[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES IMPROVED BY THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN 
                                 TEXAS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 12, 2017

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of both the 
Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee, I rise in 
celebration of the over 1 million Texans who have gained healthcare 
coverage under the Affordable Health Care Act, and the millions of 
Americans more whose lives have been exponentially improved by access 
to substantial increases in life-saving coverage.
  The data show that the uninsured rate in Texas has fallen by 28 
percent since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, 
translating into 1,781,000 Texans gaining coverage.
  In addition to residents who would otherwise be uninsured, millions 
more Texans with employer, Medicaid, individual market, or Medicare 
coverage have also benefited from new protections as a result of the 
law.
  With respect to employer coverage, 13,709,000 people in Texas are 
covered through employer-sponsored health plans.
  Since the ACA was enacted in 2010, this group has seen:
  (1) An end to annual and lifetime limits:
  Before the ACA, 7,536,000 Texans with employer or individual market 
coverage had a lifetime limit on their insurance policy.
  That meant their coverage could end exactly when they needed it most.
  The ACA prohibits annual and lifetime limits on policies, so all 
Texans with employer plans now have coverage that's there when they 
need it.
  (2) Young adults covered until age 26:
  An estimated 205,000 young adults in Texas have benefited from the 
ACA provision that allows kids to stay on their parents' health 
insurance up to age 26.
  (3) Free preventive care:
  Under the ACA, health plans must cover preventive services--like flu 
shots, cancer screenings, contraception, and mammograms--at no extra 
cost to consumers.
  This provision benefits 10,278,005 people in Texas, most of whom have 
employer coverage.
  (4) Slower premium growth:
  The average premium for Texas families with employer coverage grew 
3.5 percent per year from 2010-2015, compared with 8.1 percent over the 
previous decade.
  Assuming Texas premiums grew in line with the national average in 
2016, family premiums in Texas are $5,400 lower today than if growth 
had matched the pre-ACA decade.
  (5) Better value through the 80/20 rule:
  Because of the ACA, health insurance companies must spend at least 80 
cents of each premium dollar on health care or care improvements, 
rather than administrative costs like salaries or marketing, or else 
give consumers a refund;.
  Texans with employer coverage have received $20,082,448 in insurance 
refunds since 2012.
  With respect to Medicaid, 4,770,229 people in Texas are covered by 
Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, including 
3,512,929 children and 374,617 seniors and people with disabilities 
covered by both Medicaid and Medicare.
  The ACA expanded Medicaid eligibility and strengthened the program 
for those already eligible.
  An estimated 1,107,000 Texans could have health insurance today if 
Texas expanded Medicaid under the ACA.
  Coverage improves access to care, financial security, and health; 
expansion would result in an estimated 127,000 more Texans getting all 
needed care, 157,400 fewer Texans struggling to pay medical bills, and 
1,330 avoided deaths each year.
  406,000 Texans, or an estimated 23 percent of those who could gain 
Medicaid coverage through expansion, have a mental illness or substance 
use disorder.
  Texas could be saving millions in uncompensated care costs. Instead 
of spending $1 billion on uncompensated care, which increases costs for 
everyone, Texas could be getting $5 billion in federal support to 
provide low-income adults with much needed care.
  Children, people with disabilities, and seniors can more easily 
access Medicaid coverage. The ACA streamlined Medicaid eligibility 
processes, eliminating hurdles so that vulnerable Texans could more 
easily access and maintain coverage.
  Texas can better fight opioids. Under the ACA, CMS provided technical 
assistance that is giving Texas the opportunity to strengthen Medicaid 
services for people struggling with opioid abuse or other substance use 
disorders (SUDs).
  With respect to Medicare, 3,765,946 people in Texas are covered by 
Medicare. The ACA strengthened the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its 
life by over a decade. In addition, Medicare enrollees have benefited 
from:
  Lower costs for prescription drugs: Because the ACA is closing the 
prescription drug donut hole, 346,750 Texas seniors are saving $366 
million on drugs in 2015, an average of $1,057 per beneficiary.
  Free preventive services: The ACA added coverage of an annual 
wellness visit and eliminated cost-sharing for recommended preventive 
services such as cancer screenings. In 2015, 1,746,043 Texas seniors, 
or 72 percent of all Texas seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B, took 
advantage of at least one free preventive service.
  Fewer hospital mistakes: The ACA introduced new incentives for 
hospitals to avoid preventable patient harms and avoidable 
readmissions. Hospital readmissions for Texas Medicare beneficiaries 
dropped 6 percent between 2010 and 2015, which translates into 4,960 
times Texas Medicare beneficiaries avoided an unnecessary return to the 
hospital in 2015.
  More coordinated care: The ACA encouraged groups of doctors, 
hospitals, and other health care providers to come together to provide 
coordinated high-quality care to the Medicare patients they serve. 37 
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in Texas now offer Medicare 
beneficiaries the opportunity to receive higher quality, more 
coordinated care.
  Now is not the time to undermine or slow the ability of our insurance 
providers to address growing threats and active cases of Americans' 
health crises.
  Accordingly, I urge all Members to join me in protecting the gains 
achieved by the Affordable Healthcare Act.

                          ____________________