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N C H National Association of Children's Hospitals FY 2000 CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS GME Authorization and Appropriation Enactment WHITE HOUSE THANK YOU SUMMARY National Association of Children's Hospitals MEMO N H TO: Chris Jennings, Domestic Policy Office, The White House Nicole Rabner, Office of the First Lady, The White House Barbara Woolley, Office of Public Liaison, The White House FROM: Pete Willson, N.A.C.H. St DATE: December 17, 1999 SUBJECT: Thank You Letters and Press Releases on Funding for Children's Hospitals' GME Funding We have compiled for you copies of thank you letters, press releases, and press coverage, which children's hospitals have generated to express their appreciation for the White House's leadership on behalf of securing new GME funding for independent children's teaching hospitals. A notebook with the copies is attached for you. Included is a sample of a letter, which staff at many hospitals also are generating by calling our GME advocacy toll free 800# phone line. To date, our records indicate the 800# has generated more than 200 letters around the country to The White House. In addition to these grassroots efforts, on December 15, the presidents of Children's National Medical Center and N.A.C.H. presented Mrs. Clinton with a giant size thank you card, on behalf of the nation's children's hospitals, telling her "We can't give you a big enough thanks!" This took place during the First Lady's annual holiday visit to Children's National Medical Center to meet with patients. We will arrange for you to have copies of photos taken of the presentation. If there is anything else you would like to have, please let me know. We thank each of you also very much for all of your help and support! 401 Wvihe Sreet, Alexandria VA 22314 An Affiliate of the National Association of (703) 684-1355 Fax (703) 684-1589 Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions National Association of Children's Hospitals LAWRENCE A. McANDREWS, FACHE President & Chief Executive Officer N.A.C.H December 3, 1999 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the National Association of Children's Hospitals, I want to express once again our deep appreciation for your leadership in seeking to establish federal support for more equitable graduate medical education (GME) funding for the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals. We are deeply grateful, too, for the commitment and support by the First Lady in bringing the importance of this issue to the attention of your Administration and Congress. From your budget request last January to your budget negotiations with Congress this month, your leadership and your Administration's support were essential to addressing this issue. This program is so important not only to the future of the affected children's hospitals, including Arkansas Children's Hospital, but also the future of health care for all children. As we said so many times in our advocacy on Capitol Hill, the GME programs of the independent children's teaching hospitals are critical in their ability to care for all children. Regardless of economic or medical need, this program conducts research to improve children's health care and to train the next generations of providers of care for children. Although fewer than one percent of all hospitals, they touch the lives of children in every state in the country. By enacting both an authorization for $285 million annually and a first year appropriation of $40 million, Congress has taken the first important steps to providing more equitable GME funding for independent children's hospitals. We look forward to working with you in taking the next critically important steps to bring full equity in federal GME support to children's hospitals. Lawrend Sincerely, Co. Mc Audrews Lawrence A. McAndrews CC: The First Lady, The White House, Wash., DC 20500 Jack Lew, Office of Management and Budget, OEOB, Wash., DC 20503 Chris Jennings, Office of Domestic Policy, The White House, Wash., DC 20500 401 Wythe Sreet. Alexandria VA 22314 An Affiliate of the National Association of (703) 684-1 355 Fax (703) 684-1589 Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions National Association of Children's Hospitals LAWRENCE A. McANDREWS, FACHE President & Chief Executive Officer N.A.C.H December 3, 1999 The First Lady The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mrs. Clinton: Your leadership on children's health issues throughout your career, including most recently in your capacity as First Lady, has been so important to the health and well- being of all children. It is deeply appreciated by the nation's children's hospitals. Certainly this has been true during the past year with your invaluable support in bringing to the attention of the President and his Administration the need for federal policy to provide more equitable graduate medical education (GME) support for the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals, including Arkansas Children's Hospital. In the increasingly competitive health care marketplace, which often does not recognize essential public goods, such as GME, the inability of children's hospitals to qualify for significant Medicare GME support has become very problematic. Because of your efforts, the Administration played a critically important role in advancing this cause with Congress. The President's budget request in January placed it squarely on the congressional budget agenda this year and his support in the final budget negotiations with Congress this fall resulted in the enactment of an initial appropriation of $40 million. This is an important first step toward achieving the full level of commensurate GME support for children's hospitals, which Congress has recognized with an annual authorization of $285 million in the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act." As children's hospitals celebrate this achievement, each and every one of us remembers that you announced the Administration's support last January and stood with us in the ceremonial offices of the Vice President to launch our advocacy this year. Your efforts help our member hospitals to provide clinical care, education, and research programs that touch the lives of children in every state of the country. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to build upon the first steps toward full equity in federal GME support for children's hospitals in FY 2001. Sincerely, Lawree C Lawrence A. McAndrews CC: Chris Jennings, Office of Domestic Policy, The White House, Wash., DC 20500 401 Wythe Sreet, Alexandria VA 22314 An Affiliate of the National Association of (703) 684-1355 Fax (703) 684-1589 Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions National Association of Children's Hospitals PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 19, 1999 N H Contact: Lisa M. Tate 703/684-1355 202/544-0382 (home) email: [email protected] www.nachri.org Children's Hospitals Applaud Congress, President for Funding Pediatrician Training McAndrews: "This bill will make a buge difference for children's health care." Washington, DC Lawrence A. McAndrews, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Children's Hospitals, today applauded Congress and the President for passage of legislation to both authorize and appropriate funding for graduate medical education at independent children's hospitals. Tonight, the House passed the Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act by Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) as part of S. 580, legislation to reauthorize the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. The Senate passed the bill unanimously earlier this month, and the President is expected to sign it into law. The House also passed last night the FY 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill including $40 million in start-up funding for the program, which will help independent children's teaching hospitals cover the costs of training the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. President Clinton has included the start-up funding in his FY 2000 budget. "This legislation will make a huge difference for children's health care," said McAndrews. "Together, Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step, providing what amounts to start-up funding to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're delighted by the progress, which we hope to build on in seeking full funding next year. We still have a ways to go, but we're glad to see progress being made. The leadership shown by the key leaders in Congress and the President on this issue will make a real difference to the nation's independent children's hospitals and their patients. Because of the reach of these hospitals' training and research programs, this bill will positively impact the quality of children's health care across the nation." --MORE-- 401 Wyrhe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 An Affiliate of the National Association of (703) 684-1355 Fax (703) 684-1589 Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions 2-2-2 The Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act authorizes Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent children's teaching hospitals. The bill had broad, bipartisan support, including more than 200 sponsors in the House and more than 40 in the Senate. The issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. Joining Rep. Johnson in championing the bill in the House were Reps. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bill Thomas (R-CA), Jim Greenwood (R-PA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), John Dingell (D-MI), John Porter (R-IL), Bill Young (R-FL), Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Kay Granger (R-TX), and many others. Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) played a critical role in final passage of the authorization. Joining Sen. Kerrey in championing the bill in the Senate were Sens. Kit Bond (R-MO), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Slade Gorton (R-WA), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Connie Mack (R-FL), Bob Graham (D-FL), and many others. The leadership of Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) allowed the children's hospitals GME bill to come to a vote in the Senate as part of the health services research bill. Independent children's hospitals represent less than one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. However, independent children's hospitals receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Lisa Tate at 703/684-1355. -- ####-- National Association of Children's Hospitals PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 1999 N H Contact: Lisa M. Tate 703/684-1355 ext. 7005 email: [email protected] www.nachri.org CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LEADERS ATTEND WHITE HOUSE SIGNING OF "CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ACT" Washington, DC - President Clinton signed into law today the Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act, which authorizes $565 million over two years to provide, for the first time, federal graduate medical education (GME) support for the teaching programs of independent children's teaching hospitals. "The Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act is a monumental step forward for children's teaching hospitals around the country," said National Association of Children's Hospitals CEO Lawrence A. McAndrews, who attended the White House signing ceremony in the oval office. "The funding provided by this bill will help to ensure the tradition of excellence at our children's teaching hospitals." McAndrews was joined by Edwin K. Zechman, Jr., president and CEO of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Randall L. O'Donnell, Ph.D., president and CEO of Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri; and David S. Weiner, president and CEO of Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts at the ceremony. Also attending was First Lady Hillary Clinton, former trustee of Arkansas Children's Hospital, and a strong proponent of providing more equitable graduate medical education support for independent children's hospitals. Mrs. Clinton devoted her December 1 nationally syndicated column to the issue of federal support for the many missions of the nation's children's hospitals. The children's hospital GME bill was incorporated into the larger Agency for Health Care Policy Research bill, which passed the Senate and the House by unanimous consent in November. On November 29, President Clinton signed into law the FY 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, which includes $40 million in start-up funding to begin implementation of the Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act this year. --MORE-- 401 Wythe Street, Alexandria. VA 22314 An Affiliate of the National Association of (703) 684-1355 Fax (703) 684-1589 Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions 2-2-2 Children's teaching hospitals have been at a competitive disadvantage for years because of the federal funding mechanism for physician training programs. Medicare support for GME has become the only national, reliable funding for this training. However, because children's hospitals treat children, not the elderly, they qualify for almost no Medicare GME support. As a result, they receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support per resident that adult teaching hospitals receive. This bill will close that funding gap. N.A.C.H represents more than 100 children's hospitals across the country, including freestanding acute care children's hospitals, acute care children's hospitals organized within larger medical centers, and freestanding children's specialty and rehabilitation hospitals. For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Lisa Tate at 703- 684-1355. --# # # #-- National Association of Children's Hospitals FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 1999 N CONTACT: Lisa Tate 703/684-1355 ext. 7005 CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LEADERS ATTEND WHITE HOUSE SIGNING OF "CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ACT" Washington, DC - President Clinton signed into law today the Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act, which authorizes $565 million over two years to provide, for the first time, federal graduate medical education (GME) support for the teaching programs of independent children's teaching hospitals. "The Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act is a monumental step forward for children's teaching hospitals around the country," said National Association of Children's Hospitals CEO Lawrence A. McAndrews, who attended the White House signing ceremony in the oval office. "The funding provided by this bill will help to ensure the tradition of excellence at our children's teaching hospitals." McAndrews was joined by Edwin K. Zechman, Jr., president and CEO of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; Randall L. O'Donnell, Ph.D., president and CEO of Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri; and David S. Weiner, president and CEO of Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts at the ceremony. Also attending was First Lady Hillary Clinton, former trustee of Arkansas Children's Hospital, and a strong proponent of providing more equitable graduate medical education support for independent children's hospitals. Mrs. Clinton devoted her December 1 nationally syndicated column to the issue of federal support for the many missions of the nation's children's hospitals. The children's hospital GME bill was incorporated into the larger Agency for Health Care Policy Research bill, which passed the Senate and the House by unanimous consent in November. On November 29, President Clinton signed into law the FY 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, which includes $40 million in start-up funding to begin implementation of the Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act this year. Children's teaching hospitals have been at a competitive disadvantage for years because of the federal funding mechanism for physician training programs. Medicare support for GME has become the only national, reliable funding for this training. However, because children's hospitals treat children, not the elderly, they qualify for almost no Medicare GME support. As a result, they receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support per resident that adult teaching hospitals receive. This bill will close that funding gap. --MORE-- 401 Wythe Sreet, Alexandria VA 22314 An Affiliate of the National Association of (703) 684-1355 Fax (703) 684-1589 Children's Hospitals & Related Institutions 2-2-2 N.A.C.H represents more than 100 children's hospitals across the country, including freestanding acute care children's hospitals, acute care children's hospitals organized within larger medical centers, and freestanding children's specialty and rehabilitation hospitals. For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Lisa Tate at 703-684-1355. --###-- Birmingham, AL OST-HERALD BIRMINGHAM Giving up tobacco can earn you $1 million ay, November 23, 1999 35 Cents Business F1 CONGRESS Leaders bring home the bacon By RACHEL SMOLKIN BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD Federal bills mean millions for state Senate Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the transporta- WASHINGTON - Tucked into tion subcommittee. the federal spending bills just com- pleted by Congress are millions of early learning inifiatives. Even the might not protect small, indepen- bers supported the measure. Rep. Sonny Callahan is chairman historic Clay County courthouse dent inventors. Despite Sessions and Shelby's op- of a House appropriations subcom- dollars for Alabama projects. gets $500,000 for renovations. Sessions opposed the package be- position to the final budget package, mittee, earning him clout as a There's $80 million for space Alabama's Republican senators, cause he said he believes the policy they worked with Alabama's House member of the so-called College of transportation research at NASA's Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, of bringing an enormous spending members during the process to find Cardinals. Reps. Bud Cramer, D- Marshall Space Flight Center, $13 opposed the final spending package, bill to the floor on the last day of money for the state. Huntsville and Robert Aderholt, R- million for a training center at Fort the session needs to stop. "His pri- Four members of Alabama's Haleyville, also serve on the House McClellan and more than $7 million worth $390 billion. mary concern is that senators are nine-member delegation sit on ap- Appropriations Committee. for Birmingham transportation pro- Shelby objected to spending pro- not given time to analyze the legis- propriations committees, the cen- Critics deride earmarks for local jects. There are funds for studying visions for the District of Columbia lation," spokesman John Cox said. ters for sending money home. the ecology of coastal lands and for and to patent provisions he said All seven Alabama House mem- Shelby is a senior member on the Please tuen to PORK, page A6 Birmingham Post-Herald, Tuesday, November 23, 1999 METRO STATE Pork ogy gap as a pork project," said Ri- Funding for Alabama ley spokesman Pepper Bryars. "If it is, SO be it, because it's something Among the Alabama projects the purchase hands-on exhibits for From page A1 that has to be done." delegation found federal funds for. the North Alabama Science For the fourth year in a row, Science and defense Center projects as "pork" that wastes fed- Shelby secured $400,000 for a stur- $560 million for the Theater A Justice Department center eral taxpayer dollars. geon conservation program. High-Altitude Area Defense in Anniston "Congress and the president have Cramer added $1 million toward System, assembled in Courtland $13 million for the Center for just set a new record for pork-bar- building a new site for the National and managed out of Huntsville. Domestic Preparedness at Fort rel spending," said Thomas Schatz, Children's Advocacy Center in $80 million for Spaceliner 100, McClellan, up from $8.5 million the president of Citizens Against Gov- Huntsville. a research effort to strengthen the year before. The center trains ernment Waste, a watchdog group. Parts of the budget deal with Al- future role of Marshall Space state and local first responders, "These people throw money around abama interests but do not provide Flight Center in NASA. The such as firefighters and faster than Regis Philbin," bost of direct funding. Riley succeeded in program's goal is to make future emergency medical personnel, to the popular television show "Who his bid to get the federal govern- space transportation more like prevent and respond to incidents Wants to Be a Millionaire?" ment to transfer the recently airline transportation. of domestic terrorism. Others say designating funds for closed Fort McClellan to Calhoun $5 million for the new National $1 million for emergency local projects is an integral part of County at no cost for the county's Center for Space Research and medical response training at Fort a congressman's job and an impor- economic development Technology in Huntsville. a joint McClellan's Noble Army Hospital. tant way to aid causes back home. Riley and Sessions also secured venture