Highlights his work on health care for children and combating fraud and abuse
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today released the following statement on the committee’s passage of The Affordable Health Choices Act:
“Today’s vote is a major step toward reducing health care costs, providing stability for those worried about losing coverage and expanding coverage to 97% of Americans.
“As I travel in Pennsylvania, the top issues I hear from my constituents are the related issues of economic insecurity and the need for health care reform. This legislation will go a long way toward providing peace of mind for families and an economic boost for our country.
“The data on the need for action is clear. By one estimate, 14,000 people every day lose their health coverage and join the almost 50 million Americans who lack health insurance. According to Families USA, 2.8 million Pennsylvanians under age 65 – 27.3% of the population – did not have health insurance at some point in the last two years. Businesses, especially small businesses, are facing a crushing burden to pay health care costs for their employees or are being forced to drop coverage. Over a quarter of Pennsylvania’s private workforce is employed by small businesses.
“Equally important as protecting patient choice, expanding access to coverage and increasing the quality of care is the goal of reducing costs for families, businesses and for the federal government. Our current system is not sustainable. Waiting to act or doing nothing will only make the problems worse.
“If we do not act, more people will lose coverage. As costs increase, the quality of care will diminish and the ballooning costs incurred by the government and business will endanger our fiscal health. Our bill will reduce costs by emphasizing prevention, cutting waste and modernizing the health care system through quality information technology.
“I was also pleased that I was able to help include a number of provisions in the HELP Committee bill that will improve and protect coverage for children. As the debate continues I will remain resolute in making sure that no child is worse off under health care reform.
“As the bill went through various draft forms over these many months, I worked closely, along with Senator Dodd, to ensure that the needs of children were identified and addressed in this bill. I am particularly pleased that I was able to include provisions to increase outreach and facilitate enrollment for low-income families and children to ensure they are in the best programs to fit their needs. I was proud to join Senator Dodd and the Committee to include a number of specific provisions to help children and their families, including: mandating prevention and screenings for children; ensuring pediatric benefits as well as pediatric input into the formulation of benefits packages; ensuring availability of pediatrician-led medical homes; ensuring critical oral health care for children; strengthening the pediatric workforce and expanding drug discounts for children’s hospitals.
“However, some of the most significant provisions regarding children are being considered by the Finance Committee, due to its jurisdiction over the Medicaid and CHIP programs. I will be examining the Finance bill carefully for its impact on health care for children, particularly our most vulnerable children as we engage in the continuation of this debate in the weeks ahead.
“I was honored to preside over deliberations that resulted in new, stronger provisions to combat health care fraud and abuse.
“Specifically, the bill that passed the HELP Committee would strengthen criminal penalties, help prevent fraudulent insurance plans from escaping state regulation, create new positions in the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice devoted to rooting out health care fraud and abuse and create a council to coordinate strategic planning among federal agencies involved in health care integrity and oversight.
“After an unprecedented 60 hours of committee meetings and after considering almost 300 amendments, we have made a major step forward in the health care debate. We still have a long way to go.
“As we move forward, I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate who may not yet see the need to reduce health care costs and fix the health care system to listen to their constituents. They will see that we are not just talking about a policy debate. Health care reform is literally an issue of life and death -- an issue that keeps parents up at night as they worry about paying medical bills or about losing their coverage if they lose their jobs.
“Every member of Congress has health care. It is about time that we expanded coverage to more Americans.”
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