Community Catalyst: Press Releases

While Washington Focuses on Supreme Court Hearings, Affordable Care Act Implementation Moves Forward Across the Country

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, DC) - "This week's Supreme Court hearings on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have generated a fever pitch of attention inside the Beltway and from national news outlets. But while media pundits, politicians and legal experts compete for airtime to speculate about the outcome, a more important story is taking shape in communities across the country where the law is already vastly improving lives.

"Today, millions of American families are benefitting from the Affordable Care Act, and many more stand to gain if the law is upheld. In 2011, more than 86 million Americans received free preventive care such as mammograms and colonoscopies. More than three and a half million Medicare beneficiaries have saved more than $2.1 billion on prescription drugs. Small businesses are better able to provide coverage to their employees, and parents of children with pre-existing conditions no longer have to worry their children will be denied coverage. More young adults (2.5 million) are able to stay healthy by remaining on their parents' health insurance plans. In the coming years, millions more Americans will gain the physical and financial security of having health coverage.

"Americans do not want to turn the clock back on health care. It is for this reason that states throughout the country, including some that are challenging the ACA, remain hard at work shaping implementation of the new law. In every state, communities are coming together to make sure that the voices of people - not just the special interests - are heard in these efforts. We understand that we have to do something to right the wrongs of our health care system, and that the ACA presents a unique opportunity to extend coverage to millions of people who lack it, contain health care costs, and fix our broken health care system. It is important that all stakeholders stay engaged so the law is implemented in a way that best meets the needs of our communities.

"We remain confident that the Supreme Court will see this challenge for what it is - a politically motivated distraction - and uphold the law. The lives of millions of Americans and future generations hang in the balance."

###

Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 60 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and legislation. Learn more at www.piconetwork.org.

Drug Company Coupons Are Illegal Bribes Used to Dupe Consumers, Lawsuit Alleges

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

BOSTON, MA - Three health plans in Community Catalyst's Prescription Access Litigation coalition today filed class action lawsuits in four federal courts against major drug manufacturers for illegally subsidizing co-payments for expensive brand-name prescription drugs such as Lipitor and Nexium through the promotion of co-pay coupons.

The lawsuit alleges that the payments by eight drug makers -- Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Meyers-Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, and Pfizer -- are illegal under a federal statute that prohibits commercial bribery because the undisclosed payments to patients and pharmacies are made through a ‘shadow claims system' designed to keep information about the presence or amount of these payments from health plans.

Community Catalyst, a national consumer advocacy organization, warns that while prescription drug coupons appear to save consumers money by reducing or eliminating co-payments, in reality they dramatically increase the cost of health care by driving up health insurance premiums and potentially causing consumers to hit benefit caps or lose coverage altogether.

"Pharmaceutical corporations are duping consumers with misleading coupons that are more about increasing corporate profits than actually reducing the cost of drugs for consumers" said Wells Wilkinson, director of the Prescription Access Litigation project at Community Catalyst. "If not stopped, the use of these deceptive coupons will increase costs for consumers' health plans by billions of dollars, contributing to higher premiums and the increasing loss of coverage and benefits for Americans."

A recent report by the Pharmacy Benefit Manager trade association (PCMA) estimates drug coupons will increase drug costs by $32 billion nationwide by 2021. Federal government health plans like Medicare consider these coupons kickbacks and have banned them; they are also banned in Massachusetts under an anti-kickback law.

The lawsuits were filed in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Newark by the AFSCME District Council 37 Health & Security Plan Trust, Sergeants Benevolent Association, the New England Carpenters, and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572 Health and Welfare Fund. These health plans provide drug benefits for civilian and uniformed municipals workers, retirees and their dependents throughout the City of New York, plumbers from Florida to Ohio, and carpenters throughout New England. All of these health plans are struggling to keep up with continually rising drug costs.

"Our members are harmed by these unlawful practices by drug companies because coupons offering discounts off of brand drugs don't save consumers money in the long run." says Lillian Roberts, Executive Director of AFSCME, District Council 37, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

"By combining direct-to-consumer marketing and supermarket ‘coupon clipping,' pharmaceutical companies are steering consumers to higher priced drugs in the pursuit of greater profits" said Edward Mullins, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Under most health plans, consumers pay a larger co-payment for expensive brand-name drugs. By subsidizing all or the majority of a consumer's co-payment, drug companies promote the sale of these expensive products over less expensive, equally effective medications. This drives up the cost of care for health plans, employers and, ultimately, consumers. In addition, consumers who stay on expensive brand-name drugs run the risk of reaching their coverage caps sooner, forcing them to either pay out of pocket or forgo important care when they need it.

"Drug company coupons are not coupons. They are high-interest loans. We save money now, but we pay the loan sharks later," said Dr. William Jordan, a practicing physician in New York City serving low-income patients.

In 2009, half of the 109 best-selling U.S. brand-name drugs were promoted by coupons, and the number of coupon subsidy programs has skyrocketed since then, from 86 in July 2009 to 362 in November 2011. Coupons are aggressively marketed to consumers by TV, radio, Internet ads, and through physicians and pharmacists. And consumers are using them up, unaware of the negative impact on their premiums. In 2010 alone, co-pay coupons were used in one-eighth of all brand-name drug purchases, or 100 million prescriptions, according to the PCMA report.

Coupons also threaten anticipated savings from so called "patent cliff drugs," the dozens of brand-name drugs going off-patent between 2010 and 2013 and competing for the first time against generic counterparts.

Aside from cost concerns, consumer advocates and policymakers are also concerned about coupons for safety reasons. For instance, the FDA is currently studying whether drug coupons can mislead consumers concerning the safety and risks of drug products.

