Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

"I am proud to have supported historic health care reform that is already helping millions of Americans. This law was a huge step forward, but there is still more to be done. I will keep working to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, and make sure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care."

As the husband of a family nurse practitioner, and a senior member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, I know firsthand the challenges that exist in our current health care system. For more than two decades I have worked to make healthcare affordable and accessible for all Americans.

I am proud to have voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is helping make sure the people of our district have access to quality, affordable health care. This landmark legislation is already holding insurance companies more accountable, lowering health care costs, and will soon guarantee more health care choices, and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans. The law expands the current private health insurance system by increasing choice and spurring competition.

Many people have already experienced the Affordable Care Act's immediate benefits. Insurance companies can no longer drop your coverage when you get sick or deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Adults with pre-existing conditions now have access to affordable coverage. Young adults can now stay on their parents' insurance until their 26th birthday. New insurance plans are required to cover preventive services and immunizations with no co-payments. And, small businesses that provide coverage to their employees now get a tax credit on premiums.

Other parts of the law will go into effect in 2014, and will make even more improvements to our health care system. More than 32 million people who are currently uninsured will gain access to affordable coverage. The hidden taxes all insured individuals currently pay toward the cost of emergency room visits by people without insurance will be ended. And people will receive assistance affording their care through tax credits for low- and middle-income families.

While the new health care law is far from perfect, it is an important first step toward making quality, affordable health care a reality for all Americans. Reforming health care has and always will be an ongoing process that will not be completed with the passage of any one bill. But by passing the Affordable Care Act into law, millions of Americans will now be able to afford to go to the doctor. And that's what matters.

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