January 27, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

IN HONOR OF ASTRONAUT JOE care and private insurance plans pay an HMO cited as the chief avoidable cause of death in FRANK EDWARDS, JR. hundreds of dollars a month to ``maintenance'' the United States, responsible for more than an enrollee's health. But how can the HMO 420,000 deaths annually, Despite this, physi- HON. BOB RILEY provide maintenance or preventative care cians and other practitioners fail to assess and OF ALABAMA (such as immunizations, mammograms, etc.), counsel smokers consistently and effectively.'' unless it sees the enrollee and establishes a Again, an HMO would be the ideal setting to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES health benchmark on the person? help a person stop smoking, but they can't do Tuesday, January 27, 1998 My legislation is designed to ensure that it if they don't see the patientÐand that's why Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to con- HMOs really do maintain people's health. By we need H.R. 337. gratulate the extraordinary accomplishments of scheduling an appointment and the collection As we start to pay HMOs thousands of dol- one of Alabama's finest, Astronaut Joe Frank of basic health data, the HMO can truly begin lars a year for maintaining health, let's make Edwards, Jr., of Lineville, Alabama, who is pi- to provide managed care health. It can deter- sure that they at least see the individual and loting the space shuttle Endeavor, which took mine whether the person is a smoker, over- do something to earn these payments. If the off on January 22, 1998. weight has high cholesterol, is diabetic, is fac- premise of managed care is correct, then H.R. Graduating from Clay County's Lineville ing glaucoma, etc. Once these benchmarks 337's early profiling and subsequent counsel- High School in 1976, Joe went on to receive have been established, the HMO can begin ing will save the HMOs money in the long run a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the counseling or the other services needed to by avoiding future expensive acute care serv- the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980 and an M.S. ``maintain'' or improve healthÐthus fulfilling ices. in Aviation Systems from the University of the promise of managed care. f The November 5, 1997 issue of the Journal Tennessee in 1994. As a Naval Aviator, Joe IN RECOGNITION OF THE ORANGE of American Medical Association (JAMA) con- has been honored with many medals, includ- COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE CUL- tains an article, ``The Relationship Between ing the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, INARY ARTS Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Patient Income and Physical discussion of Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Health Behaviors,'' which states, ``Although Medal. Joe has also received the Daedalian unhealthy behaviors were common among all HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ Superior Airmanship Award in 1992, the Fight- income groups, physician discussion of health OF CALIFORNIA er Squadron 143 Fighter Pilot of the Year in risk behaviors fell far short of the universal risk IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1984 and 1985, the Fighter Squadron 142 assessment and discussion recommended by Tuesday, January 27, 1998 Fighter Pilot of the Year in 1990, 1991, and the US Preventive Services Task Force. We Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to 1992, and the Carrier Airwing Seven Pilot of conclude that the prevalence of physician dis- take this opportunity to recognize a remark- the Year in 1985, 1990, and 1991. cussion of health risk behaviors needs to be able culinary school that was recently estab- In December 1994, Joe was selected as an improved.'' lished in Orange County, CA, the Orange astronaut candidate by NASA. After complet- If physicians would do more to counsel their County School of Culinary Arts. ing a year of training and evaluation, he has patients especially the lower income, these in- The school is sponsored by the Regional qualified for assignment as a shuttle pilot. dividuals could receive adequate and inform- Occupation Program (ROP) of North Orange During the STS±89 mission, Joe will be re- ative health care advice. As the JAMA article County. ROP is responsible for rehabilitating sponsible for undocking from the eighth shuttle said, ``Physicians also need to be more vigi- and re-training underprivileged and unem- rendezvous with Russia's Mir Space Station lant in properly identifying and counseling low- ployed citizens and high school students to and piloting the flight around the space sta- income patients at risk. Increasing the preva- compete and succeed in a competitive work tion. The nine day shuttle mission objectives lence of physician discussion of health risk be- environment. include replacing astronaut Dr. David Wolf haviors could greatly affect productivity, quality The Orange County School of Culinary Arts with Andy Thomas who will be the next U.S. of life, mortality, and health costs in the United offers a wide variety of culinary classes that is crew member on the Mir Space Station. More States. If the nation is truly interested in health as good, if not better, than that of the larger than 7,000 pounds of experiments, supplies, improvement, a multifaceted approach is re- culinary institutes in America. While the cost of and hardware are scheduled to be transferred quired to diminish the social gradients in tuition at one of the big three Culinary Arts between the two spacecraft. health related to education, income, housing schools often exceeds $27,000 per year, a Clay County, as well as all of Alabama, is and opportunity, including a more effective na- course at the Orange County School of the very proud of Joe's exceptional hard work and tional system for preventive services (Papani- Culinary Arts costs $40 per class, a $65 uni- commitment to space flight. I congratulate Joe colaou tests, breast examinations, immuniza- form fee and the cost of the food that is pre- on this extraordinary honor and am proud to tions) as well as improved discussion of health pared and consumed. have him represent us on this important mis- risk behaviors.'' There is currently a shortage of profes- sion. For instance in the case of smoking the sionally trained chefs in the United States by f JAMA article states: ``Our data indicate that 2 million. By the turn of the century, this num- 49% of all patients with whom behavioral dis- ber is expected to increase dramatically with FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF cussions occur attempt to cut down or quit the expansion of the cruise industry and the MANAGED CARE smoking based on their physicians' advice and resort business throughout the United States. 49% of those who report attempting to change In Orange County alone, there are 8 positions HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK behavior no longer smoke. . .increasing the available for every qualified applicant, and ex- OF CALIFORNIA prevalence of physician discussion of smoking isting programs have not been filing the void. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES by 50% would result in a 6% decrease in the The community has already flocked to the prevalence of smoking. Based on mortality program. Almost 500 students have already Tuesday, January 27, 1998 and cost estimates of smoking, this reduction enrolled when the student body was only pro- Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, my bill H.R. 337 in smoking could potentially result in 24,000 jected to be 120 students. The courses range establishes consumer protections in managed annual deaths delayed and a $3 billion annual from beginner and advanced levels of prepa- care plansÐjust like many other bills currently cost savings to our society.'' ration for a variety of foods, to restaurant man- pending before the Congress. The December 3, 1997 issue of JAMA, con- agement, nutrition, and sanitation. All courses One unique feature in H.R. 337, however, is tains an article, ``Cost-effectiveness of the are instructed by chefs with an extensive train- the requirement that when a managed care Clinical Practice Recommendations in the ing in internationally-renown culinary acad- plan enrolls a person, they must soon do a AHCPR Guideline for Smoking Cessation,`` emies and working backgrounds from the fin- health profile or work-up on that person. Medi- which states that ''Tobacco use has been est resorts and cruise ships around the world.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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