Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following opening statement for the record at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing on “The PPACA’s High Risk Pool Regime: High Cost, Low Participation:”
“Today’s hearing offers a great opportunity for this Subcommittee to learn more about how Director Larsen and the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight or CCIIO is implementing the temporary high-risk insurance pools created in the Affordable Care Act.
“These high-risk insurance pools are designed to help those most in need in our society – those with cancer, diabetes or asthma – who are routinely denied insurance in the private market. For those not denied in the private market, they often find that the cost of insurance still makes health coverage out of their reach.
“Starting in 2014, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to any individual with a pre-existing condition, but until then, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan is serving as a temporary bridge to help those receive coverage until the Exchanges open in 2014.
“CCIIO faced an enormous task in front of them in setting up the PCIP programs, and I would commend Director Larsen and CCIIO for meeting the 90-day deadline and for aggressively working with the States to assist them in setting up PCIP programs.
“Enrollment in PCIP is now over 12,400 and has grown 50 percent from November 2010 to February 2011. While this is an achievement, there is much more we need to do.
“I am pleased to see CCIIO conduct a unique and targeted outreach campaign to help enroll individuals most in need. The Center has reached out on the grassroots level through the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Society, and partnering with government agencies such as the Social Security Administration. In addition, the Center has offered webinars and has met with various stakeholders including providers, hospitals, and consumer groups, among others. These steps are necessary to target eligible individuals, and I believe these steps show CCIIO’s commitment to bridging the gap for the sickest of the sick.
“Now I know some of my friends on the other side of the aisle are critical of PCIP. I would remind them that the creation of high risk pools was proposed by Congressional Republicans. In fact, Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee have offered their own legislation appropriating far more money than laid out in the Affordable Care Act to implement high risk pools nationwide.
“High risk pools and PCIP are designed to ensure that our constituents across the country suffering from chronic disease are not bankrupt due to their medical bills or forced to foreclose their home to pay for the medical bills that continue to stack up. This vulnerable population deserves our help.”
To view Congressman Dingell’s questioning, go to the video link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2FucM1iUwQ.
Congressman Dingell has for years been a leading advocate for health care reform and continues vigorous oversight in the 112th Congress to see that implementation of the Affordable Care Act law, of which he is the author, is done in a fair manner that benefits all Americans.
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