Health Care
ENSURING ACCESS TO GOOD TREATMENT
“President Obama signed into law health insurance reform that gives people more control over their own health care. If health insurance companies had won, they would have been able to continue denying coverage to people when they get sick; costs would have continued to increase for small businesses; and higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs would have continued to break the budgets of working families and seniors.
A lot of people in Wisconsin and across the country won because we didn’t walk away from this fight.”
- Senator Russ Feingold
Fixing a Broken Health Insurance System: Putting People in Control of Their Own Health Insurance – Russ believes that in order for our country to prosper, everyone, no matter his or her geographic or economic status, deserves good, affordable health care coverage.
After decades of gridlock and debate, our country took an historic step toward fixing our broken health insurance system. The health insurance reform bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in March 2010 provides more consumer choices, patient protections and economic security. It also provides more competition and accountability for health insurance companies.
Consumer Choice: You will be allowed to see the doctor of your choice and, if you like your current plan, you are free to keep it. Members of Congress and their office staff are required to purchase their health care through the bill that was passed.
Patient Protections: Prevents insurance companies from denying Wisconsin families care and coverage, including denials for pre-existing conditions and prevents insurance companies from raising rates due to age, gender, or health status.
Economic Security: Bans insurance companies from dropping coverage when people get sick and prevents them from denying coverage when people change or lose their job. It also expands dependent coverage so young people can stay on their parents’ health care plan until they are 26.
Competition: Sets up a new competitive health insurance market giving the people of Wisconsin and small businesses the same purchasing power that members of Congress will have.
Accountability: Cracks down on insurance companies that arbitrarily raise premiums to increase profits instead of providing the best value for the customer. Insurance companies will also have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
Health insurance reform does not cut guaranteed Medicare benefits; it protects Medicare for seniors, reduces out-of-pocket costs and strengthens the financial stability of Medicare. Reform will improve benefits for over 871,000 seniors in Wisconsin. The health insurance reform package closes the Medicare Part D “donut hole” which will reduce out-of-pocket costs for Wisconsin seniors, guarantees first-dollar coverage for preventive and wellness care, and fixes an unfair Medicare reimbursement formula that has penalized Wisconsin medical providers that are focused on high-quality, rather than high-cost care. The new health reform law will begin to reward providers based on the quality of care they provide patients.
Finally, Wisconsin families – not the insurance companies – will be in control of their health care choices.
Giving Small Business the Tools for Success – Russ hears from business owners all of the time about the crippling costs they face in providing health insurance to their employees.
Health insurance reform helps to lift the burden of insuring employees from small businesses so they can focus on creating jobs and fueling our economic recovery.
Health insurance reform also means more choice, more affordability and more protections for Wisconsin businesses. As many as 77,400 small businesses throughout the state may be eligible for tax credits starting this year to help purchase health insurance for business owners and their employees. No longer will Wisconsin small businesses be vulnerable to insurance practices of raising rates on a year-to-year basis due to an employee falling ill. Health insurance reform will provide tax credits for more than 75,000 small businesses in Wisconsin so businesses will no longer have to choose between health care and hiring.
Cheaper Prescription Drugs – Wisconsinites should be able to buy prescription drugs at the lowest price available in the marketplace and Russ is pursuing efforts to make that a reality.
He’s a cosponsor of the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act, legislation that would allow the safe and affordable importation of prescription drugs. Americans are currently forced to subsidize the drug industry’s business in the rest of the world by paying higher costs for the same prescriptions here at home. Russ is working to put a stop to that.
Russ has also authored the Efficiency in Government Health Care Spending Act – legislation that, in part, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries. Currently, under the Medicare Part D program – which Russ voted against in part because of this issue - the government is unable to negotiate with drug companies and must purchase drugs at whatever rate the drug companies offer them. It’s a practice that simply doesn’t make sense and one that Russ’s legislation would reform.
Improving Long Term and Home Health Care – Since his days in the Wisconsin State Senate, Russ has fought for legislation that provides for the needs of long-term care patients – needs that are based on the preferences of individual consumers.
He was pleased with the passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, legislation he strongly supported that improves access to preventative and mental health services, enhances low-income benefit programs, and maintains access to care in rural areas for those receiving Medicare benefits.
He’s also the sponsor of bipartisan legislation in the Senate, with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), that provides more resources for home health services in rural areas. The legislation is called the Medicare Rural Home Health Payment Fairness Act.
Increasing Funding for Medical Research – Russ has long supported increases in funding for research into treatments and cures for devastating diseases. He has also voted in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act to make federal funding more readily available for this groundbreaking research.
Ensuring Outdoor Enthusiasts are Covered – Russ is the lead author in the Senate of the HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act. Currently, because of a loophole in a 1974 law, group health plans are able to deny coverage to people injured while on a motorcycle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle or other similar recreational vehicle, or while horseback riding. It simply doesn’t make sense to discriminate against people who may be injured enjoying the outdoors while on legal modes of transportation. Russ’s bill fixes this loophole and ends the possibility that anyone may be denied coverage for injuries suffered during recreational activities.
Saving Lives with AEDs – Russ was successful in passing into law his Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act. This important legislation has funded nearly $45 million in grants to help save lives in rural communities by providing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to areas that would normally not be able to afford them.
He was also successful in getting passed into law the ADAM Act. This law authorized a clearinghouse to streamline the process for schools to gain access to information about AEDs.
Increasing Access to Dental Care – Russ strongly believes that basic dental care should not be considered a luxury. Unfortunately, many middle and low-income families cannot afford dental care. Senator Feingold has taken a lead role in increasing access to dental care for the poor and the uninsured. His legislation, the Dental Health Access Expansion Act, helps communities to hire new dentists and encourages private dentists to treat more Medicaid patients.
He was also successful in passing into law the Dental Health Improvement Act – legislation he co-wrote that to date has provided more than $2 million in grants to help improve access to dental care in underserved areas in Wisconsin and around the country.
Recognition of Senator Feingold’s Work on Health Care – The Wisconsin AARP recently thanked Russ for his vote to close the Medicare Part D “donut hole” and provide better, more affordable health care to Wisconsin’s seniors. The American Public Health Association has awarded Senator Feingold with consistently high rankings, including a perfect 100% rating for his votes on public health issues. He has been recognized by the American Cancer Society for his work on issues relating to cancer research. Russ has been named an Honorary Member of the American Dental Education Association for securing the passage of the Dental Health Improvement Act. He has been recognized by the Wisconsin Disability Association for his legislative work to promote the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Russ has also been honored by Community Living Assistance for his efforts to support people with chronic illnesses. He was also recognized as a Distinguished Community Health Superhero by the National Association of Community Health Centers.
Read more on Russ's efforts on Health Insurance Reform
See Also: Success in Saving SeniorCare, Fighting for a Meaningful Prescription Drug Benefit
