Chris Murphy: “a couple weeks ago, I provided for Members of Congress this document: ``Critical Condition: The State of the Union's…”

“a couple weeks ago, I provided for Members of Congress this document: ``Critical Condition: The State of the Union's Health Care, 2006,'' put out by my office. In that we outlined many programs that would help reduce costs of health care in America. Let me expand on one of them about Community Health Centers, which are nonprofit centers to provide primary and preventative care for folks who are low income or who are uninsured and underinsured. However, a recent report by the Journal of the American Medical Association said that although these clinics are of tremendous value, there is a shortage of medical personnel at them. A study published by Dr. Roger Rosenblatt of the University of Washington says that there is a 13 percent shortage of family physicians, a 20 percent shortage of obstetricians, and a 22.5 percent shortage of psychiatrists for these positions. Oddly enough, if a physician is employed by a Community Health Center, they are covered by the Federal liability, but if someone wants to volunteer at a clinic, they are not. It is important that we provide mechanisms to allow physicians and other medical personnel to volunteer at these clinics. America needs that. The uninsured and underinsured need that, and, quite frankly, it would save a tremendous amount of money. People can receive further information on my Web site, murphy.house.gov. ____________________”