WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas (16th CD), issued the following news release:
Congressman Silvestre Reyes today released the statement below following the passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act:
'This is a momentous occasion for the American people, particularly for the hundreds of thousands of El Pasoans who have unjustly struggled without health insurance in the world's wealthiest nation. The Affordable Health Care for America Act, as passed by the House, will dramatically improve the quality of life for so many families in our community, who will finally have access to quality affordable health coverage.
'I am particularly pleased this legislation incorporates a provision that I, along with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and others worked to include that will support the development of our medical school. The measure will allocate $100 million each year through fiscal year 2015 to the Department of Health and Human Services to help develop medical schools in federally-designated health professional shortage areas for construction, equipment, curriculum and faculty development. This is an exciting opportunity for our community.
'The House passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act is one of the most significant legislative victories for the people of El Paso. Our community has one of the highest concentrations of America's uninsured population, with over 230,000 residents without health coverage, one in three people. Texas has the highest rate of children and adults without health insurance in the entire nation. The status quo is unacceptable, and we can no longer afford to pass this growing problem to future generations.
'While our community is spending a greater share of property taxes to pay for individuals without health coverage, insurance companies have continued to engage in practices that protect their bottom lines. For too long, insurers have been the gatekeepers to our health care system, with the power to dictate who receives health coverage and who does not. Americans with pre-existing conditions and serious illnesses are too often denied coverage or are dropped from their existing insurance plans for developing a serious illness or reaching their cap on coverage, and are denied access to the medical care they need.
'When people lack access to quality affordable preventative care, they end up in our emergency rooms for ailments that could have been treated by a family doctor or seek treatment for conditions that should have been diagnosed earlier. When these patients fail to pay their medical bills from publically-financed hospitals such as University Medical Center, local property taxes are used to cover these expenses. Since 1998, El Paso property tax payers have spent over $400 million to pay for treatment and services for those patients who could not afford to pay their medical bills.
'The Affordable Health Care for America Act will dramatically reduce the number of people without insurance in El Paso. First, it prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage due to 'pre-existing conditions.' It requires that every American obtain health coverage, and provides 'affordability credits' to individuals and families with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (currently $43,430 for individuals and $88,200 for a family of four).
'The legislation also requires that most employers provide coverage. It includes exemptions for small businesses with payrolls of less than $500,000 and offers generous tax credits for those small businesses that elect to provide coverage for their employees. The bill creates an 'insurance exchange,' that will offer affordable health insurance plans for individuals without employer-provided or government-provided insurance (such as Medicaid and Medicare). This exchange will include a public option to encourage competition with private insurers to keep prices low for consumers.
'This bill also brings much needed relief and peace of mind for those who do have insurance coverage, as all Americans will no longer have to worry about the possibility of financial ruin due to a serious illness. It caps annual out-of-pocket expenses at $10,000 for families and $5,000 for individuals, and prohibits insurance companies from imposing lifetime limits on an individual's coverage.
'Our local community leaders have expressed their support for health insurance reform, and both the City and the County have passed unanimous resolutions in support of reform. The Affordable Health Care for America Act is endorsed by over 300 national organizations and associations, including the AARP, the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Consumers Union, the Catholic Health Association, and many other medical professional organizations.
'The passage of this landmark legislation by the House of Representatives is an historic achievement and reflects the commitment and determined leadership of President Obama and the Democratic Congress to follow through on a key promise to help middle class families, who have endured years of rising medical costs. I commend my colleagues for their determination to pass this truly historic legislation that will lower health care costs for all Americans, and strengthen our country's financial future.'For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.
Vincent M. Perez, 202/225-4831.
