Reduces Cost, Increases Access for Southern Nevadans

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District voted today in support of landmark health care legislation that will reduce costs, improve access, increase choice, and strengthen Medicare.  H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, passed by a vote of 220 to 215.

“Today, the House took a giant step toward making health care reform affordable and accessible for more people in Southern Nevada and across the country,” Congresswoman Titus said.  “For the past six months, I have traveled around the district talking with my constituents, listening to their concerns at town halls and Congress on the Corners.  I had roundtable discussions with doctors, providers, and small business owners so I could fight on their behalf for critical changes in the final bill.” 

“The legislation the House passed today will help make our small businesses more competitive by reducing the burden they face due to rising health care costs,” Titus added.  “It will give all Nevadans peace of mind by banning the insurance industry practice of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions.  And this bill will benefit seniors by beginning to close the donut hole that leaves them paying high out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs and by reducing waste in Medicare that drives up the cost of premiums.”

The Affordable Health Care for America Act, which has been endorsed by AARP and the American Medical Association, includes an important amendment offered by Titus that increases the benefits for small businesses.  Titus’ amendment increases the size of a small business that can enter into the Health Insurance Exchange and join together to purchase insurance at a lower cost.  Titus also fought to change the limits on a surcharge to protect small businesses by increasing the threshold at which households must pay the surcharge from $280,000 to $500,000 for individuals and $350,000 to $1 million for couples.  Under this higher threshold, 98.8 percent of all employers will pay no surcharge.

Other key provisions of the bill include eliminating co-pays for preventive services, permitting states to enter into agreements to allow for the sale of insurance across state lines, and allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ policy until the age of 27.  According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will reduce the deficit by $30 billion over the next 10 years.

“With Nevada families and small businesses suffering under the weight of rising health care costs, the status quo is no longer acceptable.  I believe the legislation passed today will make great strides toward reforming our broken health care system and giving Nevadans the assurance that they will have the coverage they need at a cost they can afford,” Titus concluded.

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Tags: health care