Includes Critical Medicare Reimbursement Language Secured by Braley
Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement today after voting to pass the Senate Health Care bill and House reconciliation package. Yesterday, Braley and a core group of other Representatives were able to achieve a major breakthrough in Medicare reimbursement policy that secured his vote for the bills.
"One of my biggest priorities has been fighting to fix unfair and inefficient geographic differences, and reform the Medicare system to one that pays Iowa's medical professionals for the high-quality, low-cost health care they currently provide. Just yesterday, we achieved a major breakthrough in reforming our Medicare reimbursement system. I'm proud to say that the House bill will finally fix these inequities, move us to a better reimbursement model that emphasizes quality over quantity, and help recruit well-qualified health-care providers to Iowa.
"This bill will decrease health insurance costs, expand access to quality, affordable health care, improve reimbursements for Iowa medical providers and allow Americans to maintain their choice of health insurance. This legislation will provide much-needed relief for thousands of businesses in Iowa's First District and will reduce our deficit by more than $143 billion over the next 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the 10 years after that. After reading the bill, listening to my constituents and debating the bill's provisions in Congress, I'm convinced this legislation is good for Iowa."
In Iowa's First District, the health care reform package voted upon tonight will:
· Improve coverage for 394,000 residents with health insurance.
· Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 156,000 families and 14,000 small businesses to help them afford coverage.
· Improve Medicare for 102,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.
· Extend coverage to 16,000 uninsured residents.
· Guarantee that 6,500 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
· Protect 700 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
· Allow 50,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents' insurance plans.
· Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 11 community health centers.
· Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $54 million annually.
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