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HEALTH

The Public Record for the 109th Congress

(See our archives page if you require information for a previous Congress.)

This is a list of public information regarding health issues released in the 109th Congress by the Committee on Energy and Commerce Democrats. The information is listed by date.

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News Releases

October 25, 2006	Dingell Reiterates Call for Affordable Health Care; EBRI Survey Finds Americans Unhappy with Health Care Costs
September 22, 2006	National Donut Hole Day Today: Loss in Drug Coverage to Affect Millions of Medicare Beneficiaries
September 19, 2006	Democrats Call for Immediate Action to Protect Children's Health Insurance Coverage
July 27, 2006	Dingell Introduces Bill to Halt Medicare Physician Payment Cuts, Rising Premiums
July 19, 2006	Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Health Benefits for Schoolchildren with Disabilities
July 10, 2006	"New GAO Report Finds Medicare Drug Plan Hotlines Provide Seniors With Incomplete and Inaccurate Information" » See also GAO’s report and Democratic Staff Fact Sheet
May 3, 2006	"New GAO Report Finds Widespread Problems With Information Provided by Bush Administration About New Medicare Drug Benefit" » See also GAO’s report and fact sheet
February 8, 2006	"Clinton and Dingell Introduce Legislation To Roll Back Bush Giveaway To Insurance Companies"
February 6, 2006	"Democrats Offer Plan to Provide Health Insurance to All" -- See also the Summary of the Legislation
January 30, 2006	"Seniors Will Get Needed Medicines Under Democratic Proposal" » Also read the summary of the legislation
January 24, 2006	Clinton and Dingell Announce Legislation to Rescind Republican Giveaway to Insurance Companies
October 3, 2005	GAO Report Found Little Data Exists to Support Claim that Elderly Transfer Assets to Qualify for Medicaid
September 8, 2005	Democrats Introduce Legislation to Ensure Hurricane Victims Access to Health Care
July 19, 2005	"Dingell Introduces Bill to Restore Medicaid Funding" » See Fact Sheet on the "Medicaid Formula Fairness Act of 2005"
May 26, 2005	"Statement of Senator Max Baucus and Representative John D. Dingell On the Administration's Announcement of a Medicaid Commission"
May 11, 2005	"Dingell Will Keep Fighting for Patients' Rights"
May 4, 2005	"Democrats Introduce Legislative Package to Help More than 20 Million of the Nation's Uninsured"
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Letters