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

The 130-member Prescription Access Litigation coalition, a project of Community Catalyst, has played a major role in bringing lawsuits challenging illegal pharmaceutical industry pricing or promotional tactics. One lawsuit resulted in over $360 million in settlements with 29 of the country's largest drug makers.

Community Catalyst Praises HHS on Medical Loss Ratio Forms

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON) - Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) moved Americans a big step closer to more affordable insurance premiums by releasing for comment new notification forms that will let individual consumers know if their insurer did not meet the law's medical loss ratio standard (MLR). Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the MLR rule requires all insurers to spend at least 80 cents on the dollar (85 cents for large group plans) on health care claims and quality improvement, as opposed to administration, overhead and profit. Any insurer that does not meet this standard must provide rebates to policyholders, starting in August 2012. The following is a statement from Robert Restuccia, Executive Director of Community Catalyst, a national consumer health advocacy organization.

"For far too long, consumers throughout the country have been grappling with rapidly escalating insurance premiums that have gone unchecked. HHS's announcement is critical as we move toward greater accountability and transparency for insurance companies. These forms will help consumers know that their premium dollars are being well spent, and this is vital to creating a more efficient, responsive, and affordable health care system for all.

"The ACA also allows HHS to grant adjustments to the MLR rule for states where it determines that application of the MLR standard could destabilize the insurance market. We are pleased that HHS's careful use of this authority has benefited consumers, who will receive up to $323 million more in rebates this year compared to what would have been received had HHS granted more widespread adjustments to the rule."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

CMS Takes Positive First Step In Implementing New "Sunshine" Requirements For Industry Payments To Physicians And Teaching Hospitals

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON) - "After missing an October deadline, CMS stepped up to the plate yesterday with its draft rule on the "sunshine" provision of the Affordable Care Act (section 6002) that will require public disclosure of funds and other perks provided by industry to medical professionals. Community Catalyst worked for many years along with other national and state organizations to pass the law, which will help patients and the public assess whether providers are putting the interests of their patients first when prescribing drugs, implants such as hips and stents, and other treatments.

"We appreciated CMS' strong statement in the draft rule that while industry collaboration can be beneficial, ‘payments to physicians and teaching hospitals can also introduce conflicts of interest that may influence research, education and clinical decision making in ways that compromise clinical integrity and patient care, and may lead to increased health care costs.'

"Under the law, the information collected by CMS from industry will be reported in a public database by September, 2013, and we are pleased that CMS has not suggested any delay in that disclosure. The database will include the name of the doctor or teaching hospital, the amount of each payment as well as its purpose by manufacturers of drugs, medical devices and biologics. Among the many positive recommendations, we are pleased that CMS proposed very inclusive definitions of manufacturers, their subsidiaries, and third parties who may make payments on their behalf.

"CMS also asserted that the categories of payments be distinct from one another to ensure the utility of the information to patients, to researchers and the public. However, we do have concerns that the draft rule does not provide mandatory, clear definitions of the categories (such as education, gifts, consulting, etc.), which could open the door to varying interpretations by each company. This would make the data inconsistent and confusing, and we will be submitting our recommendations to address this problem.

"Overall, the CMS framework is solid and reflects the spirit and intent of the law, which was supported not only by consumers but by leaders in the medical profession, the Institute of Medicine and many in industry."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

Community Catalyst Appoints Phillip O. Gonzalez to lead Roadmaps to Health Community Grants

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON) – Community Catalyst today announced that Phillip O. González has joined the organization as Program Director of the Roadmaps to Health Community Grants, which support two-year state and local efforts among policymakers, business, education, health care, public health and community organizations to address the social, economic and other factors that affect the health of people in their community. The grants are managed by Community Catalyst and are part of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration of RWJF and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI).

As Program Director, González oversees grant funding and assistance with coalition building, grassroots mobilization, policy research analysis, campaign design and implementation, and communications and media strategies to help the grantees achieve results in improving the health of their communities. The grantees will focus on several different factors that influence health—from economic conditions to family structure.

“I am excited to be part of a ground-breaking project that builds on Community Catalyst’s work to improve the health care system by applying our successful advocacy strategies to help groups address the social and economic factors that affect people’s health in their community,” said González.

“Phillip’s knowledge of health policy and his depth of experience in grantmaking, fundraising, project management and community outreach advocacy make him the perfect fit to lead Roadmaps to Health Community Grants,” said Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst. “He will provide the strategic guidance and leadership grantees need to achieve results in improving the health of their communities.”

González previously served as Director of Grantmaking for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Prior to that he served as Director for the Philanthropy and Physician Diversity projects at Community Catalyst. He has also held positions at Harvard Medical School, Partners HealthCare, Brigham & Women's Hospital and the Massachusetts Department of Education. He has a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont.

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to improve the health of communities and to change the health care system so it serves everyone. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

Super Committee Failure To Reach Agreement Averts Harmful Cuts To Critical Health Security Programs

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

"The failure of the Super Committee needs to be put in perspective. The Super Committee was largely a distraction from more pressing problems. It is time for our political leaders to address the primary concern of Americans: job creation that puts people back to work so they can support themselves and their families, afford high-quality health care, and invest in their children's futures. While we are concerned about some of the automatic spending cuts triggered by the lack of an agreement, we are relieved that several misguided proposals that would cause great hardship to middle class families, seniors, children and the most vulnerable members of our society failed to advance as part of this process.

"Though the Super Committee's work is over, we anticipate a continued push for drastic and unnecessary cuts to programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that provide economic and health security to millions of Americans. Congress and the President should reject such proposals. The American people have made it clear that they want these programs protected, not gutted.

"In the days ahead, there is still an opportunity for Congress and the Administration to reduce the deficit in ways that would make the health care system stronger by improving efficiencies, reducing waste and enhancing the quality of care for millions of Americans. For example, we could institute reforms in how we pay for prescription drugs, including reducing excess prices Medicare pays to the drug industry and ending "pay for delay" agreements that prevent cheaper generic drugs from entering the market in a timely manner. We could take additional steps to reduce preventable hospital admissions and ensure individuals get high quality care in the most appropriate clinical settings. These are the kinds of changes our system needs, not benefit cuts."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @saferxwatch and @healthpolicyhub.

Consumer Group Applauds CBO Doubling Of Savings From Pay-For-Delay Ban

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON) - The CBO doubled their previous estimate of projected savings that would result from a ban on the increasingly common pay-for-delay deals that keeping generic drugs off the market. CBO now predicts that The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act, S.27, will save the federal budget $4.8 Billion over the 2012-2021 period, up from the $2.4 billion score in June 2010.

CBO's scoring of S.27 also predicts that a ban on these pay-for-delay settlements under the bill "would reduce total expenditures on prescription drugs in the United States, on net, by about $11 billion over the 2012-2021 period." President Obama included the proposed ban on pay-for-delay deals in his proposal to the Congressional Super Committee working on reduction of the federal deficit.

The following is a statement from Wells Wilkinson, director of the Prescription Access Litigation project at Community Catalyst, on the latest CBO score.

"We urge members of the Super Committee to take a hard look at this proposal as a means to both reduce the federal deficit through prescription drug savings and give consumers better access to less costly generic drugs.

"Pay-for-delay deals blocked 20 new generics from entering the market last year, and another 25 this fiscal year, preventing competition to over $18 billion in brand-name drug sales. The CBO's updated estimate of future saving reflects the increasingly common collusion by the drug industry to keep generics off the market and out of the hands of consumers.

"Pay-for-delay settlements are sweetheart deals where a brand name drug maker pays their competitors to delay selling a generic version of a drug. Cloaked in the context of patent litigation, this practice has driven up overall health care cost $3.5 billion or more a year since it became widespread in 2006, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

"An FTC report released last month revealed that in FY2011, pay-for-delay settlements stopped generic competition with 22 brand-name drugs that amount to $9 billion in annual costs to our health system. A previous FTC report revealed that the 31 different pay-for-delay deals finalized in FY2010 insulated 22 other brand-name drugs from generic competition. Those drugs amounted to $9.3 billion in annual drug costs.

"These deals, which occur in the context of a patent dispute, have been consistently challenged by both the FTC and private sector attorneys on behalf of consumers. But in 2005, the courts started upholding these suspect deals.

"Community Catalyst supports this important reform both to allow public programs and private sector health plans alike to reduce costs, and also to help ensure easier, more affordable access to needed medicines for patients."

The Prescription Access Litigation project at Community Catalyst has helped consumers and insurers file litigation challenging the pay-for-delay deals that have delayed generic versions of the drugs Provigil, Cipro, Oxycontin, K-Dur, and Tamoxifen. Pay-for-delay settlements are filed under seal with the FTC, and are not generally available to the public.

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @saferxwatch and @healthpolicyhub.

President Obama's Deficit Reduction Plan Calls for Shared Sacrifices

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Statement by Robert Restuccia, Executive Director of Community Catalyst, and Rev. Heyward D. Wiggins III, PICO National Network and senior pastor of Camden Bible Tabernacle Church on President Obama's deficit reduction proposal to the Congressional Super Committee.

(BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, DC) - "President Obama today offered a balanced approach to deficit reduction that protects middle class families, senior citizens, and children and asks for reasonable shared sacrifices from the wealthiest Americans and corporations. The plan complements the President's much-needed jobs plan, which would put almost two million people back to work so they could support their families and have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.

"The President has also proposed a number of smart approaches to health care cost containment that build on important reforms in the Affordable Care Act designed to improve efficiencies, reduce waste and improve the quality of care for millions of Americans. There are ways to reduce the deficit that make the health care system stronger in the long term. For example, the President's proposal calls for important reforms in how we pay for prescription drugs, including reducing excess prices Medicare pays to the drug industry and ending "pay for delay" agreements that prevent generic drugs from entering the market in a timely manner. The President also proposed steps to reduce preventable hospital admissions and ensure individuals get high-quality care in the most appropriate clinical settings.

"Although we are grateful the President generally rejected misguided proposals that would undermine the health security Medicare and Medicaid provide to millions of Americans every day, we are concerned about several proposals that would shift costs to already overburdened states and beneficiaries. We are also concerned about proposed cuts to public health funding, which is a critical investment in our long-term strategy for a healthy and productive nation. We hope the Super Committee will reject these proposals and embrace alternative savings ideas that take additional steps to improve quality and efficiency rather than shifting costs.

"Putting the country back on a sustainable economic path is daunting work, but the health, well-being and livelihood of all Americans - especially future generations - hinge on getting it right. The American public has made it clear that increasing the number of jobs is the top priority and that they want Congress to take a balanced approach to deficit reduction by having those who can most afford to pay contribute their fair share. We hope members of the Super Committee will heed that call, and we look forward to working with the Administration and Members of Congress on additional ideas to produce needed savings without placing an undue burden on those least able to shoulder it."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

PICO National Network is a national network of faith-based community organizations working to expand health care coverage and improve communities in 17 states. www.piconetwork.org

Community Catalyst Supports Comprehensive Bill to End Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON) "Community Catalyst applauds the introduction in Congress yesterday of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2011 (HEAA). The comprehensive bill provides hundreds of tools to address the disgraceful health disparities that plague our communities and deprive so many people of color of long, healthy lives.

"Introduced by leaders of the Congressional Congressional Tri-Caucus - the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – the bill builds on the expansions of coverage in the Affordable Care Act, the health equity initiatives of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and activities to enhance community health underway across the country.

"The bill, HR 2954, includes creative measures to improve the health of families of all backgrounds by eliminating barriers to care, promoting better ways to provide care, expanding and diversifying the health workforce, and addressing factors that deeply affect our health, such as the environment in which we live, work and play. Studies show that reducing racial and ethnic health disparities not only saves lives but saves billions of dollars a year in medical costs.

"Many of the measures proposed in the bill provide a blueprint for our work with advocates to advance health equity nationwide."

###

For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @saferxwatch and @healthpolicyhub.

Community Catalyst Receives Kresge Grant to Improve Consumer Engagement in Hospital Community Benefit Programs

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON, MA) - Community Catalyst today announced it has been awarded a $500,000 grant from The Kresge Foundation to increase consumer and community engagement in the development of hospital community benefit programming and new federal regulations governing community benefit programs under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

"Under the Affordable Care Act, we believe that community benefit can and should become a more valuable tool and resource for addressing the nation's health disparities," said David Fukuzawa, The Kresge Foundation's program director for Health. "Consumer voice will be needed to enhance the effectiveness of community benefit, and the Kresge Foundation is pleased to support Community Catalyst in building that voice."

Over a three-year period, Community Catalyst will tap into its extensive network of state-based advocates to build a national coalition to educate federal, state and local policymakers on the importance of community engagement in community benefit programs and to advocate for strong federal community benefit regulations. It will also build cross-sector collaborations with leaders in the hospital and public health sectors, with the goal of sharing knowledge, building skill sets, and promoting effective community benefit practices. At the same time, Community Catalyst will pilot programs to train members of low-income and minority communities to effectively engage in community benefit program planning with local hospitals and public health.

Hospital community benefit programs can help address many of the health needs of low-income and minority communities, who face a higher prevalence of systemic barriers to health care that impact health and exacerbate disease. Community benefit programs are most often associated with non-profit hospitals, which receive billions in federal, state and local tax breaks to dedicate resources to address the needs of the local community.

"The Kresge Foundation's support will go a long way in helping us strengthen the role and voice of consumers in ensuring tax-exempt hospitals are fulfilling their obligations to local communities," said Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst. "We believe this project will empower community advocates to engage with local hospitals around community benefit programs, help better direct health care resources to strengthen communities, and lead to stronger federal community benefit standards."

The ACA establishes new federal requirements for tax-exempt hospitals around community benefit and financial assistance programs, and federal agencies are currently in the process of developing regulations to carry out the new rules.

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to improve the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.

Faith, Labor, Health And Anti-Poverty Groups Urge President Obama To Seek Shared Sacrifices From Wealthy In Debt Reduction Plan

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, 13 faith, labor, and health and anti-poverty advocacy groups sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to reject budget cuts that disproportionately impact Americans of modest means and to demand shared sacrifices from the wealthy and corporations in his proposal to the bipartisan bicameral debt reduction committee.

"As organizations working to promote health security and economic justice for America's working families as well as for the unemployed, people with disabilities and older adults we watched the recent debate over raising the debt ceiling with great concern," the letter states. "The agreement that was ultimately reached failed to reflect the desire of the majority of Americans for a balanced approach to addressing our nation's economic problems. Instead, it embodies a single-minded focus on budget cuts that will disproportionately affect those of modest means without any shared sacrifice from the wealthiest households and corporations, many of which benefit from generous federal tax subsidies."

Specifically, the letter calls on the President to:

insist on an approach that demands real shared sacrifice by closing corporate tax loopholes and increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
reject approaches that would seek to reduce federal spending by shifting costs onto state Medicaid programs and onto Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries;
reject further debt reduction that would undermine key provisions of the Affordable Care Act; and
avoid further undermining unemployment and health security by prematurely reducing public spending.

Groups signing on to the letter include: Community Catalyst, PICO National Network, ADAPT, AFSCME, Alliance for a Just Society, Campaign for America's Future, Campaign for Community Change, Community Organizations in Action, Families USA, Health Care for America Now, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Association, Main Street Alliance, SEIU.

The full letter follows below:

August 30, 2011

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to ask for your leadership in crafting a debt reduction package that protects the most vulnerable Americans, creates and protects jobs, and does not roll back the progress we have made in providing health security to the American people. As organizations working to promote health security and economic justice for America's working families as well as for the unemployed, people with disabilities and older adults we watched the recent debate over raising the debt ceiling with great concern.

The agreement that was ultimately reached made cuts to the budget without asking millionaires, billionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share, a goal strongly supported by the American people. Instead, it embodies a single-minded focus on budget cuts that will disproportionately affect those of modest means without any shared sacrifice from the wealthiest households and corporations, many of which benefit from generous federal tax subsidies. Perhaps even worse, the greatest immediate threat to the well-being of average Americans-the persistent high rate of unemployment and underemployment--was utterly ignored.

As you develop your own proposals to the bipartisan, bicameral debt reduction committee and consider the recommendations that may be submitted to you by Congress, we urge you not to compound the weaknesses of the debt reduction agreement. Specifically we urge you to:

Insist on an approach that demands real shared sacrifice: The debt reduction plan must be based on progressive revenue increases such as closing corporate tax loopholes and tax increases on the wealthiest Americans.
Reject approaches to further debt reduction that seek to reduce federal health spending by shifting costs onto state Medicaid programs and onto Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Health care savings should be achieved in the short run by stepping up our efforts to weed out low-value spending such as improper payments, preventable errors and excess payments to pharmaceutical companies. In the longer run these efforts to reduce public sector spending must be accompanied by additional steps to reduce the cost of private health insurance and improve the underlying health of the American people.
Reject approaches to further debt reduction that would undermine important provisions of the Affordable Care Act including those that will make health insurance more affordable and those that will promote the overall health of the population. The Affordable Care Act represents a long overdue commitment to health security for the American people and will help reduce our deficit and constrain rising health care costs. Now is not the time to turn back.
Avoid further undermining employment and health security by prematurely reducing public sector spending. At a time of slow growth and high unemployment, the last thing we need is to pull money and jobs out of our economy. Reductions in federal spending should not occur until unemployment has come down and economic growth has been restored.

