Congresswoman Susan Davis is joined by her colleagues at the U.S. Capitol promoting October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Susan talks with families and medical professionals about the health care issues that affect them during a visit to a San Diego Family Health Center.

On the Issues

Health Care

On March 21, 2010, the House passed comprehensive healthcare reform.  Susan was proud to vote in favor of this legislation that will help contain health care costs and make a difference for millions of Americans and their families.

For more information on the health care reform law, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/.

For specific information regarding the bill’s tax provisions, including the small business health care tax credit, visit http://www.irs.gov/.

Measures that go into effect over the course of 2010:

  • No pre-existing coverage denials for children
  • No canceling policies when a patient gets sick
  • No lifetime limits on benefits
  • Small businesses will receive tax credits for covering their workers
  • Young adults can stay on their parents' coverage until age 26
  • Insurers are required to provide free preventative care on new plans
  • Starts closing the prescription drug gap called the "donut hole"
  • Provides health coverage for those denied by insurance companies

 

A complete timeline of what’s changing and when

A complete explanations look at the provisions of the new law

Susan’s Statement on Passing Health Care Reform Legislation

Text of Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010

Text of Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590 (Senate Health Bill)

Full CBO Score

Projected Impact of Health Care Reform in the 53rd District

List of over 350 Organizations that Support Health Reform

Health Care Provisions in Final Package that Built on Susan’s Original Legislation
The new health reform law puts in place broad consumer protections that are long overdue for patients across our country.  This landmark legislation also includes more specific provisions Susan authored in the House of Representatives.
Provisions that built on Susan’s original legislation which were included in the final healthcare package signed by the President:

Getting women direct access to their OB/GYN
(H.R. 2940, Women's Obstetrician and Gynecologist Medical Access Now Act)
The final health care bill provides women direct access to an OB/GYN or a participating family practice physician or surgeon designated by the plan or issuer as providing OB/GYN services.  It also prohibits plans or issuers from requiring a referral or prior approval.  Susan championed similar legislation in the California state assembly before she introduced legislation on the federal level shortly after she was elected to Congress.
 
Helping to Prevent Diabetes
(H.R. 4124, Diabetes Prevention Act)
New cases of Diabetes are growing at an alarming rate – even beginning to appear in children – and action is necessary to reverse the trend.  Based on a successful NIH pilot program, this provision provides grants for a community-based approach to preventing new cases of type 2 Diabetes.
 
Maintaining Viability of Birth Centers
(H.R. 2358, Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act)
Birth centers are part of an essential safety net for Medicaid mothers across the country. However, over the past few years, CMS has begun disallowing federal matching funds for state Medicaid payments for freestanding birth center facility fees, claiming that it lacks clear statutory authority and direction to allow these payments.  This language preserves crucial maternal health care by providing that authority and ensuring Medicaid birth center facility fee payments to states.