(BOSTON, MA) – “We applaud Senator Reid for his leadership in moving Congress another step closer to passing legislation that provides Americans with access to affordable quality health care.

“As a national organization that works in more than 40 states to ensure consumers have a voice in the health reform debate, we believe there is much to praise in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

“This bill would immediately begin to repair our broken health care system by eliminating arbitrary caps on coverage, expanding coverage to young adults and creating a life-line for people denied coverage due to pre-existing condition exclusions.  

“Far too many families lack access to health care or cannot sustain the cost of maintaining care for their families. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would go a long way toward expanding health care coverage for millions of Americans who are currently shut out of the system. When fully implemented, the bill is projected to cover 31 million uninsured people. It would reduce the rate of growth of health care spending and help to make health care more affordable for everyone. The bill also proposes important steps to improve the quality of care and invests in prevention and public health.

“We are pleased that the bill’s affordability protections for low- and moderate-income families are stronger than the provisions in the Senate Finance bill. We are eager to continue working with the Senate leadership to make coverage and care more affordable for all families as the bill enters this next phase of the process.” 

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all.  Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system.  With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone-especially vulnerable members of society.  For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.