Health Care

Washington – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on H.R. 4015, The SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014. The amended version considered today attaches a five-year delay to the individual responsibility provision under the Affordable Care Act to a much-needed fix to the Medicare payment system. This marks the 51st attempt to delay or repeal the ACA.

Washington – Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-01), and Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) applauded the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service’s decision not to count the volunteer hours of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel when determining an employer’s full-time employees under the Affordable Care Act. The decision confirms that the employer shared responsibility requirement does not apply to volunteer departments.

Washington – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the House Committee on Ways & Means voted in favor of a permanent solution to fix the broken Medicare physician payment system. Larson, along with the full committee, voted in favor of the “Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act of 2013”, H.R. 2810:

Hartford, CT – In a letter to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and the Connecticut Congressional Delegation today urged the agency to be more flexible with enrollment periods and strengthen standards for Medicare Advantage plans for UnitedHealth Group enrollees.

Washington – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on the most recent attempt by House Republicans to eliminate or hinder the Affordable Care Act. In a conference meeting this week, Speaker John Boehner reiterated his “strategy for stopping Obamacare”, stating, “That plan is being executed as we speak.”

Washington – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on comments from President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton that Americans whose individual market insurance plans have been discontinued deserve a solution:

Hartford – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Treasury announced a modification to the “Use-or-Lose” rule for health flexible spending arrangements (FSA). An estimated 14 million families utilize health FSAs to save tax-free money for medical expenses.

Currently, participants in health FSAs are forced to forgo all unused amounts within their FSA at the end of each year. Following the change, up to $500 of unused amounts can now be carried over to the next year.

Washington – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today after the Center for Medicare Services announced that seniors will see zero growth in Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles for 2014 and that Medicare beneficiaries continue to save money on their prescription drugs due to the Affordable Care Act: