Healthcare

As a nurse, I am always looking for ways to improve patient care.

Recent innovations in health information technology have shown a great deal of promise in enhancing the quality of care by reducing clerical errors, facilitating communication between hospitals and other health care facilities, and improving the transfer of x-rays and other images. This new technology has the potential to save lives by reducing medical accidents attributed to human error, such as illegible hand-written prescriptions, and save money by reducing paperwork and increasing the speed with which medical records are accessed. Unfortunately, these innovations are also fraught with potential problems, particularly with regards to protecting the privacy of patients as their personal medical records are more easily accessible to a larger number of people.

Just recently we saw the names, birthdates, social security numbers, addresses and disability information of 26.2 million veterans and active duty military stolen from a single laptop belonging to the Veterans Administration. This lapse in judgment compromised the sensitive personal records of millions of veterans and their families, leaving them extremely vulnerable to fraud and identity theft. I fear that if we don't take necessary precautions, the same security breach could affect the rest of the public. We must ensure safeguards are in place to protect sensitive medical information from being accessed by the wrong parties or being used to discriminate against individuals.

Last week in the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce committee we considered a bill on health information technology. I offered an amendment to this bill that would have expanded and improved existing federal medical privacy law. My amendment would have improved privacy protections for patients in several ways. First, it would require health groups to get consent from patients before sharing medical information. Second, it would allow patients to control the sharing of particularly sensitive records -- such as mental health or HIV/AIDS cases. Third it would ensure that patients are notified in the event that their information has been inappropriately accessed and it would provide a means of legal recourse for patients whose medical records are compromised.

Unfortunately my amendment was rejected in the subcommittee on a party line vote of 12 to 10. I am hopeful that when the Health Information Technology bill is considered by the full Energy and Commerce committee later this week, my colleagues will act to protect the sensitive private medical records of our constituents.

I joined Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressmen Rob Andrews (D-NJ) and Charlie Rangel (D-NY) for a press conference yesterday in opposing a little-known proposed section of the Pension Reform Act that would allow insurance companies to collect money before victims are able to cover the costs of hospitals and other bills during their recovery.

This anti-patient provision penalizes an injured individual for someone else's negligence. Had Section 307 of H.R. 2830 been in place after my accident in the 1980s, my life would be very different. My parents could have been unable to cover my medical expenses and changing needs if the insurance companies were allowed to sue for payment before my situation was settled. This provision will trump strong laws in states like Rhode Island and allow insurance companies to act against victims. Removing this provision means protecting patient rights.

In addition to what this means for patient rights, Section 307 was never discussed or debated before it was slipped into this critical piece of legislation at the eleventh hour. This health insurance provision is not germane to the pension legislation it was placed in. The Pension Reform Act is currently in conference with the Senate, and I am hopeful that Section 307 will be removed during this process.

As a nurse I’ve had a unique vantage point from which to watch our country fight an increasingly successful war against cancer. When I first began my nursing career, this wasn’t the case. Cancer was the dreaded "C" word that people whispered in hushed tones and wouldn’t talk about in public. Even thirty years ago a diagnosis of cancer was a virtual death sentence for all but a few patients. Fortunately we’ve made significant progress in detection and treatment since then, but cancer is still a disease that affects many of us. Today, more than 10 million Americans are living with cancer and this year alone another million will be diagnosed with cancer. When individuals receive a cancer diagnosis, they begin a life-long quest for comprehensive cancer care and a high quality of life.

Providing comprehensive care for cancer patients and helping them make a successful transition from patient to survivor is an important part of our current fight against cancer. While the search for a cure to end cancer continues, we are fortunate to be living in a country where it is possible to survive this terrible disease. Over the last 25 years we’ve seen a significant increase in the population of cancer survivors and it’s important that we remember to address the health needs of these individuals by providing thorough follow-up care.

To address these gaps in current cancer care, my colleague, Rep. Tom Davis (VA) and I introduced the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (CCCIA) to help cancer patients and survivors meet the unique challenges presented by this disease.

The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act would create a system for healthcare providers to develop comprehensive treatment plans, care summaries and follow-up care plans in consultation with their patients. Additionally, the bill would (1) establish grant programs to enhance the professional education and training related to symptom control and palliative care, (2) establish grants to expand and evaluate model programs for integrated cancer care, and (3) increase funding for research in the field of palliative care and symptom management.

As a nurse, I know that by investing in comprehensive care and enhanced treatment plans for individuals diagnosed with cancer we can realize substantial improvements in cancer care while we continue to search for a cure. I hope this bipartisan, common sense bill moves quickly through the legislative process and becomes law so we can ensure that all cancer patients and survivors receive the quality care they deserve.

Every day scientists are breaking new ground in the study of stem cells and bringing new hope and possibility to finding cures for a variety of diseases. Parkinson's disease affects over one million Americans, and I am one of those patients. Parkinson's affects every day of my life.

When I was first diagnosed with this dreadful disease, I was told I would have been able to effectively manage my symptoms for a number of years. Unfortunately, in recent months, the symptoms have become more bothersome, and I have announced plans to retire at the end of this Congress. The decision to retire was a very sad one for me because I believe strongly in serving people.

But Parkinson's will not keep me down. I have been overwhelmed by the encouraging letters I have received by my constituents, colleagues and friends, veterans, and well-wishers from across the nation. I am heartened by your calls and emails.

I have said before that having Parkinson's has made me a better Congressman, and it's true. I know first hand what people go through when battling illness or injury. This is why it is so important to pass a bill that will allow us to perform research on more stem cell lines.

It is past time to allow researchers and doctors access to study these important cells. Because embryonic stem cells are the only cells that have the ability to turn into any cell in the body, their potential should not be ignored. They hold not just the potential to provide direct treatments and cures for today's debilitating injuries and illnesses, but they hold the key to unlocking our understanding of how the body works at the most fundamental level.

Last May, the House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 810, supporting federally funded embryonic stem cell research. My vote, recorded in support of this bill, reflects my strong views on the potential for stem cell research to benefit society. Stem cells can mature into nearly any type of cell, including nerve cells to repair damaged spines or heart cells to pump blood through the body. The therapeutic possibilities of stem cells are endless. It is my hope that the other body will work with us to support stem cell research. Somewhere out there is a little girl who suffered a spinal injury and is unable to walk. Therapy utilizing stem cells is her only hope. How much longer will she and millions of others have to wait?

Instead of misleading our children with the nuclear waste version of Joe Camel, the Department of Energy should tell the truth about the real dangers of dumping toxic nuclear waste in Nevada and the real risk to communities in 43 states that will result from thousands of shipments of radioactive garbage on America's roads and railways. I am proud that more than 140 of my colleagues voted to dump Yucca Mountain Johnny and against the use of taxpayer funded propaganda to fool our children into believing that burying nuclear waste only a short drive from Las Vegas is good for Nevada families.

The domestic nuclear industry is one of wealthiest industries in the country and it has no business asking Congress for handouts paid out at the tax payers expense - that is exactly what this bill will do. Congress is essentially saying it doesn't want to let more immigrants into the country but wants to open the door for foreigners to send us their dangerous nuclear waste.

Whether it's stem cell research, contraception, or global warming, this Administration lets politics trump science at the drop of a hat, without regard for the integrity of the scientific process and without regard to the safety of our nation's public health. This is unacceptable.

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The House passed the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, [HR:4200], a bill to establish new procedures to expedite projects for rehabilitating federal land after fires, floods, or other disasters. The bill would require the Interior and Agriculture departments to develop prompt response plans for lands they manage. Timber harvesting would be allowed on damaged land when trees are dead, likely to die within five years, or must be removed for public safety. The departments could assist state and local governments in restoring non-federal land after a disaster. The bill passed 243-182 without my support.

 

The fiscal year 2007 budget resolution, [HCR:376], passed the House 218-210, with my support. This bill would allow up to $872.8 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2007, plus $50 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would call for mandatory spending cuts of $6.8 billion over five years and tax cuts totaling $448 billion over five years. Defense discretionary spending would increase by 7 percent over fiscalyear 2006, to $460.2 billion, not counting a $50 billion war set-aside, non-defense discretionary spending would remain at $419.4 billion.

 

It is important that Congress pass a budget as a benchmark of fiscal discipline. I was pleased to vote for this bill as we begin to consider appropriations bills for this fiscal year. Although this bill was not perfect, I have pledged to work with my colleagues to make sure that education, health, and other social programs get the funding that they need. These are the programs that affect our communities at the core and need to be prioritized.

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Today I am joined by 50 members of the House in introducing a resolution that urges Congress to provide universal healthcare by 2008. The U.S. spends more on health care and provides less coverage than other developed nations around the world. Reforming our health care system is a moral imperative- we do not even guarantee preventive coverage for our children. Skyrocketing health care costs are stretching the wallets of most families and hindering the competitiveness of American businesses. We can and we must reduce costs, guarantee coverage, and provide quality care.