In the meantime. the bill is the backbone of much of the primary health care available to our citizens. of the National Health Service Corps. and of essential nurse training. I find it unthinkable to allow any impediments to the continuance of these programs. During the 1960s. a commitment was made by the Congress to support actively social welfare programs including direct health service programs. such as neighborhood health centers. community mental health centers. migrant health centers and family planning services. Although the administration would like to rely on thirdparty payment plans to support such services. these types of programs are never featured components of any thirdparty payment plans. Neighborhood health centers were developed across the country to provide comprehensive. familyoriented ambulatory care to indigent populations in medically underserved areas. They are the backup system for overburdened hospital emergency rooms. Migrant health centers provide services where none other existcertainly not through standard existing financing programs. These programs have been operating under continuing resolutions which allow spending at either the fiscal year 1974 levels or the Presidents budget level. whichever is lower. Because the President recommended a 20percent cut in national health spending. this has meant that many community health centers. migrant health programs. family planning and community mental health centers have already taken a 20- to 25percent cut in funding. I have spoken at length in previous debates on the need for family planning services. I have also spoken out on the need for redistribution of medical services through the Health Services Corps. and through an expanded role for nurse practitioners. as the Nurse Training Act .would accomplish.
Keywords matched
migrant Migrant