U.S. House Passes Historic Health Care Reform Bill That Includes Hirono Amendment
Legislation Protects Hawaii’s Gold Standard Prepaid Health Care Act

Washington, Nov 7, 2009 -

 Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono’s (D-Hawai‘i) tonight voted for the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009, H.R. 3962, continuing the Congresswoman’s efforts to help reform America’s ailing health care system while protecting Hawaii’s workers’ current health care benefits mandated under Hawaii law.  The House passed H.R. 3962 by a vote of 220 yeas to 215 nays.

“Tonight was historic,” said Hirono. “This healthcare vote has been likened to the votes creating Social Security and Medicare, programs that the naysayers of the time called socialism, government takeover, too expensive, not necessary. Sound familiar? And yet, Social Security and Medicare have significantly improved the lives of millions of Americans. So too will this bill. I believe that this vote will be a watershed moment for our country, and it was a great privilege for me to be here to vote ‘Yes’.”

“Congress at long last is taking steps to address the long-festering problem of how to make affordable health care available to all Americans without adding to our deficit. It’s taken more than 60 years to get here—and the forces in support of the status quo are powerful foes indeed. They have resorted to scare tactics and outright lies to fight this bill tooth and nail. And it’s not over yet.”

The monumental House health care reform bill includes the “Hirono Amendment,” which provides an exemption for Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act, as long as it meets or exceeds the national standards in H.R. 3962.  Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act applies to certain full-time employees and their employers. It does not apply to part-time employees, seniors on Medicare, those without health insurance, government employees, or those covered by collective bargaining agreements.  Therefore, H.R. 3962 would apply to them.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act establishes sweeping health care reforms in a way that reduces the deficit, provides stability and security for Americans who currently have health insurance, and an affordable, quality public option for those without coverage.  The bill also strengthens Medicare for seniors by improving benefits, including closing the ‘doughnut hole’ on prescription drug coverage.

“This bill protects vulnerable families by ending the practice of discriminating against consumers for pre-existing conditions,” said Hirono.  “This bill stops the insurance companies from charging more to cover women simply because of their gender. Another important consumer protection provision the bill establishes is the creation of a process for annual insurance rate review with the goal of keeping private insurance companies accountable to their customers.”