March '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Senator Harry Reid Column

The Reid Report—March 22, 2010

Dear Fellow Nevadan,

Last night the House of Representatives passed the Senate’s health insurance reform bill and sent it to President Obama to be signed into law. This is truly great news for Nevada’s families and small businesses, who will see lower premiums on their existing plans and new, more affordable options.

It’s good news for Nevada’s seniors, who will pay less for their prescription drugs, no longer fear the Medicare “Doughnut Hole” gap in coverage, and see Medicare’s solvency extended by nearly a decade without cutting even a dime of guaranteed benefits. And it’s good news for future generations because it reduces deficits by nearly $1.4 trillion over the next 20 years.

This bill provides consumers with more protection and more choice, and ensures that medical decisions are made by patients and doctors, not insurance companies. And it means that we don’t have to face the double-digit premium increases – some as high as 60% - that would have occurred had we done nothing to reform our health insurance industry.

I wanted to write Nevadans today to talk about what is in it for them. Please read the information below and visit my website to learn more.

HARRY REID
United States Senator for Nevada

Highlights of Benefits of Health Insurance Reform for Nevada

Up to 518,000 residents who are uninsured and 132,000 residents who have individual market insurance will gain access to affordable coverage.
Up to 311,000 residents will qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.
328,000 seniors will receive free preventive services and 58,200 seniors will have their drug costs in the Medicare Part D “donut hole” covered over time.
Up to 24,000 small businesses will be eligible for tax credits for premiums Premium Tax Credits to Expand Private Insurance Coverage in Nevada

Reduced Premiums

Health insurance reform will lower premiums in the nongroup market by 14 to 20% for the same benefits – premium savings of $1,380 to $1,970 for a family in Nevada

Premium Tax Credits to Expand Private Insurance Coverage in Nevada

Reform will provide $5.0 billion in premium tax credits and cost-sharing tax credits for residents in Nevada from 2014 to 2019 to purchase private health insurance. This is $180 million greater than under the Senate-passed bill.

Increased Medicaid support

The Federal government will fully fund the coverage expansion for the first three years of the policy, and continue substantial support, paying for 90% of costs after 2020, compared to Nevada’s current FMAP of 50.2%.
In total, Nevada could receive $3.6 billion more dollars in federal funds for Medicaid as a result of the expansion from 2014 to 2019, $240 million more than under the Senate-passed bill.

Improved Value for Medicare Advantage

The 228,000 seniors in Nevada who are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan will no longer cross subsidize these private plans, saving $45 in premium costs per year.
The proposal will gradually move toward a fair payment system that rewards performance.

Reid, Mesquite Mayor, Sithe Global Announce Plan To Build Natural Gas Plant At Toquop

March 22, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid, Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck, and Tony James, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Blackstone Group, today announced the plan to build a natural gas plant at the Toquop site near Mesquite. Sithe Global Power, the Blackstone Group’s portfolio company, had planned to build a coal-fired power plant at the Toquop site, but has abandoned that idea and returned to their original plan to build a natural gas plant. When construction of the plant begins it will take three years, cost $1.4 billion and create as many as 1,000 jobs for Nevadans.

“This announcement means jobs for Nevada. I thank Sithe Global for embracing our state’s role as a leader in developing clean energy and making an investment in our state that will help out Nevadans to work and lead us toward energy independence,” Reid said. “Clean natural gas projects like this will help us use this clean energy source to strengthen our economy while protecting Nevada’s great outdoors.”

“The City of Mesquite extends its gratitude to Senator Reid. He has been such an advocate against coal, not only on our behalf, but has been tenacious in his encouragement for America to break its longstanding dependence on fossil fuels, as well as to build a clean energy economy,” Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck said. “I, as does Senator Reid, believe it is incumbent on all of us to say no to resources such as coal and yes to sources which are not only healthier to our people and our environment, but in the long run will employ more people at higher wages.”

“We thank Senator Reid for his leadership and look forward to continuing to work with him to bring this project to completion,” said Tony James, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Blackstone Group. “The Toquop project will combine natural gas and solar power generation to bring clean and renewable electricity to the people of Nevada. As Nevada grows in the years to come, Toquop will play an increasingly central role not only in providing jobs in the local economy but also in meeting the state’s energy needs.”