between Marshall Space Transportation Rep. Bob Riley, R-Ashland. secured federal protection for Dugger Flight Center and several Alabama $3.25 million for public transit in $1 million for 20 public school sys- Mountain, the state's second-high- research institutions. Birmingham and Jefferson tems in his district to purchase est peak. The legislation designates Aderholt found $5 million for County. Includes $1.25 million for computers and improve Internet 9,200 acres in east Alabama's Tal- Summa Technology in Culiman upgrading the Birmingham bus access for students. ladega National Forest as the Dug- and-Quality Research in Huntsville fleet and $2 million for "It's hard to describe giving a ger Mountain Wilderness Area. to research a robotic vehicle that constructing a facility near Central c uter to a kid out in Macon Rachel Smollin can be reached clears minefields. Station for multiple forms of y, Ala., to narrow the technol- at [email protected] $4 million for SciQuest to transportation. "II $3 million for the Birmingham $1 million for the University of transit corridor study. one of the South Alabama Center for first steps for constructing a light Estuarine Research. To study the rail system. ecology of coastal lands and $1.25 million for Birmingham seascapes in the Gulf Coast and 199 International Airport to replace the Mobile Bay areas. air traffic control tower facilities $500,000 for the University of and modernize the equipment. Alabama Child Development Community projects Facility to aid early learning $1.9 million for the downtown initiatives. riverfront project in Montgomery. Hospitals $500,000 to help renovate the $1 million for Children's historic Clay County Courthouse. Hospital in Birmingham to help Higher education facilities build a new research center. Rep. and research Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, $1.5 million for the Spring Hill worked to get this funding and to College in Mobile to expand the add provisions allowing children's library and create a regional hospitals across the nation to get learning center. reimbursed for some of the cost $1.25 million for the University of training pediatricians. of Alabama at Birmingham to fund Public schools development of a Center for Injury $1 million - $50,000 each for Sciences, which will enhance 20 public school systems in research on preventing, treating Riley's district to purchase and mitigating effects of motor computers and introduce more vehicle injuries. students to the Internet. Los Angeles, CA ChildrensHospitalLosAngeles For Immediate Use Contact: Steve Rutledge November 19, 1999 (323) 669-4121 Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Praises Congress and President For Passage of Legislation to Fund Training for Pediatricians Special thanks to Representatives Becerra, Waxman, Dixon, Rogan and Thomas for leadership on issue critical to children's health (Los Angeles) Among its final actions (Nov. 18) before recessing this year, the United States Congress approved, and will send to the President, legislation critical both to the future of children's health care and to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles' ability to provide that care. The House of Representatives incorporated the Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act into related legislation and sent it to President Clinton for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education (GME) funding for independent children's teaching hospitals such as Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The Senate passed the bill on November 4. In a related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40 million to get the program of federal support for physician training in children's hospitals started this year. The House passed it last night, and the Senate is expected to do so shortly. "Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step with these moves," said Walter W. Noce, Jr., president and CEO, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. "They have provided what amounts to startup funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and pleased by the progress, which we hope to build on in seeking full funding. We still have a ways to go next year, but we're glad to see progress being made." The bill has broad, bipartisan support. Among the more than 40 Senate and 200 House cosponsors of the graduate medical education legislation, were Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and Representatives Thomas, Capps, Gallegly, Sherman, McKeon, Berman, Rogan, Dreier, Waxman, Becerra, Martinez, Dixon, Roybal-Allard, Napolitano, Kuykendall, Millender-McDonald, Sanchez and Lewis. This issue also -more- 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90027 Post Office Box 54700, Los Angeles, California 90054-0700 (213) 660-2450 Page 2 had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. "We are especially grateful to Congressman Bill Thomas for his important role in moving this legislation this year," Noce stressed. Funding through Medicare reimbursement has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physicians training. Although independent children's teaching hospitals represent less than one percent of all hospitals in the country, they train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians, and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. Yet, because children's hospitals don't treat Medicare patients (elderly), they aren't eligible for the vast majority of GME funding. In fact, independent children's hospitals receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. "All of us at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles thank those who cosponsored this important legislation," Noce said. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital - clinical care for all who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art of children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure we can continue to do what we do best - focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic need." Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is a global resource for advanced pediatric care, research and medical education. Each year, the nonprofit 314-bed hospital treats nearly 200,000 patients from newborn to 18 years of age with specialized, multidisciplinary care in pediatric and adolescent medicine. CHLA provides family-centered care, including support services for parents, siblings and other family members. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles houses an internationally recognized research program and, since 1932, has trained pediatric specialists through its affiliation with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. U.S. News & World Report has named Childrens Hospital Los Angeles one of the top four pediatric facilities in the nation since 1990, and its panel of 2,400 physicians has ranked CHLA the best in the West for 10 straight years. Visit our website: www.ChildrensHospitalLA.org ChildrensHospitalLosAngeles November 22, 1999 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the patients, parents and employees of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, I want to express our deep appreciation for your very important leadership in securing funding for Walter W. Noce, Jr. President and graduate medical education for independent children's teaching hospitals. This is a legislative Chief Executive Officer victory that will benefit children in every state of the country. It is especially appropriate as the nation prepares to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday that I write this message of appreciation and gratitude for the support you and the First Lady have given to this issue. With your original budget request and the administration's efforts during the appropriations negotiations with Congress, you ensured that the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support in FY 2000. This start-up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's hospitals reach an equitable competitive playing field. As you and the First Lady are aware, independent children's teaching hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children, not the elderly. While these hospitals comprise less thanl% of all hospitals, they train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Walter may W. Noce, Jr. Sincerely, President and Chief Executive Officer WWN/sls CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 Respect Service Excellence Knowledge Teamwork 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Mailstop #), Los Angeles, California 90027 (323) 669-2301 Fax: (323) 664-6917 childrens hospital LOS ANGELES november mpass a special article about chla in ladies' home journal: thrown for a loop: chris medina The following article about placed on a gurney: a collar Childrens Hospital Los Angeles protects his neck and a board studi and patient Chris Medina is immobilizes his spine. His appearing in the December aunt, Nery Benitez, jumps out 1999 issue of Ladies' Home of the aircraft, shivering. Journal. 6:52 p.m.: In the trauma The setting: Fridav evening room. more than 10 people at Childrens Hospital Los swarm around the boy. His Angeles (CHLA). a 314-bed clothes are cut awav. A nurse facility with a Level I Pediatric inserts an IV, draws blood and Trauma Center. starts fluids. "It may look like chaos, but everyone knows The scene: The emergency what he doing," savs Pamela room is hopping-toddlers Griffith, R.N.C., Trauma wheezing from asthma. a baby Program manager. Nov.18 shaking with seizures, a 3-year- old with a leg gash down to Chris is alert and breathing mous without difficulty. He is the bone. scraped and bruised. with a Bill 6:25 p.m.: The loud. distinct dark. baseball-sized bump on $40 million in ring from the trauma phone his forehead and some minor hundred stops Lourdes Escalona, M.D., bleeding on his arm and leg. Endepend in her tracks. Eves wide with terror, he reaching "A 7-vear-old ejected from a starts to crv. "Hi, Chris. Don't car-code yellow!" Escalona be scared." Escalona savs exclaims, giving the hospital's soothingly. "You'r doing signal for the highest-level very well." trauma. 