[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6688-6689]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, my friend, the Republican leader, must be in 
denial to come to the floor and talk about ObamaCare the way he did. He 
is neglecting the facts. I will only repeat a few of them.
  No. 1, there are 17 million people who now have health insurance who 
didn't. Using his own numbers, he said: One out of every five people 
who went to the emergency room in Kentucky had insurance, private 
insurance. Four-fifths of them had no insurance. They have it now. That 
says it all.
  Rather than cut Medicare and cut Medicaid, as in the Republican 
budget--they should not be doing that. The reason there are long 
waiting lines is because Republicans are not helping us fund Medicare 
and Medicaid in an appropriate fashion.
  The late Senator Ted Kennedy once said: ``An essential part of our 
progressive vision is an America where no citizen of any age fears the 
cost of health care.''
  We are not there yet, but since the Affordable Care Act became law, 
that vision has become more of a reality every day. The facts are 
indisputable. Health care costs are growing at a historically low rate.
  The overall health of Americans is improving, and health care 
providers are now finding innovative ways to reduce health care 
spending while improving the quality of care that patients have.

[[Page 6689]]

  Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that 
a key pilot program created by the Affordable Care Act saved Medicare 
almost $400 million in 2 years. This is good news.
  The Pioneer accountable care organization model was launched by the 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in an effort to improve 
health care delivery and payment options.
  An independent evaluation of this model shows an average of about 
$300 in savings per beneficiary every year. Rather than being a model, 
it should cover all patients. Right now this model is serving more than 
600,000 Americans.
  The idea is called accountable care. Accountable care organizations 
tie provider reimbursements to quality metrics and reductions in the 
total cost of care for patients--better care, less costs.
  What is most remarkable about this program is that huge savings are 
being achieved without threatening the quality of care the patients 
receive. In fact, the quality of care is improving.
  Medicare beneficiaries within the Pioneer accountable care 
organization model have reported more timely care and improved 
communication with the health care providers. They now have an ability 
to understand what is happening to their health care. Their questions 
are being answered. These patients use inpatient hospital services less 
and have fewer tests and have fewer procedures. That is what it is all 
about.
  Last week's announcement shows that the Affordable Care Act is 
working, to the tune of $400 million.
  Can you imagine the impact this pilot program will have on health 
care costs when it is expanded? It is true that we have more work to do 
to ensure quality affordable health care for every American. These 
reports show Senator Kennedy's vision for America's health care system 
is beginning to become a reality.
  Mr. President, would you be kind enough to announce the business of 
the day.

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