The language unveiled today is a combination of three House bills passed by the Education and Labor Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee, on which Blumenauer serves.

Following is a statement from Rep. Blumenauer:

“In Oregon, where 270 people lose their health care every day, inaction on health insurance reform has never been an option. Today we have laid the foundation for serious and necessary change. This bill will not only cover those without insurance, but it will lead to better, more affordable care for all Americans. After years of hard work, we have a health care bill that is stronger than I anticipated, and I will do all I can to keep it intact as we go through the legislative dance of negotiating with the Senate.”

Facts on the Affordable Health Care for America Act

-    Addresses Medicare geographic inequities  - an issue Blumenauer has been leading the charge on to make sure that states providing high quality, efficient care are not penalized.  The health insurance reform bill will establish two studies to be conducted by the independent and respected Institute of Medicine, to improve geographic inequities and improve quality care. The recommendations from both studies are schedule to be implemented prior to 2013, when enrollment for the public plan begins. The first study will evaluate and make necessary corrections to the current geographic adjustments to physician payments.  The second study will provide recommendations on changing the Medicare payment system to reward efficient delivery of high quality, evidence–based, patient centered care. 

-    Advance Care Planning  – this Blumenauer provision will help families better prepare and understand their loved ones’ preferences for end of life care so they are not confronted with these difficult medical decisions in the midst of an emergency. The provision extends Medicare coverage to cover the cost of patients voluntarily speaking with their doctors about their values and preferences regarding end-of-life care.

-    New Health Insurance Exchange (starting in 2013) - creates a transparent and functional marketplace for individuals and small employers to comparison shop among private and public insurers, including new health insurance co-ops.

-    A Public Option - This will be one of the many choices of health insurance within the Health Insurance Exchange, and it will be a new choice – operating on a level playing field – that is subject to the same reforms and protections as other private plans.

-    Meets President Obama’s cost test of $900 billion for coverage - the legislation’s coverage cost will be $894 billion over 10 years, fully paid for.

-    Cuts the deficit - the legislation cuts the deficit by about $30 billion in the first ten-years (2010 – 2019).   CBO has indicated that in the period of 2016-2019, savings and revenues will grow significantly faster than coverage costs. 

-    Reins in wasteful Medicare costs while improving benefits for seniors - the legislation reduces annual growth in Medicare expenditures by 1.3 percentage points per year.

-    Expands health coverage - the legislation expands health insurance coverage to 36 million Americans, which helps guarantee that 96 percent of Americans will be covered.

Bill Summary

See side-by-side comparison on changes from HR 3200.

Read the full text of the Affordable Health Care for America Act

Information on Oregon Health Care Needs

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) and other members of the Quality Care Coalition announced an agreement that will address Medicare geographic inequities as part of insurance reform. Blumenauer has been leading the charge to make sure that states providing high quality, efficient care are not penalized.  This includes Portland, Oregon where – according to the latest figures – federal spending for a Medicare enrollee averages $7,000, while an enrollee in Miami, Florida averages $17,000.