For decades, Virgin Islanders have pressured our Delegate to Congress to find a way to raise the Medicaid cap. Those of us in the health care system saw raising the cap as a means to provide health care access to thousands of uninsured Virgin Islanders. Those in the V.I. government budget office saw raising the cap as a way to reduce the uncompensated care provided by emergency rooms.
Today, thanks to the House of Representatives “Affordable Health Care for America Act,” (HR 3962) Virgin Islanders, along with residents in all U.S. territories, are closer to receiving affordable, quality health care. In this Act, territories are included in the health care exchange that will make health insurance available to those without insurance, make insurance affordable by holding down premiums and/or providing subsidies that will broaden the scope of individuals who receive care through our local Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program.
As this country’s largest advocacy organization for people 50+ and their communities, AARP is proud to have played a role in helping Members of Congress understand what our members need and want from health care reform.
Locally, Virgin Islanders are fortunate to have had Dr. Cora Christian on AARP’s national board for the last six years. Over this period she set the foundation that sensitized her colleagues and raised awareness of the Virgin Islands’ unique circumstances and needs. She was responsible for highlighting the parity issue for territories, which has become part of the House’s health care bill.
AARP’s overwhelming support for the territorial parity issue is what provided support for Delegate Donna M. Christensen. Christensen’s work on the Tri-Caucus Committee got U.S. territories included in HR 3962. As such, this Act holds the potential to open vital health programs to thousands of Virgin Islanders.
While Virgin Islanders have much to rejoice about, we are not there yet. The U.S. Senate must now pass a health care bill to be reconciled with the House. Rest assured, AARP is poised and ready to convince the Senate that health insurers must be strictly limited from charging higher premiums because of age; that the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap (“doughnut hole”) must be closed; and that coverage for critical preventative services/screenings must be improved. Other elements of concern include insuring that Americans can keep their current health care coverage, continue seeing the doctor of their choice, stop discrimination due to pre-existing conditions, cover routine preventative care and allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. All of these measures, if passed by the Senate, will ultimately help Virgin Islanders as well as all other Americans.
AARP recently joined with the American Medical Association and the Military Officers of America in Washington, D.C., to honor the federal government’s obligations to seniors and military families and pass the “doc fix” bill (H.R. 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009). This bill will eliminate the 21% cut in physician Medicare payments that could stand between VI Medicare patients and their current physicians.
Until America’s health care system is fixed, AARP will continue to advocate on V.I. residents’ behalf both locally and nationally. We will continue fighting for reforms that put the patient first, protect guaranteed Medicare benefits, try and bring down the cost of prescription drugs and ensure that no one can be denied affordable health care because of their age or health history. AARP Virgin Islands commends the work of Delegate Christensen, Dr. Cora Christian, and others who are serving our members and our community as part of this historic effort to reform the health care system of America and its territories. We urge residents to be supportive, vigilant and to add their voices in support of the effort.
Editor’s note: Denyce E. Singleton is senior state director of AARP Virgin Islands.