The Introduction of the District of Columbia Loan Repayment Equity Technical Amendment Act of 2007

Floor Speech

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LOAN REPAYMENT EQUITY TECHNICAL AMENDMENT ACT OF 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 11, 2007)

* Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``District of Columbia Loan Repayment Equity Technical Amendment Act of 2007.'' This bill will ensure that undeserved communities in the District of Columbia have access to adequate health care services in selected health professional shortage areas, HPSAs, identified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under the State Loan Repayment Program, as Congress intended. This bill does not involve any new funds. It will make the District eligible to receive assistance through the Public Health Service Act grants system, as would already be the case if the District had a matching program. Until 2006 there was no matching program in the District thus making it ineligible to apply for assistance. This bill is revenue neutral. Adding the District of Columbia to this program will not have any effect on federal funding because the District will be required to compete for the Federal funds exactly as every other State competes for the grants.

* The State Loan Repayment Program, SLRP, was implemented in 1987 in response to Section 3381 of the Public Health Service Act, which authorizes the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to States to help recruit and retain primary health care professionals in HPSAs. Under the State Loan Repayment Program, clinicians provide primary care health services in HPSAs in exchange for funds for the repayment of their qualifying educational loans. These individuals are fully trained and licensed primary health care clinicians dedicated to meeting the health care needs of medically underserved communities.

* Under the State Loan Repayment Program, grants are made to States to operate their own loan repayment programs. Primary care health professionals who are providing a minimum of 2 years of full-time clinical services in public or non-profit facilities located in HPSAs are eligible to apply for a loan repayment. The State Loan Repayment Program is a collaboration of Federal, State, and community efforts. The Federal Government provides up to 50 percent of the funds to make loan repayment funds to primary health care professionals. The remaining 50 percent of the funding comes from State and local community resources.

* The District of Columbia has 13.8 percent underinsured residents compared to 15.7 percent of individuals that are uninsured across the country. Approximately 17 percent of non-elderly adults and l0.4 percent of children are uninsured.

* Today, millions of Americans lack access to health insurance. In 2005, more than 46 million persons were uninsured for the entire year. There are several reasons for the lack of health coverage for Americans among all uninsured persons under age 65, more than half were underprivileged and 34 percent lacked health coverage.

* Improving the health care system is a huge priority for Congress. The Institute of Medicine found that the insurance status of parents affects the amount of health care that their children receive. By amending the Public Health Service Act, this bill would provide eligibility to the District of Columbia for the State Loan Repayment Program. It is extremely important that underserved populations have access to primary health services regardless of their low-income status. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

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