The American people understand that our nation is facing a massive unemployment crisis. They want their elected leaders to fight to create jobs. They want affordable, high quality health care. By large margins they oppose austerity policies like those imposed on the country through the debt ceiling agreement.

We are united in opposing any new agreement that hurts low income and middle class families and small business, destroys jobs, increases poverty or undermines Medicare, Medicaid, the ACA or Social Security. We pledge to urge our Members of Congress to oppose any deficit reduction agreement that does not meet these common sense criteria and we strongly urge you to include these principles in your own proposal to Congress so that the final outcome will have the support of the American people.

Respectfully,

Community Catalyst
PICO National Network
ADAPT
AFSCME
Alliance for a Just Society
Campaign for America's Future
Campaign for Community Change
Community Organizations in Action
Families USA
Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Association
Health Care for America Now
Main Street Alliance
SEIU

###

ACA Enrollment Eligibility Rules Create Clear Pathway to Coverage for Millions of Uninsured Americans

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON) - "While the Affordable Care Act will make many significant improvements to our health care system, its greatest promise is that it will enable millions of uninsured Americans to gain access to health care. Today, the Department of Health and Humans Services brought us one big step closer to realizing that promise by issuing regulations that create a simple, seamless way for families to enroll in coverage options created by the ACA.

"Given the number of people who will benefit from expanded access to coverage under the ACA, it's critical that enrollment be easy and without bureaucratic barriers. While we haven't reviewed the regulations in detail, we applaud HHS's commitment to a clear, straightforward path to comprehensive coverage for those who need it."

###

Consumer Group Alarmed By Risks To U.S. Drugs, Urges Congress To Act

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Statement by Robert Restuccia, Executive Director of Community Catalyst on the Pew Health Group's "After Heparin: Protecting Consumers from the Risks of Substandard and Counterfeit Drugs" white paper released today.

(BOSTON) - "Consumers should be alarmed by the increasingly complex, globalized, and outsourced drug supply chain described in the Pew Health Group's After Heparin white paper.

"Americans are increasingly more reliant on medicine to keep us healthy and fight illness, and most of us take for granted that the drugs we purchase at our local pharmacy are manufactured safely. Unfortunately, we cannot rest that easy. Americans currently are not adequately protected from the risks of unsafe drugs, particularly those manufactured overseas, which account for nearly half of the drugs we consume.

"After Heparin shows that outsourcing is growing and is a business strategy for all types of prescription and over-the-counter drug producers. As one major brand-name drug maker put it: ‘If we can buy it cheaper than we can make it then of course that's what we're going to do.'

"Many countries that play a significant role in manufacturing active ingredients of drugs sold in the U.S., including China and India, have weak or uneven regulatory oversight of suppliers. This affects their own citizens' safety and ours. And without more authority and resources, FDA cannot guarantee the safety of those imports either. In contrast with U.S. manufacturing facilities, which are inspected every two to three years, the FDA currently inspects foreign facilities once every nine years.

"This new globalized and fractured system of manufacturing has significantly increased the potential for counterfeit and substandard drugs to enter our medicine cabinets and harm people. Indeed, the report shows that evidence of harm abounds. Heparin, a blood thinner adulterated during its manufacture in China, led to dozens of serious patient reactions, including death, in the U.S. Other serious incidents - counterfeit vials of anemia drug Epogen, stolen vials of insulin, toxic syrup in cough medicine and falsely labeled antibiotics - underscore the risks of unsafe drugs.

"The fact that the adulterated drugs made their way into the U.S. undetected has exposed a major, troubling gap in our drug safety system, and industry and government must both play a role in closing the chasm. After Heparin outlines a number of recommendations that policy makers should act swiftly to adopt.

Pharmaceutical companies must have comprehensive systems to ensure the quality and safety of all our drugs-brand name, generic and over-the-counter alike. They must be held accountable for all the contractors and suppliers involved in the manufacture of drugs, update internal quality control systems that will detect and eliminate problems, implement rigorous testing standards, audit suppliers and hold company management accountable.

Our drug distribution system must be made secure. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs may pass through many hands before reaching patients, providing too many opportunities for the introduction of stolen or counterfeit products. Congress must improve drug distribution security through a federal serialization and verification system, while strengthening distributor and wholesaler regulation and oversight.

FDA needs greater authority and enforcement power. FDA should be given more resources to bring the frequency of foreign inspections in line with domestic ones. The FDA should also be granted authorities it currently lacks, such as mandatory recall, subpoena power to investigate risks quickly, and the ability to seize and destroy risky drugs at the border.

"Americans should be able to rest at night with the confidence that the drugs we take to improve our health are manufactured safely, at home or abroad. We can't wait for another tragedy to occur before taking action. Congress and the President should make passage of drug safety legislation to address the concerns detailed in After Heparin a top priority this session."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @saferxwatch and @healthpolicyhub.

Leading Consumer Group Calls Proposed Exchange Regulations Important Step In Giving Consumers Control In Health Insurance Decisions

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON) - "The Affordable Care Act (ACA) holds the promise of a better, more accessible health care system for consumers by allowing them to compare health plan options and select the insurance plan that will best suit their needs. Today, Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services issued regulations on the health insurance Exchange, a critical step toward giving consumers more control in their health care decisions and creating a more transparent health insurance market.

