Rich Anthony: Frank Wolf Opposes Quality, Affordable Health Care

by: lowkell

Mon Mar 22, 2010 at 05:47:33 AM EDT

Representative Wolf Opposes Quality, Affordable Health Care
Votes Against Small Business and Middle Class Families

(Fair Oaks, VA) - Yesterday, Representative Frank Wolf once again put big profits for corporate interests ahead of Virginia's hard-working middle class families and our vital small business owners. Wolf voted against the comprehensive health care reform bill that passed the house.

This legislation will end the practice of insurance companies discriminating against those with pre-existing conditions. It will end the days of hardworking families and small businesses being priced out of the care they need in the name of insurance company profits. This legislation will help seniors by closing the donut hole in Medicare, and it will reduce the deficit by more than a trillion dollars over the next two decades.

"Yesterday's vote was an opportunity for Congressman Wolf to put the people of his district ahead of the special interests and greedy insurance companies. Sadly, he chose to side with the greedy insurance companies instead of with his constituents," said Anthony for Congress campaign manager John Murphy. "People in this district have a lot of respect for Rep. Wolf"s three decades of service, but votes like this make it clear he just isn't ready to stop toeing the line for the Republican Party. The voters of this district, and all across the country, are crying out for real representation in Washington. If our elected officials cannot free themselves from the firm grasp of corporate interests, then it's time for them to go," concluded Murphy.

Background on Health Care Reform Bill:
The following provisions will take effect as soon as President Obama signs the bill:

*Tax credits for small businesses
*Preventive care covered 100 percent by Medicare
*Closing the Medicare prescription drug "donut hole"
*Temporary coverage for early retirees, ages 55-64
*Insurance companies can no longer drop people from coverage when they get sick
*Ends discrimination against children based on heath status or pre-existing conditions
*Ends restrictive annual limits on benefits for new insurance policies
*Allows adult children to be covered under their parents' plan up to the age of 26
*Ensures that insurers spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care
*Eliminates copays for preventive care under new private plans
*Provides temporary coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions until Exchange is implemented
*Expands enough funding for community health centers to double capacity in five years

Other critical reforms from this historic legislation:
*Cuts the deficit by more than $100 billion in the first ten years, then one trillion in the second ten years
*Constitutes the biggest deficit reduction package in more than a decade
*Restores fiscal responsibility by reining in health care costs across our economy
*Reduces cost by creating competitive health insurance exchanges where consumers can small businesses can buy affordable coverage much like large companies do today
*Extends the solvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund by at least nine years
*Increases access to care by investing in Community Health Centers
*Expands eligibility for Medicaid
*Gives Americans they tools and information they need to make informed decisions about their health insurance coverage
*Promotes transparency by cracking down on waste and fraud in Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and private insurers