23-vear-old Nery about the 6:55 p.m.: Lab tests are run. The hospital chopper is accident and the boy's medical bringing the little boy from La Chris urine appears free of history. It turns out that Chris blood, and his hematocrit- Puente, about 20 miles east of wasn thrown from a vehicle. which measures red blood cells L.A. The trauma room is He ran into the road after a and might indicate internal cleared and prepped. ball and was struck by a car bleeding if falling-is checked 6:37 p.m.: Beepers sound. twice and looks normal. His going 25 miles per hour. He The trauma team. always on white blood cell count is flew 20 feet, landing on the call, is mobilized. A surgeon is ground head first. Chris lost elevated, but doctors suspect consciousness for a few in charge. that's simply a stress response. minutes. Nery covered him to 6:50 p.m.: Chris Medina is 7:01 p.m.: Calm and me- keep him warm. pulled from the chopper and thodical. Escalona questions Continued on page 2 y2k? why not 2k? Staffing plans have been For this reason. it S important completed for the Y2K Code for you to power off your Orange standby (Dec. 31 machine each evening, so that through Jan. 2). Many when you log on in the managers are working two and morning you will pick up any three shifts in order to give pending Y2K upgrades. their employees time off during Areas that are 7X24 should this holiday period. Please re-boot in the early morning check with vour manager to hours or when patient care will confirm whether you are not be compromised. scheduled to work. to be on-call Arty computer that is not or have been released from used 7X24 should be turned work during that time. off when leaving at night to Due to the need to make conserve energy. Powering your computer applications down almost 1,500 computers Y2K compliant, software will save on the hospital's upgrades and patches will be utility costs. Please call the Help performed through the end Desk at Ext. 4444 if you have of the year. any questions. thrown for a loop: chris medina bone marrow registry drive to be Continued from page I held tuesday, nov. 30 His mother is In Mexico, impact. Over the next twelve visiting relatives. His father hours. they do regular died last year. neurological checks. His CAT As part of National Bone have only a one-in-20,000 Marrow Awareness Month, scan comes back normal. chance of finding a donor 7:09 p.m.: "We just going the CHLA Bone Marrow to take some pictures-don t be Nery spends the night through HLA matching. Help beside him on a chair. Transplantation (BMT) lower those odds and give scared." Escalona assures Chris. Program, Padres Contra El someone else a second chance as a technician uses a portable Saturday: Chris is sore and Cancer and KidS COUNT at life by donating your bone machine to shoot X-rays of his shaky. New X-rays indicate will be hosting a Bone Marrow marrow. neck, chest and pelvis. No nothing awrv. His white blood Registry Drive on Tuesday, Aspiration of bone marrow broken bones. Doctors remove cell count has returned to Nov. 30. from 2 to 6 p.m. in is done with a needle inserted the neck brace and board. A normal. Doctors decide to keep the BMT Conference Room into the hipbone. It's done as physical exam finds no serious him overnight for observation. on the 4th Floor. an outpatient procedure and injuries. Sunday: His mother arrives. Be part of an important usually causes only some "We think he's fine." Chris is subdued. but ready to program that will put your soreness for a few days. Escalona tells Nery. "He's very name and information into an go home. Registering with the lucky." The trauma team international database which National Marrow Donor breaks up. Epilogue: Weeks after the identifies you as a potential Program is easy, and thanks to Chris's mother. Emma. accident, he is running around bone-marrow donor. donated funds, is being done hurriedly makes plans to flv and back in school. "Chris A simple blood draw at no cost for CHLA employ- home. seemed okay," says his mom. procedure is all that's needed ees. "but he wouldn even go in 7:55 p.m.: Chris displays no to check your blood for Give someone the gift of life the front yard for a few signs of confusion or loss of human leukocyte antigen this holiday season. You'l feel weeks." consciousness, but doctors (HLA) matches. good about it. order a CAT scan and admit Some scars take longer to Patients requiring a bone- heal. marrow donation from him to the hospital as a precaution because of the head Reprinted from Ladies' Home someone outside their family Journal. December 1999. november 22 1999 OPERATION chad volleyball tournament P INTFEST raises $3,000 Creating Brighter Children's Hospitals a kaleidoscope of colors: operation paintfest The imaginations of hospital- Feight. executive director, The members and volunteers. ized kids at CHLA will soar Foundation for Hospital Art. CHLA patients will bring during "Operation PaintFest: "However, rooms that invite nature to life by using the pre- Creating Brighter Children's kids to feel like they just drawn and color-coded ceiling Arista Burtrum, president and Hospitals." opened a brand new jar of tiles and canvas outlines founder of the Chad Foundation Through this program. walls paint transform them from the created by The Foundation for Athletes and Artists, presents and ceilings will bear the artistic frightening reality of illness to for Hospital Art. Once a gift of $3,000 to CHLA's signature of youngsters who the welcome respite of fantasy." completed, the tiles and Heart Institute. The funds are will help paint 60 canvasses "Operation PaintFest is a canvasses will be permanently proceeds from the 5th Annual and 500 ceiling tiles-with perfect complement to the displayed in patient treatment Chad Volleyball Tournament butterflies. tropical fish and mission and spirit of Childrens rooms throughout the held Sunday, Sept. 12, at the exotic animals. Hospital Los Angeles," says hospital. Lakeside Country Club in Sponsored by The Founda- Efrain Fuentes. Ph.D.. director. Toluca Lake. tion for Hospital Art in Patient and Family Services. Operation PaintFest Pictured are Ms. Burtrum partnership with Pfizer "When we were invited to (holding check, right front) with Pediatric Health, this national participate in this program we Thursday, Dec. 2 Dr. Pierre Wong. Back row: program is making its debut at were delighted, especially since 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dr. Michael Silka, Dr. Alan CHLA on Thursday, Dec. 2. we are in the midst of con- Lewis and Dr. Arno R. Hohn. "From the perspective of a structing a new surgery center 3 South Waiting Room child. hospitals can feel like and renovating the hospital's infinite corridors and rooms of public spaces." For more information on sterility-an uninviting white- Working side-bv-side with Operation PaintFest. call wash of mazes. explains John their families. medical team Efrain Fuentes at Ext. 5478. respiratory syncytial virus in the child-care setting Respiratory Syncvtial Virus Meylan, Infection Control lung disease and weak surface. A young child with (RSV) causes infections of the coordinator. and Pamela immune systems are at RSV may be infectious for one- upper respiratory tract-like a Teitelbaum. Infection Control increased risk of developing to-three weeks after symptoms cold-and the lower respiratory practitioner. are taking extra severe infections and complica- subside. tract-like pneumonia. It's the precautions to educate CHLA tions. The most effective preven- most frequent cause of lower staff about this virus and the RSV is spread through tive measure against the spread respiratory infections- threat it poses to our young direct contact with infectious of RSV is careful and frequent including pneumonia-in patients. secretions. You can contract handwashing. infants and children under An RSV infection can range the virus by breathing these For more information about two years of age. from very mild to life- moist secretions after an RSV, call Infection Control at At CHLA, this virus is threatening and can even be infected person has coughed, Ext. 5510. taken very seriously. Marysia fatal. Children with heart or or by touching a contaminated fall november " 0001 physical therapy/occupational therapy accolades get your Edith Mak, OTR, Janet Kay are collecting data for a Children with Cerebral Palsy." potluck Lurie-Hauser, OTR, and research grant funded by The article was published in the ready! Nancy Forero-Lilienfeld, PT, Allergan. investigating the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics gave a poster presentation at effects of Botulinum Toxin in July/August 1999. Susan For those employees the National AOTA Confer- and Serial Casting of the presented the study at a working on Thanksgiving ence in Monterey, CA last Lower Extremities in children national conference in Washing- Day. the Food Service month. The presentation was with Cerebral Palsy. ton, D.C., for the American Department will be related to a competency rool Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Nancy Forero-Lilienfeld, supplying sliced turkev. for NICU therapists titled Developmental Medicine in PT Yvette Brewer, PT. and gravy, stuffing and "Competency Checklist for the September. Emily Levine, OTR, recently cranberry sauce, as well as Neonatal and High Risk Infant completed Board Certification Susan Rethlefsen. Sandi serving utensils and Therapist" that they devel- in Neuro-Developmental Dennis, and Dr. Robert Kay invites you to bring the oped and also are having Treatment. an eight-week published an article in the extras! copyrighted. post-graduate course in European Journal of Pediatric An upcoming e-mail Jennifer Loiselle, OTR, specialized treatment approach Orthopaedics in April 1999 will announce the serving received a Master's Degree in for neurologically impaired entitled "Outcome of Ham- times and stations. Public Health from UCLA this children. string Lengthening and Distal year. Rectus Femoris Transfer in Elvira Burger. OTR. is Children." Jamie Black, OTR, Jennifer participating in a pilor research Loiselle, OTR, Susan study with Dr. Mitchell Margaret Mortimore. PT. Rethlefsen, PT, and Dr. Joan looking at the effects of IV lg and Donna Groh, P.T. are mpass Wright received a grant to on children with opsoclonus participating in a collaborative Published weekly for the pursue a research project myoclonus ataxia. Elvira is study with Children's Hospital employees, volunteers, entitled "Functional Change assessing fine-motor coordina- of San Diego investigating "The physicians and students of in the Spastic Upper Extrem- tion in these children. Effectiveness of Foot Orthotics Childrens Hospital ity: A Comparison of Botox Susan Rethlefsen PT, in the Management of Physical Los Angeles and Occupational Therapy." Sandi Dennis. PT. and Dr. and Psychological Symptoms in Editor They are currently collecting Children with Juvenile Chronic Robin Moore Robert Kay completed and data for this project. Arthritis." Creative Services Manager published a project entitled e-mail: [email protected] Susan Rethlefsen, PT, "The Effects of Fixed and Please send your departmental Ext. 4142 Anna Fern-Buneo, PT, Chere Articulating Ankle Foot announcements and achieve- Mail Stop 59 Dreyden, PT, and Dr. Robert Orthoses on the Gait of ments to Robin Moore. Editor. Deadline for Mail Stop #59. submitting material: Noon Monday for the equipment repair reminder next Monday's edition don't forget: The Patient Care Services completely. Call Central the parking Equipment Subcommittee Service at Ext. 2201 and office has reminds CHLA staff that one they will pick up the broken moved of its goals is to have well- item (with attached card) for International Leader in Pedictrics functioning equipment repair. to the office adjacent to available to all who work If we all work to stay on the Employment Office here. top of these repairs we will be in the 4601 Sunset Blvd. If equipment is in need of able to meet our goals and Building. repair, please tag it with a better serve our patients. yellow "equipment repair" For more information. call Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Susan Santner at Ext. 2861. IS a United Way ticket. Be specific about the Community Impact Provider problem and fill out the card "Results You Can See" Palo Alt ONE CA LUCILE PACKARD CHILDREN'S NEWS HEALTH SERVICES AT STANFORD UCSF Stanford Health Care For Immediate Release November 29, 1999 Contact: Monique Binkley Smith (650) 497-8364 Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Praises Congress, President for Passage of Legislation Funding Training for Pediatricians PALO ALTO -Among its final actions before recessing this year, the U.S. Congress approved and has sent to the President legislation critical both to the future of children's health care and to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford's ability to provide that care. Just before recessing on November 18, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the President for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education (GME) funding for independent children's teaching hospitals like Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The Senate passed the bill on November 4. In a related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40 million to get the program of federal support for physician training in children's hospitals started this year. The House passed it November 18, and the Senate on November 19. "Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step with these moves," said Christopher Dawes, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lucile Packard Children's Hospitals. "They have provided what amounts to startup funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and pleased by the progress which we hope to build on in seeking full funding. We still have a way to go next year, but we're glad to see progress being made." (more) Training Funding Passed Page 2-2-2-2 The bill had broad, bipartisan support, including Representatives Anna Eshoo (D), Nancy Pelosi (D), Tom Lantos (D), Zoe Lofgren (D), Sam Farr (D) and Tom Campbell (R) and Senators Barbara Boxer (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D) who were among the more that 200 House and 40 Senate cosponsors of the GME legislation. This issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. Independent children's hospitals represent less that one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for GME, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. However, independent children's hospitals receive on average less that 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. "All of us at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford owe special thanks to the entire Bay Area delegation who were early supporters and cosponsors. Each of these legislators played an important role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation," said Dawes. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital -clinical care for all who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art of children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure we can continue to do what we do best -focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic need." Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a part of Lucile Packard Children's Hospitals, the pediatric division of UCSF Stanford Health Care. ### Orange Co. , CA NOV-24-1999 16:44 CHOC BUS DEV/MKTG 714 532 8739 P.02/03 Children's Hospital of Orange County FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 1999 Contact: Jan Lansing (714) 516-4293 CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF ORANGE COUNTY PRAISES CONGRESS, PRESIDENT FOR PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION FUNDING TRAINING FOR PEDIATRICIANS Kimberly Cripe: "Special thanks go to Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Representative Loretta Sanchez for leadership on this issue critical to children's health" (Orange) - Among its final actions before recessing this year, the U.S. Congress November 18 approved and will send to the President legislation critical both to the future of children's health care and to Children's Hospital of Orange County's ability to provide that care. Just before recessing. the House incorporated "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the president for signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent children's teaching hospitals like Children's Hospital of Orange County. The Senate passed the bill on November 4. In a related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40 million to get the program of federal support for physician training in children's hospitals started this year. "Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step with these moves," said Kimberly Cripe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children's Hospital of Orange County. "They have provided what amounts to startup funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and pleased by the progress, which we hope to build on in seeking full funding. We still have a ways to go next year, but we're glad to see progress being made." The bill had broad, bipartisan support, including Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Representative Loretta Sanchez, who were among the more than 200 House and 40 Senate cosponsors of the graduate medical education legislation. This issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. P.O. Box 5700, Orange, CA 92613-5700 . 455 South Main Street Orange, CA 92868-3874 (714) 997-3000 NOV-24-1999 16:44 CHOC BUS DEV/MKTG 714 532 8739 P.03/03 Independent children's hospitals represent less than one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. However, independent children's hospitals receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. "All of us at Children's Hospital of Orange County owe special thanks to those who played such an important role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation," said Ms. Cripe. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital - clinical care for all who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art of children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure we can continue to do what we do best - - focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic need." Founded in 1964, Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) is Orange County's only hospital committed to promoting the safety and wellness of children through outreach, advanced research, advocacy and community education. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the organization has grown to become a regional pediatric healthcare network that includes Children's Hospital at Mission in Mission Viejo, Clinica CHOC para Niños in Santa Ana, CHOC Register Clinic in Orange, Children's Hospital Foundation and CHOC Thrift Stores, providing comprehensive high-quality pediatric care to all of the community's children. #### TOTAL P.03 Children's Hospital of Orange County December 1, 1999 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the patients, parents and employees of Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange, California, I want to express our profound gratitude for your critical leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children's teaching hospitals. This legislative victory will benefit children nationwide. With your original budget request and the administration's efforts during the appropriations negotiations with Congress, you ensured that the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support in fiscal year 2000. This start-up funding is an important first step in helping children's hospitals reach an equitable competitive playing field. Children's teaching hospitals like CHOC, as you know, receive less than 1/200th of the GME funding provided to other teaching hospitals through Medicare. And children's hospitals, although we comprise less than 1% of all hospitals, train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for all of us this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. Thank you, again, for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. Sincerely, Kimberly C. Cripe President & Chief Executive Officer cc: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President The First Lady (714) 997-3000 San Diego, CA Blair I.. Sadler Mail Code 5069 Children's President and 3020 Children's Way Chief Executive Officer San Diego, California 92123-4282 Hospital (858) 576-5911 (858) 495-8590 FAX and Health www.chsd.org Center November 23, 1999 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the children of San Diego County and Children's Hospital and Health Center, I want to express deep appreciation for your very important leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education for independent children's teaching hospitals. As you and the First Lady are aware, independent children's teaching hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children, not the elderly. While these hospitals comprise less than 1% of all hospitals, they train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. Again, thank you for your leadership. We look forward to working with you to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Sincerely Blair L. Sadier President and Chief Executive Officer BLS:dcs CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President Executive Office of the President 216 OEOB 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500 The First Lady The White House Washington, DC 20500 because children are the future 12/07/99 TUE 15:33 FAX 619 974 8095 CHSD GOV'T/SCHOOL 002 3020 Children's Way San Diego Childrens California 92123-4282 (619) 576-1700 Hospital TTY 576-5831 and Health Center FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 19, 1999 Contact: Barbara Ryan (858) 576-4080 CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CENTER PRAISES CONGRESS. PRESIDENT FOR PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION FUNDING TRAINING FOR PEDIATRICIANS Blair Sadler, "Special thanks