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[DOCID: f:hj49ih.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 49

  Requiring a study and report on reducing discriminatory pricing of 
 health services for the uninsured to improve access to needed health 
                             care services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2001

 Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Frank, and Mr. Wexler) introduced the 
  following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Requiring a study and report on reducing discriminatory pricing of 
 health services for the uninsured to improve access to needed health 
                             care services.

Whereas there are over 40 million Americans who are uninsured;
Whereas uninsured Americans are hospitalized at least 50 percent more often than 
        the insured for avoidable hospital conditions, such as pneumonia and 
        uncontrolled diabetes;
Whereas the uninsured are more likely to be diagnosed with later stage cancer 
        than those with insurance;
Whereas newborn infants born to uninsured mothers have a 31 percent greater risk 
        for adverse health outcomes because uninsured pregnant women often 
        receive prenatal care later in their pregnancy;
Whereas insured Americans not only obtain direct benefits through health 
        insurance, but also obtain discounts to charges otherwise imposed by 
        health care providers;
Whereas Americans who are uninsured and who must pay for health care directly 
        are denied access to these discounts and often face bills that are 
        double or even triple the charges made in the case of the insured; and
Whereas this discriminatory treatment significantly and adversely affects the 
        ability of uninsured Americans to obtain access to needed health 
        services: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES BY 
              THE UNINSURED BY REDUCING DISCRIMINATORY PRICING.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
conduct a study regarding methods to improve access to (including the 
affordability of) health care services for uninsured individuals. Such 
study shall examine differences in rates charged to such individuals 
compared to individuals who have health insurance and methods for 
reducing or eliminating such differentials.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
study conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include 
recommendations on steps that may be taken to assure that uninsured 
individuals are not charged more than a reasonable percentage (such as 
10 percent) above the rate charged by health care providers to 
individuals who are insured.
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