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News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo

House Health Care Reform Bill Includes Territories’ Provisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 29, 2009 – Washington, D.C. –

Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.  This legislation is sponsored by Congressman John D. Dingell, Jr. of Michigan, Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Congresswoman Bordallo joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Congressional leadership on the West front of the Capitol for the introduction of H.R. 3692. 

Congressman Dingell has been a leading advocate for health care reform in this country.  He and his father, former Congressman John D. Dingell, Sr., have introduced legislation at the beginning of each Congress calling for a single-payer health care system.  Congressman Dingell also presided over the House when legislation enacting the Medicaid program was passed in 1965.           

The Affordable Health Care for America Act aims to reform healthcare insurance by reducing the overall cost of healthcare, expanding coverage, lifting insurance caps, strengthening Medicare, providing for a public option, and ending discrimination based on pre-existing medical conditions.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing H.R. 3692 will cost less than $900 billion over the next twenty years. 

There are many important provisions for Guam included in H.R. 3692, and those provisions are outlined below:

“I joined Congressional leadership during the unveiling of H.R. 3692 this morning on the West front of the Capitol,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “I have been working closely with leadership along with my colleagues from the U.S. Territories to ensure that the healthcare needs of our communities are addressed in health care reform legislation.  This legislation addresses major health disparities on Guam and puts Guam on a path to full Medicaid funding with the goal of removing the Medicaid cap at the end of the ten year period.  It gives the territories the option of joining the exchange or using local solutions to address the uninsured, and provides funds to the territorial governments for participation in the exchange.  The one area that the bill falls short is in providing additional funds so that citizens of the Freely Associated States could participate in Medicaid, reducing the local burden.  I will continue to work with my colleagues and leadership to make the FAS citizens eligible for Medicaid outside the Medicaid caps.”

• Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping coverage for pre-existing conditions, banning gendering rating, and prohibiting insurance companies from dropping coverage after an individual becomes sick. 

• The territories will have the option to opt into the national health insurance exchange where those who are uninsured can purchase affordable health insurance.

• The Medicaid program on Guam will have increased funding starting in 2011 and have significant increases until 2019 putting Guam on a path to parity with the Medicaid program in the states.  The Federal Matching Assistance Percentage (FMAP) will also be adjusted to be equal to the highest FMAP available to the states. 

• Medicaid funding will increase from $16,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 to $47,000,000 in fiscal year 2011 (additional $34m plus base of $13m).  Each additional year until 2019, Guam’s Medicaid program will receive an additional $3,000,000.  In fiscal year 2019, Medicaid funding will be $71,000,000 (additional $58m plus base of $13m).

PHOTO CAPTION:  Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo is joined from left to right by Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont, Congressman John Dingell of Michigan, Congressman Sandy Levin of Michigan, and Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois during the introduction of H.R. 3692, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.  Congresswoman Bordallo and her colleagues are pictured holding the gavel wielded by Congressman Dingell when he presided over the House during the passage of legislation enacting Medicaid in 1965. 

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Contact: Matthew Mateo in Washington, D.C. at 202-225-1188 or Derek Mandell at 671-477-4272/4.

matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or derek.mandell@mail.house.gov

www.house.gov/bordallo

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