| Statement on House Health Care Bill Unveiling |
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| Thursday, October 29 2009 | |
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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud issued the following statement after leaders in the House of Representatives unveiled their health insurance reform bill, H.R. 3962 – the Affordable Health Care for America Act: “We have an historic opportunity to pass health care reform. After months of consideration and debate in three congressional committees, House leaders laid out their bill today. While the actual language of the bill is just now being made available for the Congress and the American public to read, I am pleased that reform efforts are progressing. “We must bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, and affordable coverage to those who don’t. We must also promote fiscally responsible reform that will not add to our debt or the skyrocketing growth in the cost of health care. The status quo is unacceptable and we must act. “One of my greatest responsibilities as a member of Congress is to always ask the question – Is this legislation good for Maine? Over the last few months, I talked to a lot of Mainers about health care reform during meetings, roundtables, and telephone town halls. Families, individuals, small businesses, and health care providers all raised specific concerns they had with various aspects of health care reform. Whether it’s making sure health insurance is more affordable or that rural areas and small businesses are treated fairly, Mainers have legitimate concerns that must be addressed in a final bill. We need reform, but we need it done right and we need it to work for our state. “I have had some serious concerns with previous versions of the bill – specifically, how the cuts in Medicare would impact our seniors, home health care agencies, nursing homes and rural providers in Maine. I am also concerned about how low reimbursement rates already negatively impact our overall health care system in Maine. “I have been working hard every day to resolve these concerns, and I will closely examine this new bill to make sure that it is a good one for Maine. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to accomplish meaningful reform.”
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