Reid: Historic Vote Puts Nevadans And Americans Back In Control Of Their Own Health Care

March 21, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks on the Senate floor this afternoon. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“The House of Representatives deserves the appreciation of our entire nation for what it did last night. A clear majority of Congressmen and Congresswomen voted in favor of a bill that a supermajority of Senators passed a few months ago. Tomorrow the Senate will begin to put the final touches on this enormous effort.

“Last night’s votes took both courage and common sense. Their votes were momentous. They were historic. And they were right.

“After a century of working and waiting, real reform will become the law of the land not in a matter of years or months or weeks—but in matter of mere hours. And in the very near future, the earliest parts of this bill will take effect and improve the lives of millions.

“In the very near future, insurance companies will no longer be able to refuse to cover children’s pre-existing conditions. They will no longer be able to drop your coverage just because you get sick.

“Small businesses that today can’t afford to cover their employees will soon get tax credits that will help them right that wrong. Tens of thousands of small businesses will benefit in Nevada alone.

“Reform means that if you have a pre-existing condition and no health insurance, you will soon be able to finally afford the care you need to get and stay healthy.

“If you’re one of the many senior citizens stuck in the prescription-drug ‘donut hole,’ you will soon get a check to help pay for your medicine. That will help seniors stay healthy while we completely close that loophole, once and for all, for nearly 60,000 Nevada seniors and many more across the country.

“Also starting this year, no insurance company will be able to impose a lifetime limit on your benefits.

“Those changes are just the tip of the iceberg. They are only some of the benefits that will kick in almost immediately, and just a fraction of what this bill will do over the long run for the health of our nation, our economy and, most importantly, our citizens.

“When all is said and done, more than 600,000 Nevadans will be able to access affordable coverage.

“More than 300,000 Nevadans will get tax credits to help them buy health coverage from the private market.

“Another 300,000 seniors in my state will get free preventative annual services like physicals and check-ups.

“Nevadans who buy insurance on their own will also save money. Because of this bill, their premiums will go down by as much as 20 percent—which means Nevada families can save as much as $2,000 a year.

“And this bill will save our country money, too. Over the next 10 years, it will slash our deficit by $143 billion.

“The House did the right thing last night. Now it is our turn to finish the job.

“Many Senators deserve credit for getting us this far, and many will help us cross the finish line this week. I thank especially:

Chairman Baucus, who oversaw the financial components of this bill that will bring down health care costs and vastly reduce our deficit.

Chairman Dodd, who oversaw the parts of reform that will ensure more Americans than ever before can afford to stay healthy. Our friend Ted Kennedy is surely proud.

Chairman Harkin, who has led the HELP Committee down the homestretch and deserves the thanks of millions of students and their families for making college more affordable.

And Chairman Conrad, who as the head of the Budget Committee will continue to guide us through the budget reconciliation bill—a fiscally responsible final piece that will further reduce the deficit, ensure more Americans can afford health insurance and fully close the ‘donut hole.’

“I know the other side watched the House vote last night, as we did. I hope they finally learned that a strategy of delay, myths and fear might slow progress, but it cannot stop it.

“I hope that this week, when we take up the final revisions to what will soon be long overdue law, our Republicans friends will finally act in the interests of their constituents, and not just the interests of the insurance industry or of their political party.

“The other side has made it clear they will try to stop progress based on technicalities. But what this budget process is all about is simply making a good law even better.

“The other side is still talking about the number of pages in the bill. But we won’t stop thinking about the number of lives it will save.”

Reid Announces Nearly $15 Million In Economic Recovery Funds For Southern NV Health District

Money will go to tobacco cessation and prevention efforts

March 19, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced that the Southern Nevada Health District will receive $14.6 million in Economic Recovery Act funds to support tobacco cessation and prevention efforts. The project includes strategies to support elimination of tobacco industry sponsorships, as well as measures to curb the possession, use, and purchase of cigarettes by minors. The funding is part of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative.

“This is another example of stimulus funding directly helping Nevadans,” said Reid. “Nevadans have among the highest rates of lung cancer in our nation. These funds, along with the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which became law last June, will go a long way towards reducing the number of preventable deaths from tobacco in Nevada.”

“This grant award represents a tremendous opportunity for our community to not only sustain proven programs and strategies but to continue to build on our past successes,” said Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health District. “Without aggressive efforts to prevent and control chronic diseases—efforts embodied in the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative—the rise in health care costs from preventable disease will remain unchecked and an increasing number of Nevadans will continue to suffer from tobacco related illness.”