Washington, DC –Representative Anthony Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Caucus on the Middle Class, released the following statement on the passage of the House health care reform bill:
"About five and half months ago I said I believed that the coming few years in Washington were deeply important, and a time when ideas could matter.”
“I stated my commitment to working in Congress to take full advantage of this progressive era to pass important legislation. That decision meant I did not run for an office I have dreamed of, and one that recent events show was more open to contention than critics admitted.”
“But tonight's work shows that Congress can take major steps to improve the lives of Americans. Americans deserve quality, affordable health care, and tonight's vote took them one step closer to it.”
“I have been gratified in recent days by the words of Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Waxman about the positive role I have played in helping pass this significant legislation. I am proud to have been part of the strong voices in this body helping to create the strongest, and most passable bill possible.”
“In response to a question I get frequently these days, I do not regret my choice to work this year in this body, to focus my energies here in Congress, because I believe we will achieve extraordinarily significant progress for New Yorkers here, and we have done so in this new health care bill."
Top 10 Ways NYC Benefits from Health Care ReformNew York City – Today, Representative Anthony Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Caucus on the Middle Class, released a new study on the impact of the health reform bill which passed the House of Representatives late last night on New York City.
“Last night the House of Representatives passed an historic health care reform bill that will help millions of middle class New Yorkers struggling to pay their skyrocketing insurance premiums. With this bill, New York seniors, doctors, the uninsured and those who have been denied insurance due to a preexisting condition will no longer be force to pray at the altar of the insurance industry to receive quality, affordable and stable care.”
Top 10 Ways the Affordable Health Care for America Act Helps New York City:
1) Covers Uninsured New Yorkers
• 698,000 New Yorkers will get health insurance who didn’t have it before. This will reduce the number of uninsured New Yorkers from 1,131,530 to 433,530.
2) Helps Small Businesses with Health Insurance Costs
• For small businesses that provide health insurance coverage, they will receive a tax-credit over a 2 year period.
• Small businesses with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $40,000 will qualify for tax credits of up to 50% of the costs of providing health insurance.
• There are up to 204,200 small businesses in NYC that could qualify for credits.
3) Protects 143,000 New Yorkers with Pre-existing Conditions
• Under the health care bill’s insurance reforms, anyone with a pre-existing condition will now be able to purchase affordable coverage.
4) Cuts Out-of-Pocket Costs for Drugs for Seniors
• Immediately closes the Medicare Part D donut hole.
• Each year, more than 80,000 seniors in NYC hit the prescription drug donut hole and are forced to pay their full drug costs, despite having Part D drug coverage.
• The legislation will provide these seniors with immediate relief, covering the first $500 of donut hole costs in 2010, cutting brand-name drug costs in the donut hole by 50%, and completely eliminating the donut hole by 2019.
5) Protects Individuals and Families from Bankruptcy due to Illness
• Caps Annual out-of pocket spending to a maximum of $5,000 per person and $10,000 per family, ensuring that no New Yorker will have to face financial ruin because of high health care costs.
• There were 6,450 health care-related bankruptcies in New York City in 2008, caused primarily by the health care costs not covered by insurance.
6) Increases Payments for Doctors who take Medicaid
• In New York, Medicaid rates were only 36% of Medicare rates, which means that many doctors often won’t take Medicaid
• By 2012, Medicaid rates will match Medicare rates and all increase will be paid by the federal government.
7) Makes Preventive Care Free
• New Yorkers who want to get preventive care such as a mammogram or colonoscopy won’t have to pay anything out of pocket.
8) Provides $360 million for Community Health Centers in NYC
• There are 180 community health care center sites throughout NYC.
• NYC community health clinics have seen a 61% increase in the number of patients they serve – a spike from 410,884 in 2000 to 660,656 patients in 2007.
• The funding will allow health centers to double the number of patients they serve over the next 5 years.
9) Improves Coverage for Young Americans
• Allows those through the age of 26, who are not otherwise covered to remain on their parent’s policies at the discretion of their parents.
• There are approximately 1 million individuals in NYC between the ages of 19 and 25 in New York City. Of these, approximately 267,000, or 26.7%, are uninsured.
10) Relieves the Burden of Uncompensated Care on Health Care Providers
• In 2008, health care providers in NYC provided $632 million worth of uncompensated care. This care was provided to individuals who lacked insurance coverage and were unable to pay their bills.
• Under the bill, the costs of uncompensated care that is absorbed by health care providers will be virtually eliminated.
This analysis is based upon fact sheets created by the Energy and Commerce Committee from the following sources: the U.S. Census (data on insurance rates and small businesses); the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (data on Medicare and Part D enrollment) the Department of Health and Human Services (data on health care-related bankruptcies, uncompensated care, and pre-existing conditions); and the House Committee on Ways and Means (data on the surtax). Rep. Anthony Weiner’s office used fact sheets to calculate numbers for all of NYC.
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