Provisions of Recent Health Reform Legislation

[rayilynlee <rayilynlee@xxxxxxx>]

House of Representatives Passes Health Reform Legislation   some of =
which affect PD                    =20

Ray
Rayilyn Brown
Past Director AZNPF
Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation



From: Diane Wyshak=20
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 8:59 AM
To: ray ; Dr. Kong ; don reed=20
Subject: Fw: House of Representatives Passes Health Reform Legislation



----- Original Message -----=20
From: Parkinson's Action Network=20
To: Diane Wyshak=20
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 9:37 AM
Subject: House of Representatives Passes Health Reform Legislation


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      House of Representatives Passes Health Reform Legislation=20
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            Health Care Reform Update More Info
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            Sunday, March 21, 2010, the House of Representatives =
approved historic health care reform legislation.  The House passed both =
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was passed by the =
Senate in December, and the Reconciliation Act of 2010, which includes =
changes to the Senate-passed bill. =20

            The heath care overhaul package is a complex bill that will =
impact all Americans.  There are several provisions that are of interest =
to the Parkinson's disease community, including:


              a.. Creating a Cures Acceleration Network at the National =
Institutes of Health, supporting translational research in the hopes of =
more quickly moving research from the lab into new drugs and therapies =
available to patients.  For quite some time, PAN has focused on this =
fundamental issue and we are excited to see a renewed focus on =
accelerating therapies and drugs for Parkinson's and many other =
diseases;  =20
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              b.. Extending the Medicare Therapy Caps exceptions process =
until December 31, 2010 for medically necessary outpatient occupational, =
physical, and speech therapy. Learn more. =20
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              c.. Eliminating lifetime caps on benefits for all =
insurance plans 6 months after enactment of the bill;=20
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              d.. Eliminating annual caps on benefits for individual and =
group plans in 2014;=20
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              e.. Closing the Medicare Part D donut hole by 2020, and =
providing a $250 rebate for all Medicare Part D enrollees who enter the =
donut hole in 2010;=20
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              f.. Prohibiting insurers from establishing eligibility =
rules based on health status, medical condition (mental or physical =
illness), claims experience, receipt of healthcare, medical history, =
genetic information, evidence of insurability, disability, etc.  =20
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            The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will now go =
to the White House for signature by the President while the =
Reconciliation Act of 2010 still needs to go to the Senate for approval. =
 We will keep you updated as Congress finishes its work on health =
reform. =20

            For an interesting analysis of the impact of Health Reform =
district-by-district, visit the House Energy & Commerce Web site.=20

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