[StBernard] Senate Nears Passage of Historic Health Care Bill

[Westley Annis]

Dear Friends,

This week, the Senate is on track to pass the most significant piece of
health care legislation since the creation of Medicare. And as with
Medicare, Sen. Landrieu believes that the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act will be seen by future generations as a defining step towards
providing all Americans with quality, affordable coverage.

Sen. Landrieu appeared on MSNBC's Hard Ball with Chris Matthews last week to
defend the legislation. The senator pointed out that it provides Americans
access to the same type of private health insurance available to members of
Congress and federal employees, and includes historic insurance reforms that
will-for the first time-protect people from being denied insurance based on
pre-existing conditions, or from being arbitrarily dropped from their
coverage. To watch, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5375> .

 
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5376> On Sunday, Sen. Landrieu
appeared on Face The Nation with Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Lamar
Alexander (R-Tenn.) to further discuss the bill.  Sen. Landrieu defended the
Medicaid fix she received for Louisiana, and criticized Republicans for
using procedural tricks to delay reform rather than trying to improve
America's health care system. To watch, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5376> .

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a far-reaching piece of
legislation, and there has been no shortage of misinformation about the
bill. To help combat these misperceptions, Sen. Landrieu's office has
produced several documents detailing the bill's provisions, and Sen.
Landrieu's involvement in making the bill better for Louisiana.

To download a fact sheet spelling out the bill's impacts on families,
businesses, seniors and government, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5377> .

To download a timeline that shows when various pieces of the legislation
take effect, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5378> .

To download a list of 10 priorities Sen. Landrieu was instrumental in
including in the final bill, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5379> .


Sen. Landrieu Wins for Small Business


 
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5380> The final version of the Senate
bill included several historic amendments championed by Sen. Landrieu aimed
at easing the burden that small businesses face when providing health care
to their employees. Sen. Landrieu discussed these amendments on the floor
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5380>  of the Senate last week, and
her provisions include making small business tax credits available
immediately, and expanding eligibility for the tax credits to a wider group
of small businesses. To read the full list of Sen. Landrieu's small business
amendments that were incorporated into the final bill, click here
<http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?mailaction=clickthru&gpiv=21
00052108.5598.565&gen=1&mailing_linkid=5381> .