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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 June 13, 2006

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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 June 13, 2006 10962 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 June 13, 2006 Whereas insurance firms that offer health sound medical documentation and re- this resolution marking June 21, 2006, plans employ professional medical coders to imbursement practices. as National Medical Coder Day. tabulate and analyze health information; Medical coders work in a variety of f Whereas medical coders in public health health care environments. Nearly 40 departments supervise data collection from percent of all coding jobs are in hos- SENATE RESOLUTION 510—DESIG- health care institutions and assist in re- NATING THE PERIOD BEGINNING search; pitals. Others work in the offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, out- ON JUNE 28, 2006, AND ENDING Whereas Department of Defense policy re- ON JULY 5, 2006, AS ‘‘NATIONAL quires accurate and prompt documentation patient care centers, and home health and coding of medical encounters within the care services. Insurance firms that CLEAN BEACHES WEEK’’, SUP- military health care system to assist mili- offer health plans employ coders to PORTING THE GOALS AND tary treatment facility operations; tabulate and analyze health informa- IDEALS OF THAT WEEK, AND Whereas employment of professional med- tion. Medical coders in public health RECOGNIZING THE CONSIDER- ical coders is expected to grow through 2012, departments supervise data collection ABLE VALUE AND ROLE OF due to the increasing number of medical from health care institutions and as- BEACHES IN THE CULTURE OF tests, treatments and procedures, and the THE UNITED STATES consequent responsibility to provide the best sist in research. The Department of De- quality health care in a market-driven econ- fense policy requires accurate and Mr. MARTINEZ (for himself, Mr. omy; and prompt documentation of and coding of LAUTENBERG, Ms. SNOWE, Ms. STABE- Whereas on National Professional Medical medical encounters within the Military NOW, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. LOTT, and Coder Day we honor these sentries of our Health System to assist Military Mrs. DOLE) submitted the following medical community and may each be held to Treatment Facility operations. The resolution; which was referred to the the highest standard in the interest of na- compliance plan for third-party payers Committee on the Judiciary: tional health and prosperity: Now, therefore, be it of the Department of Health and S. RES. 510 Resolved, That the Senate— Human Services, Office of the Inspec- Whereas, according to the document enti- (1) designates June 21, 2006, as ‘‘National tor General acknowledges the special- tled ‘‘Turning to the Sea: America’s Ocean Professional Medical Coder Day’’; ized training of medical coders re- Future’’, published by the National Oceanic (2) commends professional medical coders quired due to the greater legal expo- and Atmospheric Administration, coastal for their outstanding contributions to this sure related to coding medical services. areas produce 85 percent of all tourism rev- great Nation; Coders also stand as the front line enue in the United States and beaches are (3) salutes professional medical coders for against the potential fraud and abuse the leading tourism destination in the coun- their unyielding dedication; and try; (4) encourages all Americans to commemo- of the Medicare and Medicaid Pro- Whereas beaches provide recreational op- rate this occasion with appropriate programs grams while assuring that the physi- portunities for numerous citizens and their and activities paying tribute to medical cod- cians, hospitals, and clinics receive ac- families, as well as international tourists ers and honoring all those who protect the curate compensation for the services who, according to the document entitled Nation’s health. provided. ‘‘The Beach and Your Coastal Watershed’’ Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I am The abilities coders possess to collect (EPA document number 842–F–98–010), pub- pleased to submit today, along with my data about diagnoses and procedures lished by the Environmental Protection Agency, together make almost 2,000,000,000 colleagues Senator BOB BENNETT and figure prominently within my own in- trips to the beach each year to fish, sun- Senator RICHARD BURR, the National terests for quality health care. Medical bathe, boat, swim, surf, and birdwatch; Professional Medical Coder Day resolu- coders also provide us with the data we Whereas, according to the Army Corps of tion. need for making tough choices in Engineers, the beaches of the United States By passing this resolution, Congress health care. are a critical component of the national will recognize June 21, 2006, as National This resolution stems from positive economy, including global competitiveness; Professional Medical Coder Day, which citizen actions. The quest for a na- Whereas beaches represent a critical part will help to raise awareness about the tional day of recognition began as a of the natural heritage and a beautiful part important work that medical