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Hank supports 'historic' House health care reform bill

October 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), concerned that many of his constituents lack access to affordable, quality health care, today announced his support of the updated health insurance reform legislation unveiled at the Capitol.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), which updates bills passed by House committees over the summer, reflects the priorities of the House, President Obama and the American people.

A vote on the legislation is expected Saturday evening.

“This historic bill is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to ensure that all Americans get quality, affordable health care,” said Johnson. “This legislation will reduce costs, prohibit discrimination against patients with pre-existing conditions and extend coverage to the uninsured.”

The legislation will ensure that 96 percent of Americans are covered by a quality, affordable health plan, and it would cover 36 million more people who do not have coverage today. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the cost of expanding coverage at $894 billion, consistent with the $900 billion coverage mark stipulated by the President. CBO estimates the bill reduces the deficit by at least $30 billion over 10 years.

“For the people of the Fourth District, this is an urgently needed bill,” said Johnson. “I’m pleased that after hundreds of hearings and thousands of public meetings across the nation, we are one step closer on the long road to reform.”

A closer look:

• Exempts small businesses. Under the revised legislation, small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 (instead of $250,000) would be exempt from the employer mandate – which is 86 percent of America’s businesses.

• Help for seniors with drug costs in the Part D donut hole. The revised bill moves forward the effective date of reducing the donut hole by $500 and instituting a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs in the donut hole from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2010. It also eliminates the donut hole by 2019 instead of 2024.

• Reduces the deficit more. According to the CBO, the revised bill reduces the deficit by $30 billion over the first 10 years. (The original bill reduced the deficit by $6 billion over the first 10 years). The revised bill also continues to reduce the deficit over the second 10-year period.

• Ends health insurance companies’ blanket exemption from anti-trust laws. In order to open up health insurance markets to real competition, the revised bill ends insurers’ blanket exemption from anti-trust laws, bringing antitrust enforcement to the two most abusive practices of health insurers – price fixing and market allocation.

• Extends coverage for young people up to their 27th birthday through parents’ insurance. The revised bill requires health plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain on their parents’ policy, at their parents’ choice.

• Creates a new, voluntary, public long-term care insurance program. The revised bill creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled. The measure provides a cash benefit to help individuals with community-based services.

To view a copy of the Affordable Health Care for American Act, H.R. 3926, click here.

To view a copy of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, H.R. 3961, click here.

To view a bill summary, detailed fact sheets and more information on what the health insurance reform will mean for Americans, click here.