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Dear Friend,
Thank you for taking the time to visit my Web site and learn more about health care reform.
Health care reform is enormously important to many West Virginia families and health professionals, and you deserve an active role in the national debate. The details of reform matter - and I want to continue to hear your thoughts, questions and concerns.
I believe Congress can pass a health care bill this year. This path will not be easy, but the status quo in unacceptable and the need for reform is urgent.
Our current health care system is not sustainable. It is not producing the kind of health results we need in West Virginia, and it is dragging down our economy. The American people deserve stable and affordable coverage and high quality health care options. The economy needs good health care jobs in every community and a comprehensive effort to reduce spiraling costs.
It is important to remember that we are still in the early stages of the process - health care reform is a marathon, not a sprint. But our need is real, and our momentum is strong. We have a real opportunity to enact legislation that will transform health care in our state and our country for the better - by protecting consumers from harmful insurance company practices, improving the quality of care, reducing costs and inefficiencies in the system, and providing access to affordable coverage for all. This is my vision for health reform and I hope we can achieve this together.
To keep our dialogue going, I wanted to share with you fact sheets about the current state of health care in West Virginia - The Cost of Doing Nothing in West Virginia and Snapshot of Uninsured in WV - highlighting the urgent need for reform.
I also encourage you to view a brief description of the reform bills that I have crafted and hope to have included in the final legislation. Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these bills or would like additional information.
As the process moves forward, I very much look forward to hearing from you and from as many West Virginians as possible. Please feel free to share my email and the materials posted here with your friends, family, church members, co-workers, and neighbors. You can email me anytime at health@rockefeller.senate.gov. I will update this website as the health care reform progresses and will count on you to let me know how we can move forward together to meet the needs of West Virginia and our country.
Thank you again for your time and your insights.
All the best,
Jay
*CONNECTING WITH SENATOR ROCKEFELLER*
- Contact Senator Rockefeller and let him know what you think here.
- View Senator Rockefeller's Press Releases on Health Care here.
*ROCKEFELLER LEADERSHIP ON HEALTH CARE - LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROCKEFELLER*
BETTER COVERAGE FOR YOU
- Pre-existing Condition Patient Protection Act (S. 623). On March 17, 2009, Senator Rockefeller re-introduced the Pre-existing Condition Patient Protection Act to prohibit insurance companies from denying health care coverage to individuals with pre-existing health care conditions.
- Annual and Lifetime Health Care Limit Elimination Act (S. 1149). On May 21, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Annual and Lifetime Health Care Limit Elimination Act to prohibit insurers from imposing annual or lifetime limits as part of any individual or group health insurance policy.
- Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act (S. 1150). On May 21, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Advance Planning and Compassionate Care Act which would provide the tools and resources necessary to drastically improve end-of-life care.
- Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act (S. 1050). On May 14, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act to help consumers obtain the information they need to make informed choices about health insurance coverage.
- The Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Improvement Act (S. 1634). On August 6, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Improvement Act in order to provide stable and affordable prescription drug coverage to all beneficiaries. This legislation would create a Medicare-operated prescription drug plan, make long-overdue improvements to Medicare coverage for beneficiaries who are simultaneously enrolled in Medicaid, and allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
LOWERING YOUR HEALTH CARE COSTS
- Consumers Health Care Act (S. 1278). On June 17, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Consumers Health Care Act to provide consumers with an affordable public plan option in the health insurance exchange and to create America's Health Insurance Trust, a consumer-driven organization that will give Americans the tools they need to evaluate different health insurance policies.
- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Reform Act (S. 1380). On June 25, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the MedPAC Reform Act to give the highly respected MedPAC real authority over Medicare reimbursement rates by moving MedPAC into the executive branch and away from the influence of special interests. This legislation would provide MedPAC with the authority and resources necessary to make and implement Medicare reimbursement policies based on the best evidence and driven by the right incentives.
- Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009 (S.1630). On August 6, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act to protect all Americans from high out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs, particularly those with serious or chronic diseases like cancer or multiple sclerosis. By implementing these new protections, this bill is expected to lower co-payments for up to 10% of Americans with the highest prescription costs.
EXPANDING COVERAGE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST
- MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2009 (S. 958). On May 1, 2009, Senator Rockefeller re-introduced the MediKids Health Insurance Act to provide health insurance for every child under 23 years of age in the United States by 2015, regardless of family income.
- Medicare Early Access Act (S. 960). On May 1, 2009, Senator Rockefeller re-introduced the Medicare Early Access Act to provide uninsured Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 the opportunity to buy into the Medicare program.
IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH CARE QUALITY
- Health Information Technology Public Utility Act (S. 890). On April 23, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Health Information Technology Public Utility Act, legislation based on the electronic health record (EHR) model used by West Virginia Medicaid in order to make affordable and dependable open source software available to safety-net providers.
- National Health Care Quality Act (S. 966). On May 4, 2009, Senator Rockefeller introduced the National Health Care Quality Act to create the coordinated infrastructure necessary to make health care quality a national priority.
*HELPFUL HEALTH REFORM RESOURCES FOR YOU*
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