December 18, 2006	Letter to the Honorable Leslie V. Norwalk, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, submitting comments on the proposed rules (CMS-4119-P) entitled "Medicare Program; Medicare Part D Data," issued October 18, 2006
October 30, 2006	Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Rangel, Stark, and Brown write to CMS Administrator Norwalk regarding the public availability of detailed data on the current status of the Medicare Advantage program and the Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
October 25, 2006	Letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt regarding dissatisfaction with the Medicare & You 2007 Handbook which was recently sent to America's Medicare beneficiaries
October 25, 2006	Letter to CMS Acting Administrator requesting that CMS publish in the final rule on the Physician Fee Schedule to be issued on November 1, 2006, values for four Current Procedural Technology codes often used by pediatricians
October 10, 2006	Letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt regarding proposed regulatory changes to the diabetes management protocol for skilled nursing facility residents
September 25, 2006	Follow-up Letter from Reps. Dingell, Rangel, Waxman, Stark, and Brown to CMS Administrator McClellan regarding concern about inadequate oversight of companies and individuals selling Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
September 13, 2006	Letter from Reps. Dingell and Waxman to U.S. Comptroller General Walker asking the GAO to investigate the impact of and costs associated with new documentation requirements for determining the citizenship of Medicaid beneficiaires
September 7, 2006	Letter from Reps. Dingell, Waxman, Rangel, Brown, and Stark to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator McClellan raising concern about a number of issues regarding implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit
August 9, 2006	Reps. Dingell, Brown, and Waxman write HHS Secretary Leavitt to comment on the July 12 interim final rule published to implement the section of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that requires any individual on Medicaid or applying for Medicaid to document both citizenship and identity
July 26, 2006	Letter from Members of Congress to HHS Secretary Leavitt urging HHS not to implement regulatory changes referenced in President Bush's FY2007 budget that would result in severe cuts to Medicaid
July 20, 2006	Minority Leader Pelosi, Reps. Dingell, Rangel, and Waxman write Speaker urging House consideration of legislation to correct failures in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program resulting from the prohibition against price negotiation
May 22, 2006	Letter to Chairman Regula, Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education, and Ranking Member Obey, Committee on Appropriations, regarding full funding for grants to State high-risk insurance pools included as part of the FY 2007 HHS Appropriations bill
May 18, 2006	Letter from Democratic Members of the House to Speaker Hastert regarding health information technology legislation
May 11, 2006	Letter to Comptroller General Walker requesting the GAO examine how well Medicare Part D is working to provide Medicare beneficiaries with their medications
May 10, 2006	Letter to President Bush from several Members of Congress regarding DOE policies that would penalize responsible contractors who offer comprehensive employee health and pension plans
May 5, 2006	Letter to Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Cerise regarding the provision of adequate healthcare services for residents of the New Orleans region
May 4, 2006	Letter to Comptroller General Walker asking the GAO to examine the use by the Secretary of HHS of section 1115 Medicaid waivers
April 26, 2006	Letter to Secretary Leavitt regarding the performance of Medicare Part D "call centers"
April 6, 2006	Letter from House Members to HHS Secretary Leavitt regarding confusion for beneficiaries surrounding the implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D)
February 23, 2006	Letter to Secretary Leavitt objecting to FDA’s claim that state lawsuits related to prescription drugs should be barred by FDA regulation of prescription drugs and pointing out that FDA justifies this claim with misleading statements and critical omissions
January 26, 2006	Letter to Speaker Hastert concerning the implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug program
January 23, 2006	Letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt concerning implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug program
January 10, 2006	Letter to CMS requesting a report regarding their assessment and decision to classify a device manufactured by BlueSky Medical used for negative pressure wound therapy, allowing for Medicare coverage of this product
November 23, 2005	Questions to Secretary Leavitt from Rep. Dingell regarding the November 8, 2005, full Committee hearing, "Assessing the National Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan"
November 8, 2005	Letter to CMS Administrator McClellan expressing views on the proposed rule to establish a process for prior determinations for certain items and services covered by Medicare
October 24, 2005	Letter to Comptroller General Walker asking that the GAO investigate whether information that seniors are now receiving from CMS and from private drug plans about the Medicare drug benefit is helpful and accurate
October 12, 2005	Letter to HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt protesting the decision to permit Dr. von Eschenbach to lead the FDA while remaining the director of the NCI and requesting the appointment of a permanent commissioner who is free from conflicts of interest
October 6, 2005	Letter to CMS Administrator McClellan from Reps. Rangel, Dingell, Waxman, Stark, and Brown regarding inaccurate information in the "Medicare and You" handbook distributed to Medicare beneficiaries
May 9, 2005	Letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt submitting comments on the Medicare Program: Changes to the Medicare Appeal Procedures, Interim Final Rule, issued in the March 8, 2005, Federal Register
April 13, 2005	Letter to Labor Secretary Chao, HHS Secretary Leavitt, and Treasury Secretary Snow submitting comments on the joint proposed and final regulations issued by the Departments on HIPAA
April 13, 2005	Letter to OMB Director Bolten requesting further details of the Medicaid policies contained in the President's FY2006 budget request
March 7, 2005	Letter to President Bush regarding Medicaid
March 4, 2005	Questions to Secretary Leavitt from Reps. Dingell, Allen, Rush, Gonzalez, Schakowsky, and Markey regarding the February 17, 2005, full Committee hearing, "A Review of the Administration's FY2006 Health Care Priorities"
February 15, 2005	Letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt requesting details behind the President's Medicaid proposals and the state-by-state effects of those proposals
February 2, 2005	Letter to President Bush from several Members of Congress expressing serious concerns over the retiree provisions included in the final Medicare regulations
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Statements

