From: Congressman John Boccieri
Today we make history as President Barack Obama signs H.R. 3590 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. With the signing of this historic health care reform bill, insurance companies cannot dump you when you get sick, can’t deny you coverage because of a preexisting condition, or cap your insurance.
Our senior citizens should be proud that local Medicare Advantage plans are now strengthened and the life of Medicare itself is extended. Beginning today we will close the doughnut hole where so many seniors find themselves struggling to afford prescription drugs. A $250 check will be in the mail soon. Our small businesses can begin to hire back people and get a tax incentive for providing them with health care.
Upon the President signing the health care reform bill today, several provisions go into effect immediately or soon after enactment. Those provisions are outlined below:
1. SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning for calendar year 2010.
2. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE—Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Effective for calendar year 2010.
3. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health Centers to allow for nearly a doubling of the number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
4. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS—Provides new investment in training programs to increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
5. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION—Provides aid to states in establishing offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals with the filing of complaints and appeals. Effective beginning in fiscal year 2010.
6. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a temporary re-insurance program (until the Exchanges are available) to help offset the costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health benefits for retirees age 55-64. Effective 90 days after enactment.
7. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE (INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL)—Provides immediate access to insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition - through a temporary high-risk pool. Effective 90 days after enactment.
8. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 26TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH PARENTS’ INSURANCE – Requires health plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents’ insurance policy, at the parents’ choice. Effective 6 months after enactment.
9. ENDS RESCISSIONS—Bans health plans from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Effective 6 months after enactment.
10. NO DISCRIMINATON AGAINST CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS—Prohibits health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment.
11. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health plans from placing lifetime caps on coverage. Effective 6 months after enactment.
12. BANS RESTRICTIVE ANNUAL LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Tightly restricts new plans’ use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. Effective 6 months after enactment.
13. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER NEW PRIVATE PLANS—Requires new private plans to cover preventive services with no co-payments and with preventive services being exempt from deductibles. Effective 6 months after enactment.
14. NEW, INDEPENDENT APPEALS PROCESS—Ensures consumers in new plans have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan. Effective 6 months after enactment.
15. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SALARY—Prohibits new group health plans from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that have the effect of discriminating in favor of higher wage employees. Effective 6 months after enactment.
16. FREE PREVENTIVE CARE UNDER MEDICARE—Eliminates co-payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. Effective beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
17. ENSURING VALUE FOR PREMIUM PAYMENTS—Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85 percent. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. Effective beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
18. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM—Creates a long-term care insurance program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become functionally disabled. Effective beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
Today we can expect to reduce our deficit by $1.4 trillion over the next 20 years, reign in fraud, waste, and abuse and achieve a delivery system that works for all Americans.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
District Office - 300 W Tuscarawas St. * Suite 716 * Canton, OH 44702 * Phone: (330) 489-4414
Washington D.C. Office - 1516 Longworth HOB * Washington, D.C. 20515 * Phone: (202) 225-3876
http://boccieri.house.gov.
Please contact John at one of the numbers above and thank him for his vote on health care reform bill.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
UNITED STEELWORKERS RAPID RESPONSE
What Healthcare Reform Means for Us
Many of us are wondering how the healthcare reforms signed into law earlier this week will impact us. It’s important to know that nothing in the bill changes our right to negotiate our healthcare benefits.
Key Healthcare Reform Benefits Starting THIS YEAR Include:
Ending lifetime limits on benefits.
Regulating annual limits on benefits from 2010-2013 (abolishing them in 2014).
Allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance plan up to age 26.
Banning the insurance company practice of denying coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. The ban applies to everyone in 2014 and provides a subsidized high-risk pool in the meantime for those unable to secure coverage.
Ending gender discrimination in insurance rates.
Stopping the insurance company tactic of dropping coverage for people who get sick.
Benefits for Retirees – Including Early Retirees – Include:
Assisting pre-Medicare retirees with insurance costs. Under the new law, 80 percent of plan costs over $15,000 will be paid through a new program.
Providing assistance to employers and Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs) to encourage them to continue coverage for pre-Medicare retirees.
Phasing out the Medicare drug “doughnut hole.”
Eliminating co-pays for preventative screenings.
Extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund through cuts in wasteful spending.
Other Benefits –
With 95 percent of Americans expected to have health insurance coverage under the new law, we can anticipate less cost-shifting of the uninsured’s healthcare expenses onto those of us who have insurance. Cost containment strategies along with other provisions in the bill should help control premium increases from year-to-year. This will ultimately help us at the bargaining table.
In the event that a job is lost, there will now be affordable, quality options for coverage.
Because of our work in opposing the excise tax, we were able to substantially alter its impact on high-cost insurance plans. There will be no tax until 2018. When that goes into effect, a variety of modifications and exemptions will lessen any impact.
What Healthcare Reform Means for Us
Many of us are wondering how the healthcare reforms signed into law earlier this week will impact us. It’s important to know that nothing in the bill changes our right to negotiate our healthcare benefits.
Key Healthcare Reform Benefits Starting THIS YEAR Include:
Ending lifetime limits on benefits.
Regulating annual limits on benefits from 2010-2013 (abolishing them in 2014).
Allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance plan up to age 26.
Banning the insurance company practice of denying coverage for pre-existing conditions for children. The ban applies to everyone in 2014 and provides a subsidized high-risk pool in the meantime for those unable to secure coverage.
Ending gender discrimination in insurance rates.
Stopping the insurance company tactic of dropping coverage for people who get sick.
Benefits for Retirees – Including Early Retirees – Include:
Assisting pre-Medicare retirees with insurance costs. Under the new law, 80 percent of plan costs over $15,000 will be paid through a new program.
Providing assistance to employers and Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Associations (VEBAs) to encourage them to continue coverage for pre-Medicare retirees.
Phasing out the Medicare drug “doughnut hole.”
Eliminating co-pays for preventative screenings.
Extending the life of the Medicare Trust Fund through cuts in wasteful spending.
Other Benefits –
With 95 percent of Americans expected to have health insurance coverage under the new law, we can anticipate less cost-shifting of the uninsured’s healthcare expenses onto those of us who have insurance. Cost containment strategies along with other provisions in the bill should help control premium increases from year-to-year. This will ultimately help us at the bargaining table.
In the event that a job is lost, there will now be affordable, quality options for coverage.
Because of our work in opposing the excise tax, we were able to substantially alter its impact on high-cost insurance plans. There will be no tax until 2018. When that goes into effect, a variety of modifications and exemptions will lessen any impact.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced legislation today, which will curb abuses that deprive employees and retirees of their earnings and retirement savings when businesses collapse. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy.
"American workers and retirees who give their lives to a company are too often treated like strangers when their employer files bankruptcy,” Durbin said. “This bill says that if a company goes bankrupt, employees and retirees won’t take a back seat to creditors and executive bonuses in getting fair treatment."
Sadly, corporate bankruptcies are nothing new to American workers. In too many corporate bankruptcies, workers’ claims for compensation and benefits are denied while executives’ claims are given preferential treatment. It is time for a more balanced and just approach.
“Workers of distressed companies are frequently asked to save their companies by sacrificing their wages, benefits and right to collective bargaining while executives are rewarded with bonuses and golden parachutes,” said Conyers. “Our bill establishes that sacrifice should be spread evenly among all employees when companies face bankruptcy.”
The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Al Franken (D-MN).
“American workers are already feeling the pressure of this tough economy. If their employer falls into bankruptcy, this can be a one-two punch for those already struggling to make ends meet,” said Harkin. “This bill ensures that workers and retirees are treated fairly and their losses are minimized in the event their business declares bankruptcy. These are protections needed now, more than ever.”
“There is a growing disconnect between work and reward that is dangerous for our economy and our society,” Brown said. “When a company’s bankruptcy filing means pink slips for skilled workers and millions for ousted CEOs, something is very wrong. This legislation would ensure that when a company files for bankruptcy, it must place a priority on meeting workers’ claims for compensation and retirement benefits.” Brown is the author of the Forewarn Act, S. 1374, which would ensure more workers receive advanced notice of mass layoffs or workplace closings. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would ensure that back pay awarded through WARN damages would be given priority in the bankruptcy claims process.
"It's critical that employees and retirees are protected when the company they've worked for ends up in bankruptcy. Minnesotans don't want workers to lose out when a company reorganizes,” Franken said. “We've seen that happen too many times, especially on the Iron Range. In this tough economic climate, preserving jobs and retiree benefits must be a priority."”
The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act will protect workers from losing out by:
Improving Recoveries for Employees and Retirees:
· Doubles the maximum value of wage claims entitled to priority payment for each worker to $20,000
· Allows a second claim of up to $20,000 for contributions to employee benefit plans
· Eliminates the restriction that wage and benefit claims must be earned within 180 days of the bankruptcy filing in order to be entitled to priority payment
· Allows workers to assert claims for losses in certain defined contribution plans when such losses result from employer fraud or breach of fiduciary duty
· Establishes a new priority administrative expense for workers’ severance pay
· Clarifies that back pay awarded via WARN Act damages are entitled to the same priority as back pay for other legal violations
Reducing Employees’ and Retirees’ Losses:
· Restricts the situations in which collective bargaining agreements can be rejected, tightens the criteria by which collective bargaining agreements can be amended, and encourages negotiated settlements
· Toughens the procedures through which retiree benefits can be reduced or eliminated, including preventing companies seeking retiree health benefit reductions from singling out non-management retirees for concessions
· Requires the court to consider the impact of a bidder’s offer to purchase a company’s assets would have on maintaining existing jobs and preserving retiree pension and health benefits
· Clarifies that the principal purpose of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the preservation of jobs to the maximum extent possible
Restricting Executive Compensation Programs:
· Requires disclosure and court approval of executive compensation for firms in bankruptcy
· Prohibits the payment of bonuses and other forms of incentive compensation to senior officers and others
· Ensures that insiders cannot receive retiree benefits if workers have lost their retirement or health benefits
The Durbin-Conyers bill enjoys strong labor support.
“Workers and retirees throughout American industry have seen hard-won benefits stripped away by a deadly combination of American bankruptcy laws and other governmental policies that have for years been aligned against their interests,” said Leo Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers. “Congress can now begin to set things right by reforming the bankruptcy laws to level the playing field, respect the bargaining process, and encourage companies to reorganize in a responsible way.”
"Our bankruptcy laws must be changed. Ensuring employers engage in good-faith bargaining when seeking contract modifications must be codified into law. Companies cannot be allowed to use our bankruptcy laws to eliminate decades of collective bargaining gains with the bang of a gavel," said R. Thomas Buffenbarger, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
“Since 2001, pilots have given tens of billions of dollars in concessions, sacrificing enormously to save our airlines and our jobs,” said Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). “This comprehensive reform legislation promotes fairness and shared sacrifice during economic crisis and brings needed transparency to the bankruptcy process to the benefit of all U.S. workers.”
Today’s bill is similar to a bill Durbin and Conyers introduced in the 110th congress.
"American workers and retirees who give their lives to a company are too often treated like strangers when their employer files bankruptcy,” Durbin said. “This bill says that if a company goes bankrupt, employees and retirees won’t take a back seat to creditors and executive bonuses in getting fair treatment."
Sadly, corporate bankruptcies are nothing new to American workers. In too many corporate bankruptcies, workers’ claims for compensation and benefits are denied while executives’ claims are given preferential treatment. It is time for a more balanced and just approach.
“Workers of distressed companies are frequently asked to save their companies by sacrificing their wages, benefits and right to collective bargaining while executives are rewarded with bonuses and golden parachutes,” said Conyers. “Our bill establishes that sacrifice should be spread evenly among all employees when companies face bankruptcy.”
The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Al Franken (D-MN).
“American workers are already feeling the pressure of this tough economy. If their employer falls into bankruptcy, this can be a one-two punch for those already struggling to make ends meet,” said Harkin. “This bill ensures that workers and retirees are treated fairly and their losses are minimized in the event their business declares bankruptcy. These are protections needed now, more than ever.”
“There is a growing disconnect between work and reward that is dangerous for our economy and our society,” Brown said. “When a company’s bankruptcy filing means pink slips for skilled workers and millions for ousted CEOs, something is very wrong. This legislation would ensure that when a company files for bankruptcy, it must place a priority on meeting workers’ claims for compensation and retirement benefits.” Brown is the author of the Forewarn Act, S. 1374, which would ensure more workers receive advanced notice of mass layoffs or workplace closings. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would ensure that back pay awarded through WARN damages would be given priority in the bankruptcy claims process.
"It's critical that employees and retirees are protected when the company they've worked for ends up in bankruptcy. Minnesotans don't want workers to lose out when a company reorganizes,” Franken said. “We've seen that happen too many times, especially on the Iron Range. In this tough economic climate, preserving jobs and retiree benefits must be a priority."”
The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act will protect workers from losing out by:
Improving Recoveries for Employees and Retirees:
· Doubles the maximum value of wage claims entitled to priority payment for each worker to $20,000
· Allows a second claim of up to $20,000 for contributions to employee benefit plans
· Eliminates the restriction that wage and benefit claims must be earned within 180 days of the bankruptcy filing in order to be entitled to priority payment
· Allows workers to assert claims for losses in certain defined contribution plans when such losses result from employer fraud or breach of fiduciary duty
· Establishes a new priority administrative expense for workers’ severance pay
· Clarifies that back pay awarded via WARN Act damages are entitled to the same priority as back pay for other legal violations
Reducing Employees’ and Retirees’ Losses:
· Restricts the situations in which collective bargaining agreements can be rejected, tightens the criteria by which collective bargaining agreements can be amended, and encourages negotiated settlements
· Toughens the procedures through which retiree benefits can be reduced or eliminated, including preventing companies seeking retiree health benefit reductions from singling out non-management retirees for concessions
· Requires the court to consider the impact of a bidder’s offer to purchase a company’s assets would have on maintaining existing jobs and preserving retiree pension and health benefits
· Clarifies that the principal purpose of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the preservation of jobs to the maximum extent possible
Restricting Executive Compensation Programs:
· Requires disclosure and court approval of executive compensation for firms in bankruptcy
· Prohibits the payment of bonuses and other forms of incentive compensation to senior officers and others
· Ensures that insiders cannot receive retiree benefits if workers have lost their retirement or health benefits
The Durbin-Conyers bill enjoys strong labor support.
