Health Care
Providing quality health care for their loved ones is one of the challenges American families face daily. Advancements in medicine mean that Americans are living longer than ever, and with those advancements comes a responsibility to maintain access to care. I believe that quality, affordable health care should be a right for every American and not just a privilege for the few.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was an important step towards accomplishing that goal. Already, young adults are able to stay on their parents’ health plan for longer and seniors across the country are saving on their prescription drug costs. Children with preexisting conditions have access to health plans, and access for adults with preexisting conditions will expand in 2014. Healthcare Exchanges will help individuals and families find affordable, quality plans to fit their needs, and small businesses offer healthcare for their employees. Significantly, health care costs have begun to drop in recent years, after decades of steady increase.
However, the law is imperfect. While I have and will continue to vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act, we need to take a serious look at reforming the Affordable Care Act and take steps to further reduce our long term health care costs. We must address these long term challenges to ensure that a strong healthcare system will provide quality and affordable care for generations to come.
Affordable Care Act Implementation
For more information on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, visit www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.
Maryland residents can sign up for a health benefit exchange at Marylandhbe.com .
Small business owners can use the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), which simplifies the process of buying health insurance for small business, and has information on the small business health care tax credit. Small business questions can also be answered at 1-800-706-7893.
Our office is also happy to assist you with ACA implementation questions. Please contact our office at 301-926-0300 or 202-225-2721.
More on Health Care
MCHENRY — U.S. Rep. John Delaney will tour the new WVU Cancer Institute at Garrett Regional Medical Center later this month.
Delaney was helpful in the development of the institute by supporting efforts with governmental agencies that ultimately approved funding for the center, hospital officials said.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin, together with U.S. Representative John Delaney (all D-Md.) today announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $110,000 federal grant to Garrett College to expand health career training programs at the Career Technology Training Center in Accident.
WASHINGTON – On July 30, 1975 President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation creating Medicare and Medicaid.
Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) releases the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Today state officials announced that Maryland will recoup $45 million from Noridian, the prime contractor for Maryland’s online health exchange.
Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) was a leading voice during the implementation of Maryland’s exchange, calling for the state to move to the federal exchange.
Delaney releases the following statement:
WASHINGTON – Today the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) informed Maryland of a policy change that will benefit Allegany County’s ability to apply for rural health care funding. Moving forward, HHS will exclude prison population from any county total, a change that will maintain Allegany County’s rural status. In the last five years Allegany County has received $2 million in federal grants under this program, which they will now be eligible for again.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Supreme Court issued their verdict in King v Burwell, upholding subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to consumers who receive ACA insurance coverage through the Federally Facilitated Marketplaces.
Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) releases the following statement:
Mikulski, Cardin, Delaney Announce $200,000 Grant to Improve Access to Health Care in Garrett County
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin, together with U.S. Representative John Delaney (all D-Md.) today announced that Garrett County Memorial Hospital in Oakland has been awarded $200,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Rural Health Care Services Outreach program, which expands health care delivery in rural areas.
WASHINGTON – Senator Ben Cardin (MD) and Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) have urged the federal government to restore Allegany County’s rural designation, which will maintain local eligibility for federal rural health care funding. The Cardin-Delaney letter was sent to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In their letter, Rep. Delaney and Senator Cardin informed Sec. Burwell that Allegany County is a largely rural community and that access to vital health programs and services should be restored.
WASHINGTON - The House has passed the Save American Workers Act (H.R. 30) which improves the Affordable Care Act and is designed to prevent workers from losing hours due to the law. Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) voted for the bill, which passed in a 252-171 vote.
The legislation changes the definition of a full-time worker under the Affordable Care Act for the purposes of determining applicability of the employer mandate from 30 hours to 40 hours per week.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded grants to three health care facilities in Western Maryland. The Tri-State Community Health Center in Hancock was awarded $231,686; the Walnut Street Community Health Center in Hagerstown was awarded $210,088; and the Western Maryland Health Care Corporation in Oakland was awarded $197,032.
All three are Health and Resources Services Administration (HRSA) grants, which are intended to improve and expand health care services for underserved people.