| |  | | | | See You at Santa Cali Gon
There is still a lot of confusion and concern about health care reform. Reforms under the Affordable Care Act have brought an end to some of the worst abuses of the insurance industry. These reforms have given Americans new rights and benefits, by helping more children get health coverage, ending lifetime and most annual limits on care, allowing young adults under 26 to stay on their parent's health insurance, and giving patients access to recommended preventive services without cost.
Many other new benefits of the law have taken effect, including 50% discounts on brand-name drugs for seniors in the Medicare "donut hole," and tax credits for small businesses that provide insurance to employees.
Missouri is one of the few states in the country where insurance rates are not examined or reported. Health insurance premiums have risen rapidly, straining the pocketbooks of American families and businesses for more than a decade. Since 1999, the cost of coverage for a family of four has climbed 131 percent. These increases have forced families and employers to spend more money, often for less coverage. Many times, insurance companies have been able to raise rates without explaining their actions to regulators or the public or justifying the reasons for their high premiums. In most cases, consumers receive little or no information about proposed premium increases, and aren't told why companies want to raise rates.
The Affordable Care Act brings a new level of scrutiny and transparency to health insurance rate increases. The Act ensures that, in any State, including Missouri, large proposed increases will be evaluated by experts to make sure they are based on reasonable cost assumptions and solid evidence. This analysis is expected to help moderate premium hikes and provide those who buy insurance with greater value for their premium dollar. Additionally, insurance companies must provide easy to understand information to their customers about their reasons for significant rate increases, as well as publicly justify and post on their website any unreasonable rate increases. These steps will allow you to know what you are paying for, as a customer and as a patient.
One of the biggest ways that the Affordable Care Act will improve quality and lower costs is by establishing affordable insurance exchanges. These are required to be set up by October of 2014. Currently, almost one in eight Missourians is uninsured. Families and individuals are struggling to pay their rising premiums. Others face medical debt due to health insurance that does not cover needed health services. Nearly 1,086,700 Missourians are living in poverty. A growing number of Missourians are experiencing the real consequences of not having quality, affordable health coverage for themselves and their families.
Compared to individuals with health insurance, research shows the uninsured:
- receive less screening and preventive care,
- lack needed medical care,
- receive less care for serious illnesses and chronic conditions,
- enter the health care system in poorer health, and
- ultimately have worse health outcomes.
This Saturday, during Santa Cali Gon Days, I invite you to come by my office, at 211 Maple Avenue, on the Independence Square, from 10am until 6pm, We'll be talking about healthcare, and ways you can save on your prescription drug medication if you are uninsured. I hope to see you there.
More rights, protections and benefits for Americans are on the way through 2014. See major parts of the law on our interactive timeline, or read the Patient's Bill of Rights. Find out how the law provides better benefits and better health.
Once again, if you have the time tomorrow, I hope you will take the time to stop by 211 Maple Avenue, on the historic Independence Square. If you have questions or if you need directions, call 816-833-4545.
Better Conditions for ATK Employees
Recently, I heard from the Vice President and General Manager of ATK Armament Systems about an issue that I just cannot understand. As you know, 2700 ATK employees work at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, making most of the small caliber ammunition used by our men and women in uniform, whether in training or in operations. They work hard, and their work helps keep our nation safe. Currently, the conditions they work in are overheated, unsafe, and inefficient. This is through no fault of their own.
Put simply, the Army has requested the funds to give these workers the better working conditions they need and deserve, but my colleagues in the Senate have not seen fit to move on this issue. I cannot understand the delay, and so I joined my colleagues in the House to urge our Senators to move forward as soon as possible. The text of the letter, which was sent to Senators McCaskill, Levin, McCain, and Ayotte, is included below.
We write to you regarding the Quality of Work Environment (QWE) initiative instituted by the Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli, which is designed to improve the working conditions and safety of employees and production efficiency at ammunition plants.
The Army's proposed reprogramming to begin that process at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) has been pending approval by the oversight committees since early this year. It is our understanding that all but the Senate Armed Services Committee have thus far approved the request. We are concerned that further delays in obtaining final approval risks either a Departmental withdrawal of the request, or the Army's inability to obligate approved funds due to the amount of time required to obtain bids from local contractors who will perform the work.
We respectfully request that you consider approving of the reprogramming request so that work to improve the working conditions of LCAAP production workers can begin. |
Jobs for All
 These past few days, I have been traveling around the country to work on the CBC Jobs Initiative. The CBC Jobs Initiative included stops in Cleveland, Detroit, Miami and Atlanta. Nearly 20,000 thousand people have gathered for town hall meetings, job fairs, job readiness workshops, and seminars as a part of the CBC's Jobs Initiative. Last month Members of the CBC unanimously co-sponsored and introduced the Congressional Black Caucus ‘For the People' Jobs Initiative Resolution (H. Res. 348) to encourage the House of Representatives to immediately consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the growing jobs crisis in America. Additionally, CBC Members have introduced over 40 job creation bills since the beginning of the 112th Congress.
I will be bringing the lessons I learned and the tools I found back to the Fifth District, to continue to rebuild our economy and create good, fair-paying jobs. We remain in crisis, and we have been here far too long. I admit, I am frustrated with the President, but I am frustrated with me. I am frustrated with the tea party. Maybe I should have used my communications skills better to try to convince some of them to work with us. I am frustrated with the Democratic leadership. The Republican leadership. The President. I think all of us bear some responsibility, some more than others, however.
 I believe we need emergency jobs legislation that will immediately put Americans back to work. With 14 million Americans still looking for work, this is not the time to delay or distract. We must take bold action, and that requires federal emergency jobs legislation. Washington needs to invest in the country's future by enacting significant emergency jobs legislation to put Americans back to work now. There is no shortage of work to be done in America, and no shortage of workers to do it. Young Americans in particular are facing a bleak economic reality. Many of them have mountains of college debt and no prospects for employment. We are squandering the talent, energy and hopes of a generation. We urge the Administration to make a good American job a reality for every young person.
In addition to addressing the immediate unemployment crisis, it's also time to invest in long-term opportunities that create jobs and rebuild America. One option with broad support is creating a National Infrastructure Development Bank. The country's infrastructure needs an estimated investment of $2.2 trillion. We should not delay these crucial investments, especially while millions of Americans are out of work. Rebuilding America – without creating expensive new corporate tax loopholes – will further boost our economy and create badly needed jobs. We can stem the tide of mass unemployment and meet our long-term national commitments by enacting emergency jobs legislation and creating a National Infrastructure Development Bank.
Follow me on Twitter!
You can now follow me @repcleaver. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.
Click here to add me >>> https://twitter.com/repcleaver
Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress
| |
|
|  |
| Kansas City Office
101 W 31st St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816-842-4545
Fax: 816-471-5215 | Independence Office
211 West Maple Avenue
Independence, MO 64050
Phone: 816-833-4545
Fax: 816-833-2991 | Washington Office
1433 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-4535
Fax: 202-225-4403
|
|
|
| |
| | |
|