"The ACA established state-based Exchanges - competitive marketplaces for individuals and small businesses to purchase insurance - that must operate by January 1, 2014. It's estimated by 2019, 29 million people will use Exchanges to buy health insurance.

"If designed well, Exchanges can provide individuals and small business owners with a ‘one stop shop' to directly compare the prices and benefits of different plans and purchase health insurance. Exchanges put individuals and small businesses in the driver's seat by creating competition and transparency among insurers to encourage higher quality plans at lower costs. And consumers will know that the insurance they buy through their Exchange will meet minimum benefit standards.

"Exchanges will go a long way toward leveling the playing field for individuals and small business owners who don't have the clout to go toe-to-toe with big insurance companies. It will be important for consumer groups to weigh in on the proposed regulations to ensure they move us in the right direction to help people - whether uninsured or struggling to afford insurance for themselves and their employees - get and keep health insurance."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read or comment on our blogs at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/ and http://postscript.communitycatalyst.org/. Follow us on Twitter @saferxwatch and @healthpolicyhub.

Community Catalyst Criticizes Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Vermont Law Protecting Prescription Records

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON, MA) - "Today, the Supreme Court struck down an important Vermont law that sought to protect patients and doctors from aggressive drug industry marketing. The law banned drug companies from using information on physicians' past prescribing decisions in their promotion and marketing of new drug products. The aggressive marketing and promotion of costly prescription drugs over more affordable, and often safer alternatives is of increasing concern to consumers, health plans, and state programs as they struggle with increasing costs of health care and support quality care.

"The law was a reasonable state regulation of commercial activity to further public health. It did not ban the use of prescription drug data for non-marketing purposes, such as by researchers or private and public health plans. Yet, an increasingly conservative, industry-oriented Court struck down the Vermont law as an impermissible restriction of free speech under the First Amendment. Legal expert American University Professor. Sean Fiil-Flynn notes: ‘The First Amendment's interests in promoting a marketplace of ideas and facilitating democratic decision making through the free flow of public information are not furthered by protecting from regulation the private commercial trade of private information in medical records.'

"Our state and federal governments must be allowed the tools to promote evidence-based care, and to insulate doctors and nurses from sophisticated marketing that interferes with the prescriber-patient relationship. Vermont can, however, go back to the drawing board to reformulate their law, since the decision does allow a path for another approach that may survive this type of industry challenge.

"On behalf of state legislators concerned with rising drug prices, State Representative Sharon Treat, Executive Director of the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices (NLARx), notes that ‘The decision is a huge disappointment to legislators and other policymakers who have sought to protect the confidentiality of private prescription records.' Treat added, ‘The information Vermont tried to protect comes from private medical records. It is being used to profile doctors to help drug companies in their marketing efforts.'

"In the long-term, extending First Amendment protections to the commercial sale of sensitive health information may pose ever greater risks to patients' privacy. The decision also has far reaching implications for other efforts by government to protect consumers from advertising and the use of private data, and companies have already signaled that they may challenge the new graphic warnings on cigarette packs and other important data privacy regulations."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system. With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.

Consumer Advocates Thank 41 Senators For Vowing To Fight Severe Cuts To Medicaid

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON, MA) - "Medicaid is a vital program that ensures millions of American seniors, people with disabilities and children get the health care they need, and it needs to be protected, not gutted. We are very grateful to Senator Jay Rockefeller and the 36 Senators who joined him in echoing that message in a letter sent today to President Obama, and to Senators Feinstein, Udall, Bennet and Klobuchar who sent their own letters to the president expressing their support for Medicaid.

"Current proposals to block grant Medicaid, cap federal expenditures or allow states to cut Medicaid eligibility would cause serious harm to millions of seniors and their families who rely on Medicaid for long-term care, people with disabilities who benefit from Medicaid services that allow them to live independently, and children who depend on Medicaid to see a doctor when they get sick or injured.

"Deficit reduction is important, but it must be done in humane way that doesn't jeopardize the health and economic security of Americans. We thank each and every Senator who has stood up for Medicaid, and urge them and all Members of Congress to work hard to defeat proposals that undermine the federal government's commitment to Medicaid and the millions of vulnerable Americans whose lives depend on it."

###

Consumers Applaud Senate for Standing Firm Against Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON, MA) - "Today's Senate vote on efforts to undermine Medicare and Medicaid were a firm rejection of a disastrous plan that would take away the health security Americans have counted on since 1965 and force the most vulnerable Americans to shoulder a disproportionate share of the nation's budget problems. We are very grateful to every Senator who voted against the plan, particularly to those who went against their party leadership.

"Medicare and Medicaid must be protected. They are the foundation of our health care system, ensuring Americans get the care we need as we age, or if we become disabled or fall on hard times. The House Republican plan would effectively end Medicare as we know it by privatizing it and forcing future beneficiaries to pay twice as much than if they were on traditional Medicare.

"Though much has been said about the impact of the House plan on Medicare, we are particularly appreciative of Members who voted against gutting Medicaid. We urge Members to stay the course because threats to this vital program remain. Proposals to block grant Medicaid, cap federal expenditures or allow states to cut Medicaid eligibility would cause serious harm to millions of seniors and their families who rely on Medicaid for long-term care, people with disabilities who benefit from Medicaid services that allow them to live independently, and children who depend on Medicaid to see a doctor when they get sick or injured. The American public agrees: A Kaiser poll released this week shows 60 percent of Americans favor keeping the program as it is.

"Federal cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and Medicare are not the answer to addressing the ballooning deficit or rising health care costs - they would simply pass the buck by shifting costs from the federal government to the states, and then on to families and providers.

