Pierluisi Introduces Comprehensive Bill to Improve Treatment of Puerto Rico and Other Territories Under Medicaid and Medicare
"This is the first time that a Member of
The bill would create new federal rules governing
During the Resident Commissioner's tenure, federal law has been amended to substantially improve the treatment of the territories under
"As a result,
Moreover, the
"The bill I am filing today would provide a sustained and more equitable level of
The federal poverty level is
"In essence, as long as a territory government covers individuals whose household income is within these limits, the federal government would fund the territory's
"The policy rationale behind this proposal is simple. Residents of
Pierluisi's bill also includes a number of other provisions designed to enhance patient care by improving the treatment of hospitals, physicians, and
The bill would correct four disparities that harm
"The work of a hospital is noble, and it is never done. Their doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They treat the sick and the injured, the rich and the poor, the young and the old. They are there when a life begins, and often when it ends. There is no reason why hospitals in
The bill also includes a provision that would address one of the main challenges facing
"There is a well-documented exodus of island physicians to the states, and low payments under
The bill also seeks to assist the 560,000
"This provision supplements and reinforces the ongoing efforts that I and others are undertaking to convince the
Finally, the bill responds to concerns expressed by insurance companies in the territories. The Affordable Care Act imposed an annual fee on insurers, with the first fees due last year. Pierluisi and other territory delegates argued in a 2014 letter to
"Because the territories are not eligible to receive many of the benefits of the ACA, it is unprincipled to subject insurers in the territories to this fee, which is designed solely to offset the cost of those benefits. My bill would cut the fee in half for insurers in the territories, reducing the annual amount owed by
Read this original document at: http://pierluisi.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pierluisi-introduces-comprehensive-bill-to-improve-treatment-of-puerto
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