For Release: Saturday, November 7, 2009
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO VOTES FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL

WASHINGTON - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today voted for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the most significant health care bill considered by the House of Representatives since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The bill would improve the provision of health care in the United States by:

• Insuring 36 million additional Americans, which will improve preventive care, reduce emergency room visits and reduce overall health costs.
• Removing health insurance pre-existing condition limitations.
• Removing health insurance lifetime aggregate limit caps.
• Prohibiting insurance companies from dropping your coverage if you become sick.
• Improving health care coverage for seniors by eliminating the prescription drug “donut hole,” providing free preventive health services and extending the solvency of Medicare by five years.
• Allowing everyone to keep their current health insurance coverage.
• Maintaining the Hyde Amendment, a current law prohibition on taxpayer funds being used for abortion services.
• Reducing the federal deficit by $126 billion over 10 years.

“This is one of the most important votes I have taken as a member of Congress and I considered it very carefully,” said Costello. “As I discussed this issue with individuals and families, doctors, nurses and other health professionals, there is general agreement that our health system is broken and threatens our economy and way of life. We treat people in emergency rooms instead of doctors’ offices, and often when they are sickest and care is most expensive. While it is not perfect, H.R. 3962 promises to improve outcomes by making insurance more available and putting the emphasis on preventive care.

“But most importantly today, we have kept the process of health care reform moving forward. The Senate bill will likely be very different from H.R. 3962, but I am confident we can craft a final product that incorporates these goals and makes our health care system better.”

It is estimated that the bill would ensure that 96% of the non-elderly have health insurance, including 40,000 residents of the 12th Congressional District that are currently uninsured. The bill would also protect 1,700 families in the district from bankruptcy due to medical costs and reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $119 million.

H.R. 3962 is supported by over 300 organizations, including:

• AARP
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Association of Family Physicians
• American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network
• American College of Surgeons
• American College of Physicians
• American Heart Association – American Stroke Association
• American Medical Association
• American Nurses Association
• Consumers Union
• Main Street Alliance
• National Association of Community Health Centers
• National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
• National Farmers Union

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