Bill opposed by ADA dies in Senate
Last night, on a 55-43 cloture vote, the United States Senate failed to keep viable a bill, opposed by the American Diabetes Association, that would have resulted in “the loss os critical health care coverage guarantees for over 85 million Americans, including millions of Americans with diabetes,” according to a state on the ADA website.
“The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act” (S.1955) died in a cloture vote, a proceeding in which a bill fails to get two thirds of the Senate to agree that it is still viable for further consideration. Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), a bill co-sponsor, and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) broke party lines and voted to consider the bill. Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-Rhode Island) voted against the measure.
L. Hunter Limbaugh, Chair of the National Advocacy Committee of the American Diabetes Association, issued the following statement:
“Today, millions of Americans with diabetes dodged a bullet. Because of the vote in the U.S. Senate, state health coverage for diabetes has been protected. We are proud of the dedication and passion of tens of thousands of diabetes advocates who, for several months, have contacted their elected officials to express their strong opposition to this legislation. We thank all Senators who took the time to hear those concerns.
“This bill was fundamentally flawed, as it would have jeopardized the health care coverage that millions of Americans with diabetes rely upon daily to manage their disease and prevent its serious and costly complications. S.1955 would have enabled health insurers to bypass existing state health protections, including coverage in 46 states and the District of Columbia, for life-saving diabetes supplies, medication, education, and treatment. Moving forward, ADA is eager to work with legislators from both parties to expand affordable, adequate and accessible health insurance to small businesses and other Americans who are uninsured and underinsured.”
(via the American Diabetes Association)
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Sep 13, 2006 at 2:42 pm
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