Health Care

“When Congress took action to delay the so-called ‘Cadillac Tax’ late last year, it was in recognition of the fact that a 40% excise tax on health plans was going to be an unfair burden on businesses and workers if it was ever implemented,” said Courtney. “While I have always been a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act, I continue to believe that the Cadillac Tax was ill-conceived when it was first added to the law – and the case against it has only grown stronger with time."

“As communities across the country continue to grapple with rising prescription drug and heroin abuse, we need to provide them with additional resources to improve upon the coordination of public health outreach, treatment and recovery programs, and law enforcement efforts,” said Courtney. “I am pleased to be joining Senator Shaheen, who has been a national leader on this issue, in her efforts to provide additional emergency funding to help communities across the country turn back the rising tide of drug abuse and addiction."

“Passage of a two year delay to 2020 of the 40% excise tax on health plans represents significant progress in the effort to protect middle-class health benefits,” said Courtney. “Along with many supporters of the Affordable Care Act, I warned in 2010 that the tax was ill-conceived when it was inserted in the legislation at the end, and eventually striking it from the books would only strengthen healthcare reform. The extraordinary collation of groups such as the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, the American Benefits Council, and organized labor did an outstanding job of educating Congress on the exploding cost shift to patients that the excise tax would cause, creating new barriers to affordable healthcare. With the delay in place, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, the Administration, and those outside experts in the future to get this over the finish line.”

“Today’s 90-10 vote on the Heller Amendment in the Senate to repeal the Cadillac Tax demonstrates the overwhelming bipartisan support of our repeal efforts in both Houses of Congress,” said Representative Joe Courtney (CT-2). “I applaud Senators Heller, Heinrich, and Brown, as well as my otherSenate colleagues on joining the strong majority of the House, and the diverse group of stakeholders from every corner of our society in this fight. The overwhelming majority vote today reinforces that we can join together to improve the Affordable Care Act to keep health insurance affordable for every working family.”

"The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network weighing in to support repeal of the 'Cadillac tax' demonstrates that at the end of the day, this will be a reform that goes to the heart of the Affordable Care Act's admirable goals: expanding access to critical, lifesaving care. ACS CAN recognizes that the 'Cadillac tax,' if applied as directed through regulations, will raise barriers that would deprive patients of needed cancer screenings, diagnostic tests, and lifesaving treatment. We must repeal this onerous tax before it diminishes the progress we have made since enactment of the ACA," said Courtney.

"Today's vote on the budget reconciliation bill was another in a long line of partisan attacks on the Affordable Care Act, a law which is succeeding in expanding access and controlling costs. Instead of focusing on areas of agreement, like my bipartisan bill to repeal the so-called 'Cadillac tax,' GOP leaders have bundled that proposal into a package that includes more tired, partisan attacks on the Affordable Care Act. It's time for Congress to act on areas of bipartisan consensus to improve the health care law, rather than waste time refighting the battles of the past," Courtney said.

This new designation for UCFS is the result of a long, hard-fought battle to win well-deserved recognition for the excellent care that they provide for military families and veterans, seniors, Husky recipients, expecting moms and other members of the Norwich community,” Courtney said. “As a New Access Point, UCFS will now qualify for significant additional federal funding to support and grow health services for the thousands of local families who rely on the health center each year. I am pleased that our collective efforts to demonstrate the need for services, plan for the future care of patients in our district, and raise the profile of UCFS in Washington have yielded this excellent result.