Wednesday, July 15, 2009
In Historic Vote, Senate Health Committee Approves The Affordable Health Choices Act
The Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is a senior member, today passed The Affordable Health Choices Act, landmark legislation that will reduce health costs, protect individuals’ choice in doctors and plans, and assure quality and affordable health care for all Americans. The bipartisan bill includes more than 160 Republican amendments accepted during the month-long mark-up, one of the longest in Congressional history.
The legislation includes a Prevention and Public Health title, crafted by Harkin, that creates incentives to prevent chronic disease and rein in costs across the full health care spectrum. At the federal level, it creates a new inter-agency council to develop a national health strategy and a dedicated funding stream to support these efforts; at the clinical level, it boosts doctor training and coverage of preventive services and eliminates co-pays and deductibles for these services; and at the grassroots level it provides grants for community initiatives that will support more walkable communities, healthier schools and increased access to nutritious foods in safe environments.
