Bill Clinton: “I rise to express my dismay that a very important program to address the health care needs of the uninsured was not…”

“I rise to express my dismay that a very important program to address the health care needs of the uninsured was not included in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill which we passed today. Now, when our public health infrastructure must be stronger than ever before, it is crucial that we find ways to provide care for Americans who lack health insurance. The Health Community Access Program, or H-CAP, would build on the successful Community Access Program, CAP, demonstration program that congress funded last year. CAP has successfully provided grants to communities to encourage integration among safety net providers of care to the uninsured. More than 135 communities have taken advantage of CAP to improve health care for Americans who lack health insurance. H-CAP allows communities themselves to design solutions for their unique safety-net needs, thus ensuring that the billions of dollars that Congress has already invested in different safety net providers, community health centers, family planning clinics, Ryan White AIDS providers, are spent as effectively as possible. By promoting the integration of health care services, H-CAP allow for more preventive care, and good disease management practices that improve overall health in the long-run and may reduce the incidence of serious and expensive health problems among H-CAP recipients later.”