"Instead, policymakers should build on the cost containment framework that is already part of the Affordable Care Act and focus on reducing excessive insurance premiums, giving people the care they need to stay out of hospitals and nursing homes, and investing in public health measures to reduce heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses that lead to higher health care costs.

"It's important to reduce the deficit and get health care costs under control, but we urge Members of Congress to do so in a humane way that reflects our priorities and doesn't cause harm to the most vulnerable members of our society - those who rely on Medicare and Medicaid to stay healthy and live productive lives."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system. With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.

Consumer And Faith-Based Groups: Vote On 1099 Repeal Hurts Low- And Moderate-Income Americans

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, DC) - "As consumer and faith-based organizations representing millions of American families, we understand the struggle faced by people who cannot afford to get the care they need when they need it. That is why our organizations worked so hard for passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We firmly believe the law as passed goes a long way toward providing meaningful health care coverage at an affordable cost.

"Today, however, Congress chipped away at key affordability protections for low and moderate-income Americans under the ACA. The vote to pay for 1099 repeal by weakening the ACA's affordability protections would impose significant financial penalties on struggling families. This change undermines the core principle of the ACA, which is to make health care more affordable, and weakens the law overall.

"We support efforts to improve the law for small businesses, but we don't think those efforts should come at the expense of hard-working low- and middle-income Americans," Restuccia said.

"With families struggling with hard economic times and rising health care costs, Congress should be focused on making health care more, not less affordable," said Wiggins.

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system. With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.

PICO National Network is a national network of faith-based community organizations working to expand health care coverage and improve communities in 17 states. www.piconetwork.org

Ryan Budget Pulls the Rug Out from Under Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Struggling Families

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, DC) - "The House Republican 2012 budget plan released today is a blueprint for disaster. Rather than prioritizing cuts, it seeks to balance the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it - seniors, people with disabilities and struggling families - while asking too little of those who can most afford to sacrifice. Today Medicare and Medicaid work in tandem to help people stay healthy as they age, become disabled, or face hard times. Block grants, privatization and vouchers would take away the health care security that all Americans have relied on since 1965.

"As consumer and faith-based organizations representing millions of American families, we find it abhorrent that people would be made to suffer needlessly or die prematurely because they could not afford to get the care they need. The House plan to gut Medicaid and Medicare will roll back sixty years of social progress in the United States and decimate programs that are a critical part of the safety-net and the backbone of our health care system.

"Block granting Medicaid shifts costs to already financially overburdened states during this recession leads to dramatic cuts in benefits and eligibility for seniors, people with disabilities, children, pregnant women, and working parents, just when people need them most. Families that rely on Medicaid to cover long-term or nursing home care could face enormous financial strain in trying to care for loved ones when their health care costs are no longer picked up by Medicaid.

"Privatizing Medicare is a hand-out to insurance companies, driving up deductibles and co-payments for seniors on Medicare today, and doing nothing to contain health care costs. By 2021, Medicare as we know it would be gone, replaced by a voucher program that would require seniors to buy private insurance. Vouchers lead to rationed health care. As health care costs rise, vouchers would be too small to buy adequate coverage. Many seniors would find they couldn't afford coverage at all and end up uninsured.

"Instead of taking an ax to programs that provide health and economic security to millions of people, federal policy makers should build on the cost containment framework that is already part of the Affordable Care Act and focus on reducing excessive insurance premiums, giving people the care they need to stay out of hospitals and nursing homes, and investing in public health measures to reduce heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses that lead to higher health care costs.

"The savings produced by the House plan come at a great human cost and take our health care system in the wrong direction. We ask Members of Congress to reject this radical proposal to take Medicaid and Medicare away from those who need it most."

###

PICO National Network is a national network of faith-based community organizations working to expand health care coverage and improve communities in 17 states. www.piconetwork.org

Defunding Key Parts of the Affordable Care Act Will Harm the Health of Children and Families

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

"The vote today of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to wipe out mandatory funding for key parts of the Affordable Care Act is another politically motivated step to cripple a law that is already helping more American families get the health care they need.

"The subcommittee's short-sighted vote slashes efforts that would make health care more affordable and create jobs. Specifically, the subcommittee voted to eliminate funding for preventing chronic diseases, setting up new competitive marketplaces for health insurance, constructing school-based health centers, educating families about how to improve their health and training more primary care doctors.

"The subcommittee's vote to eliminate the $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund, which Congress established last year to help shift the focus of our health system from treating diseases to preventing illness, was particularly misguided. This focus on prevention is designed to help all of our children grow up healthy. Some of this money is already supporting state and local initiatives to reduce obesity, cut tobacco use, prevent HIV/AIDS and train more workers to help improve the nation's health. This year, special grants are planned to help engage communities in improving their own health. And over the long term, this infusion of prevention funding will also expand jobs and improve the health and productivity of America's workers.

"We strongly urge other members of Congress to oppose these cuts and to move forward with implementation of the Affordable Care Act. We believe it is key to our nation's long-term health."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system. With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone-especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.

The Affordable Care Act Turns 1: Americans Have Health Security, Better Care

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

(BOSTON, MA) - "All Americans want access to high quality affordable health care when we need it. But for too long we've had to contend with a broken health care system that has failed to live up to our expectations and meet our needs. That began to change a year ago today when President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, bringing the country a giant step closer to achieving a health system that works for everyone.

"Just one year in, the ACA is already making a huge difference in the lives of many. Parents no longer have to worry about insurance companies denying coverage to a child who has a pre-existing condition. Seniors are benefitting from prescription drug savings and free preventive care. Young adults struggling with the high costs of health insurance can now get coverage under their parents' plans. Small businesses are taking advantage of tax credits that make it possible to afford insurance for their employees. And insurance companies can no longer drop our coverage when we get sick or impose lifetime limits on the amount of care we receive. Those days are over.