“Workers and retirees throughout American industry have seen hard-won benefits stripped away by a deadly combination of American bankruptcy laws and other governmental policies that have for years been aligned against their interests,” said Leo Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers. “Congress can now begin to set things right by reforming the bankruptcy laws to level the playing field, respect the bargaining process, and encourage companies to reorganize in a responsible way.”
"Our bankruptcy laws must be changed. Ensuring employers engage in good-faith bargaining when seeking contract modifications must be codified into law. Companies cannot be allowed to use our bankruptcy laws to eliminate decades of collective bargaining gains with the bang of a gavel," said R. Thomas Buffenbarger, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
“Since 2001, pilots have given tens of billions of dollars in concessions, sacrificing enormously to save our airlines and our jobs,” said Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA). “This comprehensive reform legislation promotes fairness and shared sacrifice during economic crisis and brings needed transparency to the bankruptcy process to the benefit of all U.S. workers.”
Today’s bill is similar to a bill Durbin and Conyers introduced in the 110th congress.
Friday, March 12, 2010
From: USW Rapid Response
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010
Subject: Unemployment Checks and Wall Street Bonuses
The Jobs Crisis:
Not Everyone is Feeling the Pain
This is the second in a short series of Info Alerts on the jobs crisis. Please distribute widely.
While our nation struggles with a whopping unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent, with four out of every 10 unemployed Americans among the long-term unemployed (more than 27 weeks), there are some people who continue to do just fine:
Wall Street paid $20.3 billion in bonuses in 2009. That’s a 17 percent increase in one year.
At Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley – three of the biggest banks – compensation was up 31 percent in 2009.
The average taxable bonus on Wall Street was nearly $124,000 last year.
The five biggest health insurance companies reaped $12.2 billion in profits in 2009 – a 56% increase over the year before.
The 400 richest households in the U.S. saw their income more than double since President Bush’s tax cuts in 2005.
These households have more wealth than 155 million Americans combined.
The number of U.S. millionaires rose by 16 percent last year. Those worth five million or more jumped by 17 percent.
Meanwhile, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) recently chose to hold up an extension of unemployment benefits and COBRA health insurance assistance for 1.2 million hard-working Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. When confronted and asked to relent by a fellow Senator, his comment was “tough sh*t.”
It’s time for things to change – watch for more information to come!
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010
Subject: Unemployment Checks and Wall Street Bonuses
The Jobs Crisis:
Not Everyone is Feeling the Pain
This is the second in a short series of Info Alerts on the jobs crisis. Please distribute widely.
While our nation struggles with a whopping unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent, with four out of every 10 unemployed Americans among the long-term unemployed (more than 27 weeks), there are some people who continue to do just fine:
Wall Street paid $20.3 billion in bonuses in 2009. That’s a 17 percent increase in one year.
At Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley – three of the biggest banks – compensation was up 31 percent in 2009.
The average taxable bonus on Wall Street was nearly $124,000 last year.
The five biggest health insurance companies reaped $12.2 billion in profits in 2009 – a 56% increase over the year before.
The 400 richest households in the U.S. saw their income more than double since President Bush’s tax cuts in 2005.
These households have more wealth than 155 million Americans combined.
The number of U.S. millionaires rose by 16 percent last year. Those worth five million or more jumped by 17 percent.
Meanwhile, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) recently chose to hold up an extension of unemployment benefits and COBRA health insurance assistance for 1.2 million hard-working Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. When confronted and asked to relent by a fellow Senator, his comment was “tough sh*t.”
It’s time for things to change – watch for more information to come!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Update #14
Bidding Procedures
PTC filed earlier today an agreed-to bidding procedures motion, which proposes that bids are due on March 29; an auction will be conducted on April 5 if there are competing bids; and a sale hearing will commence on April 12. We will let you know if the Bankruptcy Court approves these procedures.
Local 3059 Grievance Committee
Bidding Procedures
PTC filed earlier today an agreed-to bidding procedures motion, which proposes that bids are due on March 29; an auction will be conducted on April 5 if there are competing bids; and a sale hearing will commence on April 12. We will let you know if the Bankruptcy Court approves these procedures.
Local 3059 Grievance Committee
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