September 28, 2006	Subcommittee on Health Hearing on "Medicare Physician Payments: 2007 and Beyond"
September 27, 2006	Committee on Energy and Commerce Markup of H.R. 5782, the "Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2006" and H.R. 5472, the "National Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act of 2006"
September 20, 2006	Committee on Energy and Commerce markup on nine bills relating to health and energy issues, and two resolutions authorizing issuance of subpoenas
September 19, 2006	Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing on "Improving NIH Management and Operations: A Legislative Hearing on the NIH Reform Act of 2006"
July 27, 2006	House floor debate of H.R. 4157, the "Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005"
July 27, 2006	House floor debate of H.Res. 952, the Rule on H.R. 4157 the "Health Information Technology Act of 2006"
July 25, 2006	Subcommittee on Health Hearing entitled "Medicare Physician Payment: How To Build A Payment System That Provides Quality, Efficient Care For Medicare Beneficiaries"
July 19, 2006	Consideration of H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research and Enhancement Act", Veto Override
July 19, 2006	Introduction of the Protecting Children's Health in Schools Act of 2006
July 18, 2006	Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Use of Imaging Services: Providing Appropriate Care for Medicare Beneficiaries"
June 13, 2006	Subcommittee on Health Markup to consider S. 655, to amend PHSA with respect to National Foundation for the CDC; H.R. ____ a Committee Print on the Community Health Center Reauthorization Act of 2006; H.R. ____, a Committee Print on the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Payment Program Reauthorization Act of 2006; and H.R. 4157, the Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005
June 8, 2006	Committee on Energy and Commerce Markup, H.R. 4157, the "Better Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005"
May 24, 2006	Committee on Energy and Commerce Markup of H.R. 5438, "Public Health and Medical Emergency Coordination Act of 2006"; H.R. 3997, "Financial Data Protection Act of 2006"; and H.R. 5126, "Truth in Caller ID Act"
May 23, 2006	Subcommittee on Health Hearing entitled "Examining the Federal Government's Partnership with America's Pharmacists"
May 17, 2006	Subcommittee on Health Hearing entitled "Planning For Long-Term Care"
May 10, 2006	House Floor, Statement on H.Res.____, Encouraging all eligible Medicare beneficiaries who have not yet elected to enroll in the new Medicare Part D benefit to review the available options and to determine whether enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug plan best meets their current and future needs for prescription drug coverage
April 27, 2006	Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Reauthorizing the Ryan White Care Act: How To Improve the Program to Ensure Access to Care"
April 6, 2006	Subcommittee on Health hearing on "Project Biosheild Reautorization Issues"
March 29, 2006	Full Committee markup of H.R. 4127, the Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA) and H.Con.Res. 357, regarding National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
March 16, 2006	Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Legislative Proposals to Promote Electronic Health Records and a Smarter Health Information System"
March 15, 2006	Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "What's The Cost?: Proposals To Provide Consumers With Better Information About Healthcare Service Costs"
March 8, 2006	House Floor Consideration of H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005"
March 1, 2006	Subcommittee on Health hearing entitled "Medicare Part D: Implementation of the New Drug Benefit"
February 15, 2006	Full Committee hearing entitled "The Administration's FY '07 Health Care Priorities"
February 8, 2006	Introduction of the Patients Before Profits Act of 2006
February 1, 2006	Introduction of the Medicare For All Act
February 1, 2006	Introduction of the Medicare Prescription Drug Emergency Guarantee Act
February 1, 2006	House Floor, Budget Reconciliation Conference Report
December 19, 2005	House Floor Debate, Conference Report on Reconciliation Budget Cuts
December 15, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce Markup of H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity For Food Act of 2005," H.R. 4127, the "Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA)," and H.R. 3699, the "Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2005"
November 17, 2005	House Floor Debate on the Budget Reconciliation Bill
November 17, 2005	Subcommittee on Health Hearing on "Medicare Physician Payment: How To Build A More Efficient Payment System"
November 15, 2005	Full Committee Markup to consider H.R. 3889, the "Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act"
November 8, 2005	Full Committee Hearing on "Assessing the National Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan"
October 25, 2005	Full Committee Markup to consider reconciliation measures relating to Title I, the Digital Television Transition Act of 2005, and Title II, Medicaid, Katrina health relief, and Katrina energy relief
October 20, 2005	Subcommittee on Health and Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials Joint Hearing Entitled "Comprehensively Combating Methamphetamines: Impacts on Health and the Environment"
October 19, 2005	House Floor, during consideration of H.R. 3971, the "Social Services Emergency Relief and Recovery Act of 2005"
October 6, 2005	Floor Statement on the Extension of the Qualified Individual and Transitional Medicaid Programs
September 8, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing on "Medicaid: Empowering Beneficiaries on the Road to Reform"
September 7, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing regarding recovering from Hurricane Katrina
July 29, 2005	House Floor Statement Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Medicare
July 27, 2005	House Floor Debate on H.R. 3204, the High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005
July 27, 2005	House Floor Debate on S. 544, the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005
July 20, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce Markup on Pending Health Legislation
July 14, 2005	Subcommittee on Health Markup of H.R. 3204, the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005 and H.R. 3205, the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act
June 22, 2005	Subcommittee on Health Hearing on "Medicaid Prescription Drugs: Examining Options for Payment Reform"
June 15, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing on "Medicaid Reform: The National Governors Association's Roadmap"
May 24, 2005	House Floor Debate on H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research and Enhancement Act of 2005"
April 27, 2005	Subcommittee on Health Hearing on "Long-Term Care and Medicaid: Spiraling Costs and the Need For Reform"
April 26, 2005	House Floor Debate on the Motion to Instruct Conferees, Fiscal Year 2006 Budget
February 17, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on "A Review of the Administration's FY2006 Health Care Priorities"
February 10, 2005	Subcommittee on Health hearing on Current Issues Related to Medical Liability Reform
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Speeches

