BIAA Update November 20, 2009
Here is the latest from Sarah D'Orsie at the Brain Injury Association of America
Health Care Reform Update
This week, The Senate released and began debate on their Health Care Reform leadership measure. As many of you may know, originally, rehabilitation was not included in the Senate Finance bill as a minimum benefit. Due to the lobbying efforts of BIAA, largely supported and funded by our Business and Professional Council, we have been able to ensure that rehabilitation is a part of the minimum benefits package of the final product now being debated in the Senate.
Specifically, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act being considered would:
(Democratic leadership summary)
- Include immediate changes to the way health insurance companies do business to protect consumers from discriminatory practices and provide Americans with better preventive coverage and the information they need to make informed decisions about their health insurance.
-Uninsured Americans with a pre-existing condition will have access to an immediate insurance program to help them avoid medical bankruptcy and retirees will have greater certainty due to reinsurance provisions to help maintain coverage.
-New health insurance Exchanges will make coverage affordable and accessible for individuals and small businesses.
-Insurance companies will be barred from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions, health status, and gender.
-Expand eligibility for Medicaid to include all non-elderly Americans with income below 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), with substantial assistance to States for the cost of covering these individuals.
- Make long-term supports and services more affordable for millions of Americans by providing a lifetime cash benefit that will help people with severe disabilities remain in their homes and communities.
- Eliminate lifetime insurance limits in all new individual and group plans for plan years beginning 6 months after enactment.
Today, as the Senate opened a two-day debate on the bill, Congressional Quarterly reported that Majority Leader, Harry Reid is closing in on the 60 votes needed to overcome an anticipated filibuster and bring the measure to the floor. Reid has filed cloture the bill and the vote on the motion to proceed to the bill is expected to occur on Saturday at 8:00 pm.
BIAA will continue to monitor the bill's progress closely as debate continues. Also, documents relating to the Senate leadership bill can be found on BIAA's website under the Health Care Reform Library section:
http://www.biausa.org/policyissues.htm#library
Veteran's Health Omnibus Bill
On Thursday, November 19, 2009, The Senate voted to pass a package of veteran's bills (S1963) that included both S. 801 and S. 252, both important Veteran's health care measures supported by BIAA.
The bill would expand services in rural areas and ensure that veterans who are catastrophically disabled or who need emergency care in the community are not charged for those services. It would also authorize VA hospitals to contract with non-VA providers to ensure that our returning service members have access to the care that they so desperately need and deserve.
Thank you for the updates which are very valuable!
I was unaware of the ifetime cash benefit that will help people with severe disabilities remain in their homes and communities. This will much needed assistance to my clients, and on a personal note, my disabled, from birth, brother who lives with my elderly parents and who is very dependant on such benefits and assistance.