go to the entire San Diego congressional delegation for leadership on issues critical to children's health" [SAN DIEGO]-- Among its final actions before recessing this year, the U.S. Congress November 18 approved and will send to the President legislation critical both to the future of children's health care and to Children's Hospital and Health Center's ability to provide that care. Just before recessing last night, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the president for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent children's teaching hospitals like Children's Hospital and Health Center. The Senate passed the bill on November 4. In a related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40 million to get the program of federal support for physician training in children's hospitals started this year. The House passed it last night, and the Senate is expected to do so shortly. "Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step with these moves," said Blair L. Sadler, President and CEO of Children's Hospital and Health Center. "They have provided what amounts to startup funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and pleased by the progress, which we hope to build on in seeking full funding. We still have a ways to go next year, but we're glad to see progress being made." because children are the future 12/07/99 TUE 15:33 FAX 619 974 8095 CHSD GOV T/SCHOOL 003 The bill had broad, bipartisan support, including Ron Packard (48th District) Brian P. Bilbray (49th District), Bob Filner (50th District). Randy Cunningham (51ª District), and Duncan Hunter (52ⁿᵈ District), who were among the more than 200 House and 40 Senate cosponsors of the graduate medical education legislation. This issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. Independent children's hospitals represent less than one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. However, independent children's hospitals receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants. the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. "All of us at Children's Hospital and Health Center owe special thanks to Congressmen Brian Bilbray and Randy "Duke" Cunningham. who each played such an important role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation," said Blair Sadler. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital - - clinical care for all who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art of children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure we can continue to do what we do best - focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic need." Children's Hospital and Health Center (Children's) is the region's only pediatric medical center and is the largest triage center for pediatric care in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The 220-bed hospital began in 1952 and has grown over the years to meet the special health care needs of the region. Today, Children's offers comprehensive programs in diagnosis and treatment, research, rehabilitation, medical education, outcomes and community outreach education. Children's has become the hub of a regional health care network devoted to the care of seriously ill and injured children from Southern California and throughout the southwestern United States. #### Denver, CO The Children's Hospital Affiliated with News Release University of Colorado Health Sciences Center For Immediate Release Contact: Maren Stewart (303) 764-8387 THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PRAISES CONGRESS, PRESIDENT FOR PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION FUNDING TRAINING FOR PEDIATRICIANS Dori Biester, President and CEO "Special thanks go to Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Representatives Diana DeGette, Scott McInnis, Bob Schaffer, Tom Tancredo and Mark Udall from Colorado and Senator Michael Enzi from Wyoming for leadership on an issue critical to children's health" Denver, CO-- Among its final actions before recessing this year, the U.S. Congress November 18 approved and sent to the President legislation critical both to the future of children's health care and to The Children's Hospital of Denver's ability to provide that care. Just before recessing, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the president for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent children's teaching hospitals like The Children's Hospital. The Senate passed the bill November 4. In a related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40 million to get the program of federal support for physician training in children's hospitals started this year. This was signed into law by the President yesterday, November 29. "Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step with these moves," said Dori Biester, Ph.D, RN, President and CEO of The Children's Hospital. "They have provided what amounts to startup funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and pleased by the progress, which we hope to build on in seeking full funding. We still have a ways to go next year, but we're glad to see progress being made." The bill had broad, bipartisan support including Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Representatives Diana DeGette, Scott McInnis, Bob Schaffer, Tom Tancredo and Mark Udall from Colorado and Senator Michael Enzi from Wyoming, who were among the more than 200 House and 40 Senate cosponsors of the graduate medical education legislation. This issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. Independent children's hospitals represent less than one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. --continued- However, independent children's teaching hospitals receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that adult teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to adult teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. "All of us at The Children's Hospital owe special thanks to our cosponsors who played such an important role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation," said Biester. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital - clinical care for all who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art of children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure we can continue to do what we do best - focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic need." The Children's Hospital was recently ranked in the top three percent of all hospitals by U.S. News and World Report, which surveyed board-certified physicians on the top hospitals in their field. The July 1999 issue of the magazine represented the seventh year in a row that U.S. News ranked Children's a top pediatric hospital in the nation. The Children's Hospital is the leading pediatric hospital in an 800-mile radius, according to the report. Founded in 1908, The Children's Hospital is a private, not-for-profit pediatric health care system with more than 1,000 pediatric specialists and 1,700 full-time employees. It provides care to the region's children at its main campus, and through three specialty-physician satellite offices, four community-based urgent and emergency care sites, three specialty-care centers providing principally rehabilitation services, and more than 400 outreach clinics held annually in a seven-state region. ### The Children's Hospital Kids Need A Kids' Hospital December 1, 1999 The President Dorls J. Biester, PhD, RN President and : The White House Chief Executive Officer Washington, DC 20500 1056 East 19th Avenue Denver, Colorado 80218 Dear Mr. President: 303 861-6091 303 861-3992 Fax On behalf of the patients, parents and employees of The Children's Hospital in Denver, Colorado, I want to express our deep appreciation for your very important leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education for independent children's teaching hospitals. This is a legislative victory that will benefit children in every state of the country. With your original budget request and the administration's efforts during the appropriations negotiations with Congress, you have ensured that the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support in FY 2000. This start-up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's hospitals reach an equitable competitive playing field. As you and the First Lady are aware, independent children's teaching hospitals currently receive less than 1/200" of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children, not the elderly. While these hospitals comprise less than 1% of all hospitals, they train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. Sincerely, Doris J. Biester, PhD. RN President and CEO, The Children's Hospital cc: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 Affiliated with Hartford, CT Connecticut Children's MEDICAL CENTER December 6, 1999 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As the chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Larry M. Gold President & CEO CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's MEDICAL CENTER December 9, 1999 COPY The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As the chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children's teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Martin J. Gavin Chair, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a vice chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children's teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, 1 understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, J. Danford Anthony, Jr. Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's MEDICAL CENTER COPY The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As the secretary of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children's teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Barbara S. McGrath Secretary, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Elease E. Wright Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, 1 want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children's teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Maria Bloom Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Antoinetta M. Capriglione, M.D. Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, 1 want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Madelyn Colon Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. 1 know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Teresa Curry Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's MEDICAL CENTER COPY The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t 0 help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Eileen Danaher Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Christopher Foley, M.D. Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, 1 want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Jerry Franklin Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, 1 want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Robert M. Hadley, CPA Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's MEDICAL CENTER COPY The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Edward S. Johnson, DDS Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9. 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Claire Leonardi Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Edward Lewis Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's MEDICAL CENTER COPY The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Douglas MacGilpin, MD Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House. Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut COPY Children's MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year. we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Lon Smith Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut Children's COPY MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Mr. Keith Stevenson Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Connecticut COPY Children's MEDICAL CENTER The President December 9, 1999 The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As a member of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut, I want to express my personal appreciation for your significant leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children" teaching hospitals. Because my service as a volunteer board member makes me keenly aware of the needs of children and quality health care, I understand the demands placed on children's hospitals to meet this need. I know that this legislative victory will benefit children served by our hospital and throughout the nation. Thank you so much for the leadership and support you and the first lady have given to this issue. The nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support n FY 2000, due in great measure to your original budget request and the Administrations efforts during the budget negotiations with Congress this fall. This start up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's teaching hospitals to achieve more equitable GME funding While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations t o help these hospitals move closer to the equitable GME funding level of $ 285 million authorized in FY 2001, under the "Children's Hospital Education and Research Act." Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement. Best wishes to you and your family for the holiday season. Sincerely, Doris Elder Sugarman Member, Board of Directors, Connecticut Children's Medical Center CC: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, DC 20500 282 Washington Street Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 545-9000 Wilmington, DE duPont HOSPITAL November 23. 1999 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the patients, parents and employees of the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, I want to express our deep appreciation for your very important leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education for independent children's teaching hospitals. This is a legislative victory that will benefit children in every state of the country. It is especially appropriate as the nation prepares to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday that I write this message of appreciation and gratitude for the support you and the First Lady have given to this issue. With your original budget request and the administration's efforts during the appropriations negotiations with Congress, you ensured that the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support in FY 2000. This start-up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's hospitals reach an equitable competitive playing field. As you and the First Lady are aware, independent children's teaching hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching NH NEMOT RS hospitals because they care for children, not the elderly. While these hospitals NDATION comprise less than 1% of all hospitals, they train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year. we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. The President Page 2 November 23, 1999 Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Sincerely Administrator/Chief Executive TPF:ebc Cc: The First Lady Mr. Christopher Jennings Deputy Assistant to the President All Ch 7 FL hospital News Release ALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PRAISES CONGRESS, PRESIDENT FOR PASSAGE OF LEGISLATIVE FUNDING FOR TRAINING OF PEDIATRICIANS "Special thanks go to Congressmen Michael Bilarakis and Bill Young and Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack for leadership on issue critical to children's health." - J. Dennis Sexton For more information, contact: Ann Miller/Media Specialist (727) 892-8592 St. Petersburg, FL - Among its final actions before recessing this year, the U.S. Congress on November 18 approved and will send to the President legislation critical both to the future of children's health care and to All Children's Hospital's ability to provide that care. Just before recessing, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and send it to the President for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285-million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent children's teaching hospitals like All Children's Hospital. The Senate passed the bill on November 4. In a related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40-million to get the program of federal support for physician training in children's hospitals started this year. The House passed it November 18, and the Senate followed suit on November 19. "Congress and the White House have taken a critical first step with these moves," said J. Dennis Sexton, President of All Children's Hospital. "They have provided what amounts to start-up funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and pleased by the progress, which we hope to build upon in seeking full funding. We still have a ways to go next year, but we're encouraged by the progress we've made." (-more-) 801 Sixth Street South St. Petersburg. Florida 33701 Page 2 of 2/GME Funding The bill had broad, bipartisan support, including Florida original co-sponsors of H.R. 1579 Rep. Michael Bilarakis (R) and Rep. Bill Young (R), and S. 391 original co- sponsors Senators Bob Graham (D) and Connie Mack (R). In addition, House sponsors from Florida were Reps. Corrine Brown (D), Jim Davis (D), Peter Deutsch (D), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), Mark Foley (R), Alcee Hastings (D), lleana Ros-Lehtinen (R), Carrie Meek (D), Clay Shaw (R), Karen Thurman (D), and Robert Wexler (D). They were among the more than 200 House and 40 Senate co-sponsors of the graduate medical education legislation. The issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. The 45 independent children's hospitals and 14 children's rehabilitation hospitals affected by this legislation represent less than one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. However, independent children's hospitals around the United States, like the two in Florida - All Children's Hospital and Miami Children's Hospital, receive on average 1/200th of the Medicare graduate medical education support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285-million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal graduate medical education support. "Those of us at All Children's Hospital owe special thanks to Congressmen Michael Bilarakis and Bill Young in the House of Representatives and Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack in the Senate who played key leadership roles in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation," said Sexton. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital -- clinical care for those who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art in children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to insure we continue to do what we do best -- focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic needs." All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL is a 216 bed referral center for children that serves as one of the University of South Florida College of Medicine's primary teaching hospitals. The hospital has over 150 pediatric medical and surgical specialists and trains approximately 50 resident physicians each year. ### Miami FL MIAMI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THE MARY ANN KNIGHT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PEDIATRICS FOUNDED AS VARIETY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cynthia Gutierrez November 19, 1999 305-663-8497 MIAMI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PRAISES CONGRESS, PRESIDENT FOR PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION FUNDING TRAINING FOR PEDIATRICIANS Congress passes "Children's Hospitals Education & Research Act" [Miami] - Among its final actions before recessing this year, the U.S. Congress November 18 approved and will send to the President legislation critical to the future of children's health care and to Miami Children's Hospital's ability to provide that care. Just before recessing last night, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the President for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent children's teaching hospitals like Miami Children's Hospital. The Senate passed the bill on November 4, 1999. In related development, Congress also reached agreement with the White House on a final Fiscal Year 2000 Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that included $40 million to get the program of federal support for the physician training in children's hospitals started this year. The House passed it last night, and the Senate is expected to do so shortly. "Congress and the White House have take a critical first step with these moves," " said Thomas M. Rozek, President and C.E.O. of Miami Children's Hospital. "They have provided what amounts to startup funding for a program to support ongoing graduate medical education at children's hospitals. We're encouraged and please by the progress, which we hope to build on in seeking full funding. We still have a ways to go next year, but we're glad to see progress being made." The bill had broad, bipartisan support from all members of the Florida Delegation who were among more than 200 House and 40 Senate cosponsors of the 3100 S.W. 62nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33155-3009 / (305) 666-6511 graduate medical education legislation. This issue also had the strong support of President Clinton and the First