January 26, 2006	Remarks of Congressman John D. Dingell before Families USA Annual Conference
December 6, 2005	Remarks of Congressman John D. Dingell before the Ascension Health CEO Council Meeting
February 17, 2005	Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on "A Review of the Administration's FY2006 Health Care Priorities"
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Dear Colleague Letters

July 26, 2006	"Support a Bipartisan Approach to Health Information Technology"
June 18, 2006	"Cosponsor the "Protecting Children's Health in Schools Act of 2006"
January 31, 2006	"Medicaid Cuts Hurt Beneficiaries"
January 31, 2006	"Reject the Reconciliation Spending Bill's Giveaways to HMOs and Drug Companies"
January 31, 2006	"Guarantee that Seniors and People with Disabilities Get Their Prescription Drugs; Cosponsor the Medicare Prescription Drug Emergency Guarantee Act"
November 16, 2005	"Compare House and Senate Medicaid Cuts For Yourself -- Vote "No" on Reconciliation" Also see Attached Chart
November 10, 2005	"Medicaid Cuts in Republican Reconciliation Bill Hurt Beneficiaries"
November 9, 2005	"Why Should Individuals With Disabilities Be Asked to Help Pay For Tax Cuts?"
November 8, 2005	"House Republican Reconciliation Package; A Bad Investment for Our Health"
October 6, 2005	"Provide Immediate Health Coverage to Katrina Survivors in Need; Cosponsor H.R. 3698"
July 21, 2005	"Cosponsor H.R. 3359, the "Medical Malpractice and Insurance Reform Act of 2005"
July 12, 2005	" Protect Your State Medicaid Funding From Arbitrary Formula-Driven Cuts in 2006"
April 26, 2005	"Protect Patients, Not HMO Profits Cosponsor the Patients' Bill of Rights of 2005"
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