[misc.handicap] Harkins health plan

Tzipporah.Benavraham@f632.n278.z1.fidonet.org (Tzipporah Benavraham) (05/24/91)

Index Number: 15791

05/13 1638  SEN. HARKIN PROPOSES HEALTH CARE REFORMS IN ...

WASHINGTON (MAY 13) - Sen Tom Harkin (D-IA), in an address
to the American Physical Therapy Association, detailed his
initiative for health care legislation emphasizing preventive
measures as a way to reduce costs to society.
   "If you qualify for medicaid...and you have breast cancer,
(medicaid) will pay  for a radical mastectomy, upwards of
maybe $15,000," Harkin said. "But we won't pay 75 lousy bucks
every year for a woman to have a free mammogram screening
to catch it early and prevent it. That doesn't make sense."
   Harkin also alluded to personal experiences with the
physically disabled in mentioning a nephew who is a
quadraplegic and a brother who is deaf to encourage the
American Physical Therapy Association to lobby Congress
for additional funding for health care.
   "Last year I increased the funds for health professionals
training from $214 million to $245 million," Harkin said. He
later added, "Without a physical therapist, my nephew would
probably be sitting at home, wasting away, not able to
participate in the workplace."
   Harkin's reference to his preventive measures initiative
included the following:
   - Making healthcare programs a part of daycare for
children. - Putting a "wellness center" in every workplace
in America to aid with ad- ministering health care to
businesses. - In senior citizen centers, congregate meal
sites, "meals on wheels" and health care to save costs.
   This transcript runs 10 pages.
   For a complete transcript call Federal News Service at
1-800-969-3677 Ask for transcript 1391.h

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