Melissa Cubria
TexPIRG
AUSTIN—As Texas lawmakers on the House Committee on Public Health and the House Committee on Insurance meet to discuss state implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) today, a broad coalition of organizations working to implement the legislation are touting several provisions already in effect that are helping Texans gain access to affordable coverage and updating members on the additional benefits health reform will bring in 2014.
“Over six million Texans have been helped by the prevention coverage improvements in the Affordable Care Act, so there’s no question health care reform is working in Texas,” said Matt Glazer, Executive Director of Progress Texas.
Committee members have been charged with monitoring implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act during the interim session. The joint hearing between the House Public Health and Insurance committees will be taking both invited and public testimony about the progress Texas has already made to implement some of the most popular provisions in the new law as well as the work that still needs to be done so that Texans can benefit from the additional provisions coming in 2014. Thousands of Texans across the state signed a petition in advance of the hearing, signaling their support for the Affordable Care Act. Families, business owners and other individuals affected by the law prepared testimony about the benefits of the ACA.
“Many states are creating health exchanges to deliver better value for consumers, and Texas should follow their lead,” said TexPIRG Advocate Melissa Cubria, a member of the coalition.
Health exchanges are competitive marketplaces that can empower individuals and small businesses with better, more affordable options for coverage. Under the federal health reform law, each state has the opportunity to create a state exchange that meets the unique needs of the state’s health care system. The exchange must be up and running in 2014. Texas lawmakers failed to pass legislation during the 82nd Legislative session and as a result, the state risks losing federal planning grants as well as the critical opportunity to design a Texas exchange.
According to Laura Guerra-Cardus, associate director of Children’s Defense Fund, “The ACA’s new competitive health insurance exchange will allow parents to cover even more of our kids through a private marketplace that’s easier to use, offers coverage for the care kids actually need, and options parents and small businesses can afford. But that promise of better, more affordable care for Texas children only happens if Texas makes the right choices in implementing the ACA.”
“The ACA is already delivering wins for our kids by blocking insurance companies from denying them coverage, helping 2.5 million young adults get the care they need through their parent’s health plan and providing tax credits that are already making it easier for small businesses to cover families,” Guerra-Cardus added.
ACA provisions already in effect and helping Texans right now:
What Texans Can Expect from Health Reform in 2014:
The following members of Texas Well & Healthy, an initiative of the Cover Texas Now statewide health care coalition that works for access to affordable health coverage, are touting the many benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and urging lawmakers to take further action:
Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP)
Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)
Consumers Union
Progress Texas
Texans Care for Children
Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG)