See other bills
under the
same topic
PRINTER'S NO. 2746
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
594
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, NOVEMBER 27, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, NOVEMBER 27, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of November 2017 as "Affordable Care Act
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010;
and
WHEREAS, The ACA provides health insurance to approximately
25 million Americans, including 10.3 million in the Health
Insurance Marketplace and 11.9 million benefiting from their
state's expansion of Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 2.3 million young adults have the
ability to stay on their parents' health insurance plan due to
the ACA; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania participates in the
ACA through a federally facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace
and is one of 31 states and the District of Columbia that have
expanded Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, More than 700,000 Pennsylvanians receive health
insurance coverage through Medicaid expansion, which was
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
implemented by Governor Tom Wolf in February 2015; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 5.4 million people in Pennsylvania
have a preexisting health condition; and
WHEREAS, The ACA provides security for vulnerable Americans
who were previously denied health coverage because of
preexisting conditions such as diabetes, cancer or asthma; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 89,000 young adults in Pennsylvania
have benefited from the ACA provision that allows individuals
who are up to 26 years of age to stay on their parents' health
insurance plans; and
WHEREAS, Under the ACA, health plans are required to cover
preventive health services, including immunizations, cancer
screenings, contraception and mammograms, at no extra cost to
consumers; and
WHEREAS, Coverage of preventive care helps 6.1 million
Pennsylvanians stay healthy; and
WHEREAS, Under the ACA, more than 51,000 Pennsylvanians have
access to substance use disorder treatment through coverage
obtained through the Health Insurance Marketplace; and
WHEREAS, Since 2015, an additional 124,000 Pennsylvanians
receive coverage for substance use disorder treatment through
Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, More than 426,000 Pennsylvanians were enrolled in
the Health Insurance Marketplace as of February 3, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 1.1 million Pennsylvanians under 65 years of
age have health coverage because of the ACA; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, the uninsured rate fell from 10.2%
in 2010 to 5.6% in 2016, the lowest it has ever been; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians purchasing health coverage in the
individual market received nearly $1 billion in premium
20170HR0594PN2746 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
subsidies in 2016; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 11,700 Pennsylvanians were saved from
catastrophic out-of-pocket medical costs and approximately
37,100 Pennsylvanians did not have to borrow money to pay bills
or skip payments because of Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 310 deaths were prevented in 2016
because of Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, an estimated 297,000 Medicare beneficiaries
each saved an average of $1,000 on prescription drugs because of
the closing of the Medicare donut hole, which represents a total
of $313 million in savings for older adults in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Uncompensated care in hospitals in Pennsylvania was
reduced by approximately $280 million in 2016 because of
Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, Open enrollment for health insurance for 2018 runs
from November 1 through December 15, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Individuals interested in applying for health care
coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace can:
(1) apply online at www.healthcare.gov;
(2) apply by phone at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-
4325);
(3) visit assisters in the community to get information,
apply and enroll in person; or
(4) complete and mail a paper application;
and
WHEREAS, Further information about how to apply for health
insurance can be found at www.healthcare.gov or by calling 1-
800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325); and
WHEREAS, The ACA has helped millions of Pennsylvanians access
affordable and quality health care, prevent personal financial
20170HR0594PN2746 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
bankruptcy from medical bills and have the ability to maintain a
better quality of life and be productive members of society;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of November 2017 as "Affordable Care Act Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge
Pennsylvanians who do not have health insurance coverage to sign
up as soon as possible in order to receive coverage beginning
January 1, 2018.
20170HR0594PN2746 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10