Contact: Monique.Clendinen@mail.house.gov
Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen joined the Congressional leadership at the West Front of the Capitol at the rollout of the House version of health care reform on Thursday morning. Dubbed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the House bill, (H.R. 3962), blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July. In keeping with President Obama’s plans the bill slows the growth in out-of-control costs, includes a public option which will keep it affordable, protects people’s choices of doctors and health plans, and assures access to care for all Americans.
Important to the U.S. Virgin Islands and other territories, the bill includes a $10.35 billion increase in Medicaid over the next nine years and inclusion in the exchange with subsidies for low income patients. “Inclusion in the exchange will ensure that territorial residents have a wide range of insurance options, to include the public option,” Congresswoman Christensen said. “This will represent a significant increase in public health care funding as well as more affordable coverage.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other leaders in the Democratic Caucus said that the House proposal reduces the deficit by $30 billion over the first 10 years, covers young people on their parents plans up to age 27, exempts small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 from employer mandate, and begins to close the Medicare Part D donut hole. The bill would also give immediate help for the uninsured until the exchange is available, bans limits on coverage, funds community health care centers and increases the number of primary care doctors.
Congresswoman Christensen is expected to join her colleagues from several caucuses at the White House this afternoon for a discussion on the bill with President Barack Obama. “We will press the inclusion of full coverage for the territories and strong language to eliminate health disparities,” she said.
