficiency, reduce medical and administrative costs, connect public health systems, and ultimately improve health outcomes.  This has resulted in the introduction of 121 separate bills focusing on HIT by 38 state legislatures in 2005 and 2006.  Strong bi-partisan support has already enabled the signing of 36 bills in 24 state legislatures into law (eHealth Initiative, 2006).  . 

HIT legislation has had a strong start in the 110th Congress as well.  The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has tracked 23 pieces of legislation (10 Senate bills and 13 House bills) thus far in 2007.  HIT legislative information is updated daily at the HIMSS Legislative Action Center webpage, accessible via internet at: http://capwiz.com/himss/issues/bills/. 

Various issues addressed by HIT legislation have included the assurance of patient privacy, information security, consumer empowerment, interoperability, incentives for health care providers, and—the point emphatically stated by SHIRE—ensuring the full participation of racial and ethnic providers, consumers and communities in every aspect of HIT, including decision-making, planning, adoption, evaluation and anticipated benefits.

H.R. 4157: Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2006

H.R. 4157, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT) and 58 cosponsors in the 109th Congress, is expected to be re-introduced in the 110th Congress.  This bill expands S. 1418 to define the goals and duties of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.  Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY) incorporated three provisions to ensure that the needs of racial and ethnic minorities are addressed in H.R. 4157.  One will require the National Coordinator to conduct a study on best practices and cost effectiveness of HIT development and installation in underserved communities.  The Ferguson-Towns Amendment provides grants to allow underserved communities to adopt technical assistance and other HIT.  The Towns-Rush-Wynn Amendment allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to locate and use existing funds for the benefit of HIT adoption among underserved populations.  The amended bill that included these provisions passed in the House on July 27, 2006.  To view H.R. 4157, visit via internet: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR04157:@@@L&summ2=m&).  

 

S.291: Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007

S. 291 was introduced by Sen. Gordon Smith (OR) on January 12, 2007, with eight cosponsors.  It has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.  The bill establishes within the National Science Foundation (NSF) an Office of Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology to: (1) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements (assistance) to eligible institutions to provide educational instruction in digital and wireless network technologies; and (2) strengthen the national digital and wireless infrastructure by increasing national investment in telecommunications and technology infrastructure at eligible institutions.
This proposed legislation requires the NSF Director to establish an advisory council on the best approaches for involving eligible institutions in supported activities and for reviewing and evaluating submitted proposals. It also requires the council to include members from minority serving institutions. The following institutions would be eligible for such assistance: 1) a historically Black college or university; 2) a Hispanic-, Alaska Native-, or Native Hawaiian-serving institution; 3) a tribally controlled college or university; or 4) an institution determined to have enrolled a substantial number of minority, low-income students who received assistance under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The bill also has a matching funds requirement.

*  For references consulted,  contact Rochelle Carpenter at rcarpenter@shireinc.org.