EndocrinologyAARP: HELP Committee Bill Marks Critical Step Toward Health Care Reform
AARP CEO Barry Rand released this statement following the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee"s passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act:
"Today"s vote brings us one big step closer to comprehensive health care reform that ensures every American has a choice of quality, affordable coverage. We are proud of the committee"s leadership on this issue and their commitment to passing legislation this year, but we remain concerned with some of the bill"s specifics.
"The bill passed today includes several smart provisions that will help Americans get affordable health care. By strictly limiting insurers" discriminatory practices, the bill ensures Americans can purchase affordable health coverage, regardless of age or health status. It also helps struggling middle-class families by limiting premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, providing true relief from rising health costs.
"The bill"s long-term care provisions will put more people on track to get the health and long-term care services and supports they need throughout their lives and take some of the burden off of struggling Medicaid programs. The bill also takes needed steps to strengthen the health care workforce and prepare it to meet the needs of an aging population, particularly in the critical fields of primary care and nursing.
"However, we remain concerned about the bill"s unreasonable exclusivity period for brand name biologic drugs, which will keep less costly generic versions from the people who need them and result in billions of dollars of profit for the brand name drug industry.
"AARP thanks Chairman Kennedy, Senator Dodd and their colleagues for their strong commitment to health care reform. With their help, America is closer to finally achieving the goal of quality, affordable health care for all."
AARP