Lady. Independent children's hospitals represent less that one percent of all hospitals in the country, but train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. If their patients were seniors instead of children, these hospitals would be eligible for federal Medicare support for physician training. Such support has come to be the only significant source of funding for graduate medical education, now that fewer payers of health care are willing to cover the added costs of physician training. However, independent children's hospitals receive on average less than 1/200th of the Medicare GME support that all teaching hospitals receive. According to independent consultants, the federal government would need to provide approximately $285 million each year to treat children's hospitals comparably to all teaching hospitals in terms of federal GME support. "All of us at Miami Children's Hospital owe special thanks to the South Florida Community & hospital physicians who played such an important role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation," said Dr. Fima Lifshitz, Chief of Staff. "We also owe special thanks to the President for his leadership. This issue is critical to every mission of our hospital - - clinical care for all who need it, training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children, and research to advance the state of the art children's health care. We look forward to continuing to work with them to make sure we can continue to do what we do best focus on children's unique health care needs, regardless of their medical or economic need." Miami Children's Hospital, founded in 1950, is the only licensed specialty hospital for children in South Florida. The 268-bed medical complex offers comprehensive medical care and services for children from birth to age 21. ### MIAMI Thomas M. Rozek President and Chief Executive Officer CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL THE MARY ANN KNIGHT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PEDIATRICS FOUNDED AS VARIETY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL November 22, 1999 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the patients, parents and employees of Miami Children's Hospital in Miami, Florida, I want to express our sincere appreciation for your very important leadership in securing funding for graduate medical education (GME) for independent children's teaching hospitals. This is a legislative victory that will benefit children in every state of the country. It is especially appropriate as the nation prepares to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday that I write this message of appreciation and gratitude for the support you and the First Lady have given to this issue. With your original budget request and the administration's efforts during the appropriations negotiations with Congress, you ensured that the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support in FY 2000. This start-up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's hospitals reach an equitable competitive playing field. As you and the First Lady are aware, independent children's teaching hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children, not the elderly. While thee hospitals comprise less than 1% of all hospitals, they train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremely helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. Thank you again for your leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Sincerely, Thomas M. Rozek President and Chief Executive Officer cc: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President, Executive Office of the President, 216 OEOB, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500 The First Lady, The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500 3100 S.W. 62nd Ave., Miami, FL 33155-3009 / (305) 666-6511, Ext. 2548 / Fax: (305) 665-1576 / E-mail: [email protected] Chicago, Children's Public Affairs and Communications 2300 Children's Plaza. no. 40 Chicago, Illinois 60614 NewsRelease 773.880.4500 Fax 773,880,6771 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Kathleen Ellis, 773/880-8137 Friday, November 19, 1999 CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CHICAGO BENEFITS FROM LANDMARK LEGISLATION CHICAGO - US Congressman Jerry Weller (R-Morris) was instrumental in helping to pass landmark legislation critical to the future of children's teaching hospitals nationwide, including Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Late last night, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the President for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent teaching hospitals like Children's Memorial Hospital. Under the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million for the fiscal year 2000. This start-up funding is an important step in helping teaching hospitals in achieving Congress' goal under the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" of achieving $285 million in annual funding to reach an equitable competitive playing field in funding their GME programs. "Congressman Weller played a significant role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation that will help fund training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children," said Patrick Magoon, president and CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital. "We are extremely grateful to Congressman Weller for supporting this issue which will help us remain viable to serve critically ill children from every corner of the state. GME/Page 2 Independent children's hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children not the elderly. While these hospitals comprise less than one percent of all hospitals, they train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. Children's Memorial is one of the major pediatric training centers in the country, training 151 residents each year. ### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Kathleen Ellis, 773/880-8137 Friday, November 19, 1999 CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CHICAGO BENEFITS FROM LANDMARK LEGISLATION CHICAGO - US Congressman John Edward Porter (R-Deerfield) was instrumental in helping to pass landmark legislation critical to the future of children's teaching hospitals nationwide, including Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Late last night, the House incorporated the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" into related legislation and sent it to the President for his signature. The legislation would authorize Congress to appropriate up to $285 million annually over the next two years for graduate medical education funding for independent teaching hospitals like Children's Memorial Hospital. Under the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill, independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million for the fiscal year 2000. This start-up funding is an important step in helping teaching hospitals in achieving Congress' goal under the "Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act" of achieving $285 million in annual funding to reach an equitable competitive playing field in funding their GME programs. "Congressman Porter played a significant role in helping Congress understand the importance of this legislation that will help fund training to prepare the next generation of physicians for children," said Patrick Magoon, president and CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital. "We are extremely grateful to Congressman Porter for supporting this issue which will help us remain viable to serve critically ill children from every corner of the state." - more - GME/Page 2 Independent children's hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children not the elderly. While these hospitals comprise less than one percent of all hospitals, they train nearly 30 percent of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. Children's Memorial is one of the major pediatric training centers in the country, training 151 residents each year. ### 2300 Children's Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60614 (Lincoln and Fullerton Avenues) 773.880.4000 Children's November 19, 1999 Children's Memodal Hospital Children's Memodal Diagnostic and Outpations Services The President Chikiron's Memorial Foundation The White House Children's Memorial Insulure for Washington, DC 20500 Liducation and Research C.M HealthCare Rewarces Dear Mr. President: On behalf of all of us at Children's Memorial Hospital and the children and familics we are privileged to serve, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your critical A Mumber of the Northwestern Healthcare Nerwork leadership in securing authorizing language and funding for graduate medical education A Mamber of the (GME) for independent children's tcaching hospitals. This is a legislative victory that will McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University benefit children in every state of the country. It is especially appropriate as the nation prepares to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday that I write this message of appreciation and gratitude for the support you and the First Lady have given to this issue. With your original budget request and the administration's efforts during the appropriations negotiations with Congress, you cnsured that the nation's independent children's teaching hospitals will receive $40 million in new GME support in FY 2000. This start-up funding is an important first step in helping independent children's hospitals reach an equitable competitive playing field. As you and the First Lady are aware, independent children's teaching hospitals currently receive less than 1/200th of the GME support provided to other teaching hospitals because they care for children, not the elderly. While these hospitals comprise less than 1% of all hospitals, they train nearly 30% of all pediatricians and nearly half of all pediatric specialists. The authorization for the GME funding for independent children's hospitals is $285 million for the next two years. While the $40 million will be extremcly helpful for these institutions this year, we hope to have your support during the coming year's budget negotiations to help these hospitals move closer to the equitable funding level of $285 million for GME. Thank you again for your outstanding leadership. We look forward to working with you and your Administration to build on this important achievement to secure the full level of funding Congress has authorized next year. May you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Sincerely, Catrisk Magan Patrick M. Magoon President and CEO cc: Christopher Jennings, Deputy Assistant to the President The First Lady x6317 10 MBC