Below is this week’s update on the Affordable Care Act. As always, thank you for all you do every day to support laws and policies that help cancer patients and their families.
Senator Johanns’ Amendment Vote Scheduled for Next Week
Congress will return to Washington, DC September 14 th from its summer recess period. The first vote in the Senate will be on an amendment to a Small Business bill that was offered by Senator Mike Johanns (NE) before the Senate adjourned in early August.
The amendment would eliminate a provision included in the Affordable Care Act that increases reporting requirements on small businesses. To offset the revenue loss the amendment would nearly eliminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund ($17 billion over 10 years) that was included in the Affordable Care Act to support important prevention programs like tobacco cessation, obesity and nutrition programs and public health infrastructure. The amendment would also make significant changes to the individual mandate requirements included in the new law that would increase premiums for individuals and families.
ACS CAN has actively opposed the amendment, and has signed on to a letter with over 200 organizations that urges all Senators to vote against the amendment. The prevention funding in the new law was a priority for ACS CAN during the legislative debate. It is likely that the Prevention and Public Health Fund will continue to be a target in the future since it is a substantial amount of money that will be allocated for specific programs over a 10 year period. Protecting this important funding will be critical as our country moves toward transforming our nation’s health care system.
A copy of the letter can be found at:
http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Johanns%20Sign%20On.pdf .
Launch of Spanish version of www.healthcare.gov (www.cuidadodesalud.gov )
This week, HHS launched www.cuidadodesalud.gov , the first website in
Spanish of its kind that will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. The website includes the same information and resources available on the www.healthcare.gov website about private insurance for individuals and families, as well as public programs such as Medicaid, S-CHIP, and the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan.
Christopher W. Hansen
President
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)