Boswell Votes to Pass Affordable Health Care for America Act

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November 07, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell voted for and the House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act in a major step forward toward repairing the country’s health care system for all Iowans – families, children, young adults and seniors alike.

“Today, I voted for the most transformative piece of legislation that I have considered during my 13 years in Congress,” Boswell said.

“I voted to grant access to health care coverage for 18,000 uninsured constituents in my district and to make it more affordable for another 440,000 insured.”

“I voted to guarantee that 6,400 of my constituents with pre-existing conditions could never be denied coverage and to reduce insurance costs for 14,800 small businesses.”

“I voted to finally address how Iowa’s hospitals and providers are reimbursed for the care they provide.”

Under this legislation, the government will not force individuals and families with employer-based coverage to give up their insurance plans. However, as a result of the insurance reforms in this bill, they will no longer be required to pay co-pays or deductibles for preventive care; no more rate increases or coverage denials for pre-existing conditions, gender, or occupation; and guaranteed oral, vision, and hearing benefits for children. The public option offered in the health insurance exchange would drive down costs across the board by fostering competition and expanding insurance choices.

Those who do not receive coverage through their employer would be eligible to purchase coverage at affordable, group rates through a health insurance exchange. Individuals and families who meet poverty thresholds would receive affordability credits to help cover the cost of coverage. This legislation will also put caps on annual out-of-pocket costs at $5,000 for singles and $10,000 for families.

Congressman Boswell worked closely with his fellow Congressmen from Iowa, Reps. David Loebsack and Bruce Braley, to negotiate a compromise that added language to this bill to change Medicare to a quality-based payment system in two years.

Specifically, this legislation (1) requires Medicare to conduct a two-year study on a value-based system, and (2) at the end of the two year study period, Medicare would switch to a quality-based system unless Congress specifically cast a vote to disallow that change.

“Iowa’s hospitals and providers have shouldered the burden of unfair Medicare reimbursements for the high-quality care they provide for too long,” Boswell said. “This bill would require studies on the reimbursement formula and move toward a payment system based on quality, not quantity. Providers who participate in the public option would be reimbursed through negotiated rates that balance what private insurance companies pay for services with the current Medicare rates.”

The House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act by a vote of 220 to 215.

Source: Congressman Leonard Boswell