Gus Bilirakis: “In any case, this took place during the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, and the additional views…”

“In any case, this took place during the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, and the additional views said Congress explained that the term ``health care entity'' includes an individual physician, a post-graduate physician training program, and a participant in a program of training in the health professions, 42 U.S.C. 238n(c)(2)(1996). They went on to say, and I read verbatim, and this is significant, Mr. Speaker, because of claims made by the other side that this is an expansion of what was intended at that point in time: ``We believe that the term `health care entity' in 42 U.S.C. 238n was intended to be read in the straightforward manner of `including' not only the specific entities mentioned but also those which are routinely seen as health care entities in common usage and other Federal laws, such as a hospital, provider sponsored entity, health maintenance organization, health plan, or any other type of health . . . entities generally seen as `health care entities' under Federal law. We intend to explore other means of definitively resolving this question of legislative intent.''”