coders grassroots campaign. Over the past 4 of the landscape of the United States; perform and their dedication to their years, medical coders from around the Whereas beaches are sensitive ecosystems that are susceptible to degradation and al- profession. country have gathered support through teration from pollution, sewage, and im- There are about 80,000 professional a national petition and State procla- proper use; medical coders employed in the United mations crediting the work of their Whereas coastal tourism and healthy sea- States, and that number is expected to coders. The Secretary of the Depart- food foster robust economies that sustain continue to grow due to the increasing ment of Health and Human Services communities and support jobs throughout number of medical tests, treatments Michael Leavitt made Utah the very the coastal regions of the United States; and procedures, and the consequent first State to honor coders when, as Whereas members of the Federal Govern- scrutiny to provide the best quality Governor, he signed on April 15, 2003, a ment, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and citizen volunteers have health care in a market driven econ- proclamation declaring a day of honor worked hard to clean and protect the beach- omy. Medical coders are a diverse for coders in Utah. Since then, 28 other es of the United States; group of women and men dedicated to States have signed similar proclama- Whereas, according to the United States ‘‘running the numbers’’ of health care. tions. The State of Florida was the Geological Survey, great progress has been They translate the information that a most recent addition to their cam- made in understanding the science of water- physician documents during a patient paign, and medical coders continue sheds and the connections between inland visit into numerical codes that are their efforts in achieving recognition areas and coastal waters; and used for both payment and statistical at the State level. Let us now recog- Whereas the Federal Government should develop science-based policies that are com- purposes. nize their efforts as a nation. mensurate with that knowledge: Now there- Medical coders are sentries of our Na- It is my hope that this resolution fore, be it tion’s health. They communicate regu- will help advance the recognition of Resolved, That the Senate— larly with physicians and other health professional medical coders; and, there- (1) designates the period beginning on June care professionals to clarify diagnoses fore, the attention given to their com- 28, 2006, and ending on July 5, 2006, as ‘‘Na- or to obtain additional information in mendable work. It recognizes contribu- tional Clean Beaches Week’’; the assignment of alphanumeric codes. tions to the national health care sys- (2) recognizes— They are knowledgeable of medical ter- tem and it reminds us of medical cod- (A) the value of beaches to the way of life minology, anatomy, physiology, and ers’ dedication to the value of hard of the citizens of the United States; and (B) the important contributions of beaches the code sets necessary to serve effec- work in the interest of a national pri- to the economy, recreation, and natural en- tively in their professional role within ority—quality health care for every- vironment of the United States; and the health care community. They are one. I applaud that contribution and (3) encourages all citizens of the United team players committed to ethical and am hopeful that the Senate will pass States to work to keep beaches, a critical VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:32 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR13JN06.DAT BR13JN06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE June 13, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 152, Pt. 8 10963 part of the natural heritage of the United S. RES. 511 SA 4215. Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Mr. States, safe and clean for the continued en- Whereas Radio Al Mahaba, the 1st and only FEINGOLD, and Mr. DAYTON) submitted an joyment of the public. radio station for the women of Iraq, went on amendment intended to be proposed by him Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, I rise the air for the 1st time on April 1, 2005; to the bill S. 2766, supra; which was ordered today to submit a resolution that will Whereas Radio Al Mahaba is an edu- to lie on the table. SA 4216. Mr. THUNE submitted an amend- honor June 28, 2006 through July 5, 2006 cational tool that— (1) is broadcast in 3 different languages; ment intended to be proposed by him to the as National Clean Beaches Week. and bill S. 2766, supra; which was ordered to lie I want to thank my colleague from (2) provides the women of Iraq with an op- on the table. New Jersey, Senator LAUTENBERG, for portunity to voice their opinions and listen SA 4217. Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. agreeing to cosponsor this resolution to the opinions of others; NELSON, of Florida) submitted an amend- with me as well as Senators SNOWE, Whereas Radio Al Mahaba airs shows that ment intended to be proposed by him to the LOTT, MENENDEZ, and STABENOW so we are dedicated to the rights and issues of bill S.
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