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One of the first bills I introduced when I came to the Senate was legislation to ensure universal coverage for all Americans. Now, after more than a year of public debate, Congress has taken an historic step by enacting the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act -- legislation that will benefit every American. My goal has always been to pass a health care reform bill that would reduce the rising cost of health care and provide American families with affordable, quality health coverage without adding to our federal deficit. This bill achieves all of those goals. |
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Health care reform will have an immediate impact on real families, small businesses and seniors in Maryland. It will provide immediate tax credits for small businesses so they can afford quality health insurance for their employees, and seniors who have been caught in the Medicare Part D "donut hole" finally receive some real relief. Insurance companies that have put profits over patients for too long are now prohibited from discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions and banned from rescinding coverage when someone gets sick.
Together, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, which is a series of improvements to the base bill, will reduce overall health care costs while preserving choice of health care plans and providers. For more information on how health care reform will affect you and your family click on my health care reform website...
My other health care initiatives include...
- Children's Dental Health Improvement Act to require states to include dental health coverage for children in their SCHIP programs;
- Increased funding for medical research for NIH, Maryland's world-class universities and our State's cutting edge biotech industry, all of which are working on cures for a myriad of diseases, as well as ways to protect our citizens from epidemics or bioterrorist attacks.
- Medicare Early Access Act to allow individuals between 55 and 64 to buy into the Medicare program;
- Access for All Americans Act to increase the number of community health centers, which currently provide affordable primary care, dental care, mental health services and low-cost prescription drugs to 18 million Americans;
[This year, the federal government will begin investing millions of dollars in Maryland's 129 community health centers. Over the next five years, $11 billion will be spent nationwide expanding access and doubling the number of community health centers.]
- Preserving Medicare for All Act to change the Medicare Part D program to guarantee a universally available, defined prescription drug benefit plan for seniors through Medicare;
[The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was signed into law provides a $250 rebate in 2010 to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the Part D prescription drug donut hole. Beginning in 2011, a 50% discount will be available for brand-name drugs in the donut hole, which will be completely closed by 2020.]
- Medicare Preventive Services Coverage Act to waive fees for preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries and extend eligibility period for "Welcome to Medicare" physical examines. As a member of the House, my proposal to include preventative benefits in Medicare was enacted into law; and,
[The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was signed into law will eliminate deductibles, copayments, and other cost-sharing for preventive care, and provide free annual wellness check-ups for all seniors, including 741,000 Marylanders, beginning in January 2011. Beginning in late 2010, free preventive services will be available under all new health plans for individuals of all ages.]
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