"Passage of the ACA was a historic achievement. While the law is already making a difference in people's lives, it has the potential to positively impact millions more in the coming years by making coverage affordable for those who lack it today and providing American families with the security of knowing that our health insurance will always be there when we need it. We will all benefit from critical consumer protections such as programs to contain health costs and make insurance policies more affordable, greater accountability from health insurance companies, improved choice and competition among health insurance plans, and better access to quality, affordable health care for vulnerable populations.

"The ACA is moving health care in this country in the right direction and changing people's lives for the better. We need to continue to move forward."

###

Faith and Consumer Organizations Urge Senate to Protect the New Health Law

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, DC) - "As faith and consumer organizations, we are working to make sure that all people can benefit from the protections provided by the Affordable Care Act. Millions of American families are already experiencing the benefits of the new health law. Tens of millions more will have greater security in their health care as their states continue implementing the law over the coming years. Repealing the new health law would hurt people in every state, and set our nation back to a time when insurance companies can cut off our coverage if we get sick or deny our children care because they have pre-existing conditions.

"We need to move forward with efforts to implement and strengthen the health care law. We urge elected officials at all levels to join us in rolling up our sleeves to assure that people have the health care protections they need."

###

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all. Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system. With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone - especially vulnerable members of society. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.

About PICO National Network
PICO National Network brings people of faith together in 150 cities and towns in 17 states to revitalize communities and strengthen families. For more information visit www.piconetwork.org.

Florida Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act Would Deny Health Security to Millions of Americans

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON, MA) -The following is a statement by Robert Restuccia, Executive Director of Community Catalyst, a national organization working in more than 40 states to ensure Americans have a voice in their health care system, condemning today's ruling by Florida Federal District Court Judge Roger Vinson in Florida et al. v. DHHS et al.

"Today's misguided ruling is just one small outcome of a well-funded, politically orchestrated effort to overturn the health care law and deny millions of Americans the health security they want and need.

"American families are already enjoying the benefits and protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They don't want to go back to the days when insurance companies could arbitrarily drop their coverage when they got sick or deny coverage to their children due to pre-existing conditions. Seniors don't want to lose the prescription drug relief they desperately need, and small businesses are counting on tax breaks to help them provide coverage to their employees.

"The ruling by Federal District Court Judge Roger Vinson represents judicial activism at its worst -two courts have already ruled the ACA constitutional, and 12 have dismissed the challenges outright. It will also have little impact on what is happening on the ground where many states are already moving ahead with implementation of the ACA. They understand that the ACA is the best opportunity to contain health care costs, extend coverage to millions of their residents who lack it, and fix our broken health care system.

"The Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land, and we believe it must be and will be upheld."

###

Repeal of Affordable Care Act Would Turn Back the Clock on Health Security for All Americans

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

(BOSTON, MA) - "We all want health and economic security for ourselves and our families. Throughout our nation's history, the American people have had the courage to embrace change in order to make our country better-from recognizing the right of women to vote to civil rights; from the creation of Social Security to the creation of Medicare thirty years later. In every case, there was a struggle between those who wanted to turn back the clock and those who recognized the need for change; between those who wanted to enjoy their privileges while denying them to others and those who believed that our common humanity requires us to recognize that the benefits we want for ourselves must be available to all.

"It is a travesty that the House majority, enjoying health security themselves, seeks to deny it to tens of millions of Americans who lack it today.

"Passage of The Affordable Care Act was a critical step forward in improving our broken health care system. It ensures that all Americans can get the care they need, when they need it. It provides families with the reassurance they won't lose their insurance if someone becomes sick, gets in an accident, changes jobs or retires early.

"The ACA prevents insurance companies from imposing big premiums hikes with no recourse or accountability. It offers parents the choice of providing health coverage for a child after he or she finishes school, and allows seniors to get the care they need, including free preventive care, lower cost prescription drugs, and Medicare that they can count on. It gives small business owners tax credits to make employees' health coverage more affordable. And, it provides our states with much-needed federal dollars to help fund important public health initiatives.

"We strongly urge Members of Congress to move forward with implementation of the Affordable Care Act and keep Americans on the pathway to economic and health security by voting "no" on repeal."

###

Leading Consumer Group Says Rate Review Regulations Will Help Protect Consumers from Rising Health Insurance Costs

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

"Consumers have repeatedly struggled with health insurance premiums rising faster than wages and inflation. Today, Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took a valuable step forward in helping to protect consumers from skyrocketing insurance costs by issuing regulations that will shine the light on insurers that propose large unreasonable premium hikes.

"These improvements in transparency and oversight, which come as part of the Affordable Care Act, are a major win for Americans who have faced dramatic, unaffordable increases in their insurance premiums over the last several years. The regulations affect individuals enrolled in small group or non-group plans - those with the least amount of bargaining power who have been at the mercy of insurance companies.

"Starting in 2011, any insurer that proposes a premium increase of 10 percent or greater must provide documentation and justification for this increase. This information will be public - posted on both the insurer's and HHS's websites, providing consumers with a rationale for increases so they know what they are paying for.

"The new regulations, which build upon federal grants for states to increase their capacity for reviewing premium rates, also leave in place state authority to review premiums. This is critical given the successful efforts by California, Connecticut, and Washington to either stop or decrease large rate increases proposed by insurers in those states. And if a state is unable to conduct a thorough review of premiums due to capacity or authority, the regulation allows HHS to provide back-up to conduct these reviews.

"It's time to put an end to unwieldy rate hikes that force families to choose between health care and other basic necessities. Today's announcement of rate review regulations is a welcome move in that direction, and Community Catalyst will submit comments to HHS to suggest ways to further strengthen these important regulations."

###