CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON ANNOUNCES THE IMPACT OF THE REPUBLICANS’ PATIENTS’ RIGHTS REPEAL ACT ON THOSE LIVING IN TX-30

 Washington, D.C.  (Wednesday, January 19, 2011) -  Today, Congresswoman Johnson released a report that details the impact of the Republicans’ Patients’ Rights Repeal Act on the hundreds of thousands of Americans who live in the 30th Congressional District of Texas. This week, the House Republican Leadership is bringing this legislation to the House Floor for a vote.

“My number-one priority for the 112th Congress is creating jobs, but instead of focusing on job creation, the top Republican leadership is focusing on repealing patients’ rights and putting insurance companies back in charge,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “Hundreds of thousands of residents in TX-30 will lose rights that protect them from insurance company abuses and give them more freedom and control over their health care choices.”
The report on TX-30 finds that the Patients’ Rights Repeal Act would have significant consequences in the district by:
•    Allowing insurance companies to deny coverage to 118,000 to 325,000 individuals, including 11,000 to 50,000 children, with pre-existing conditions.  These individuals include those who are breast cancer survivors and prostate cancer survivors; those living with heart disease; and those with such conditions as asthma and high blood pressure.
•    Taking away the ability of 4,800 young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance plan until their 26th birthday.  
•    Taking away the 50% discount on brand-name Rx drugs from 5,000 seniors who hit the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole;’ and denying free preventive care services under Medicare to 71,000 seniors.
•    Eliminating health care tax credits available for up to 15,500 small businesses and 195,000 families.
•    Eliminating the ban on insurers dropping people from coverage when they get sick that protects the 45,000 to 124,000 individuals who purchase individual health insurance.
•    Eliminating the requirement that health plans that are new or revised begin providing free preventive care, with the elimination resulting in increased out-of-pocket costs for 55,000 individuals.
•    Getting rid of the ban on insurers placing lifetime limits on coverage that currently benefits 264,000 individuals who have health insurance through their employer or in the private insurance market.
•    Increasing the costs of coverage for up to 5,400 early retirees.
“Instead of bringing such bills as the Patients’ Rights Repeal Act to the Floor, I hope Republicans will work with Democrats to develop bipartisan solutions addressing job creation, strengthening the middle class, and bringing down our long-term deficit,” said Congresswoman Johnson.


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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She is also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas  that includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.