Access to Rural Physicians Improvement Act of 2004

ACCESS TO RURAL PHYSICIANS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - October 06, 2004)

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Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner), and I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her remarks in support of this legislation.

It has been adequately described and well-defined.

This is an important program that serves both rural America and the core center of cities. It brings rural and urban America together. But as a Member of Congress from Kansas who cares greatly about the future of rural communities across my State, I recognize this is a significant component to meeting the needs, the health care needs of our communities. I know that should we lose our physicians, should we lose our hospitals, our doctors, our home health care agencies, the ability to keep those communities together, to keep our communities alive and well for the future dissipates quickly.

So this is one way in which we have been successful in Kansas and many communities across the country in attracting and retaining physicians.

The good news about the program is, there is a 3-year commitment that the physician remain in that underserved community for a 3-year period of time but, in reality, nearly two-thirds of all physicians in Kansas who participate in this program remain longer. They become an integral part of the community and an integral part of the health care delivery system. Jewell County, Kansas, population 3,791, has two J-1 physicians in their community. They are the only two physicians in the county, Dr. Kalderon and Dr. Meena. They have brought a breath of fresh air to Jewell County and to its hospital. Absent physicians, we cannot keep our hospital doors open, and this program has made it possible for the citizens, the residents of Jewell County to access health care. The great news is that these people become so important to not only the delivery of health care, but components of the community that make a huge difference in the future of that community.

So once, when there was despair and concern as to whether or not we would be able to access health care, whether or not the community hospital would stay alive and well, and whether or not people could be able to afford to live, because rural folks live in that community, senior citizens, young families, the question was answered when the J-1 physicians arrived and stayed.

So, Mr. Speaker, this issue is important. It matters to the future of our country, and it matters especially to the future of rural communities. I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) as well as the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for their support today, and I ask my colleagues in Congress to quickly pass this bill, let the Senate act quickly and keep this program, this highly-valuable program, in place.