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Press Release
July 17, 2009
Contact: Aaron Hunter 202-225-2040
Rep. Susan Davis Votes for Health Care Coverage for All Americans
Davis adds provisions to protect patients’ benefits
WASHINGTON – As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) voted for the Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) to provide health coverage for all Americans.
“We’ve taken a critical step forward in reforming our health care system and creating an opportunity for all Americans to have access to the affordable health care coverage of their choice,” said Davis.
During debate, Davis was successful in adding two amendments to the bill.
One amendment will end the existing eligibility limit and allow those currently enrolled in COBRA to keep their insurance until they find another job offering coverage or they become eligible to participate in the federal health benefit plan. COBRA allows Americans to keep their health coverage after loss of employment generally for 18 months.
“COBRA benefits can be extremely valuable to those with high health care costs,” said Davis of her amendment. “This will serve as a bridge to those who need insurance until the health reforms in the health care reform bill are implemented.”
The second amendment instructs the federal government to examine current state laws and to seek input from the states as it forms its recommendations for the federal benefit standards.
“Each state has the authority to regulate its own health insurance coverage standards and have passed laws to protect consumers,” said Davis. “It’s important that we work to ensure that the overall bill does not result in any unintended consequences of reducing the quality of coverage within the States.”
Davis’s bill, the Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, to allow federal payments for women who use birthing centers was included in the original text of H.R. 3200. Over the past few years, the federal government has been denying federal matching funds for state Medicaid payments to cover birth center fees.
The Affordable Health Choices Act will establish a new federal health exchange to give Americans a choice of either private insurers or a public health insurance option. Consumers will also be protected from abusive practices by insurance companies.
The Education and Labor Committee approved H.R. 3200 and sent the bill to the full House of Representatives on a vote of 26 to 22. Both of Davis’s amendments passed on voice votes.
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