Health Information Technoloty Pormotion Act of 2006

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - July 27, 2006)

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Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.

The text of the amendment is as follows:

Amendment No. 4 printed in House Report 109-603 offered by Mr. Cuellar:

In section 330M(d) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 104 of the Bill, strike ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1), strike the period at the end of paragraph (2) and insert ``; or'', and add at the end the following new paragraph:

``(3) if the project to be funded through such a grant will emphasize the improvement of access to medical care and medical care for medically underserved populations which are geographically isolated or located in underserved urban areas.''.

The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 952, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment to H.R. 4157 emphasizes the priority of funding grants which would improve access, coordination, and the provision of health care to the uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved areas in both rural and urban areas in the State and in the country.

This amendment will add priority antiquated health system grant proposals which improve medical care access and health care by way of health information technology to patients in underserved rural and urban areas. In my district, which encompasses both rural and urban areas, I have seen the need for health IT to promote better health care and accessibility.

In some of my rural counties, citizens are faced with few health care options and in many cases, are forced to travel great distances to see doctors, specialists, and go to a hospital or care facility which can address their individual health needs. In my hometown of Laredo, Texas, a major South Texas urban area, there is a great need for health IT to better coordinate and provide the care to the uninsured and underinsured, and of course, the underserved patients.

Citizens in America's remote and rural isolated areas and urban areas, which often lack sufficient medical services, face very difficult challenges to access quality health care and treatment. New health information technology, including the health IT to be funded by grants to be integrated with the health care systems, and this particular bill, a bill that I support, lays the essential groundwork for a new era of sensibility and quality health care that all Americans deserve regardless of where they call home.

Mr. Chairman, I ask for favorable consideration of my amendment, and I believe this amendment is acceptable to Mrs. Johnson.

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