Congresswoman Terri Sewell

Representing the 7th District of Alabama
 

Health Care

Health Care

 “As your Member of Congress, I remain committed to protecting the significant strides we have made and ensuring all Americans can receive the quality and affordable healthcare they deserve.” 

-Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell 

Every person in the 7th Congressional District, Alabama and across America deserves access to affordable, quality health care, whether you live in a city or a small town.  That is why I strongly support President Obama’s health care plan and the health care reform signed in to law last March.
 
We cannot return this country to the defective status quo that left 30 million Americans without insurance.  The health care law put Americans back in charge of their own health care.  Millions of American families now have access to health care benefits and protections that are improving their everyday lives, a new incentive system is being implemented to encourage better coordination and quality of medical care for all patients by rewarding providers for the value rather than quantity of medical services delivered and patients are better informed, making them more value-conscious consumers. 
 
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the discriminatory practices of insurance companies that deny care based on pre-existing conditions have been put to a stop. Out-of-pocket expenses that insurance companies have imposed on my constituents will now be capped, protecting Alabama and the 7th Congressional District's residents from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.  This legislation also eliminates lifetime caps and annual caps on people who have paid for insurance, ensuring that the 2.5 million Alabama residents with private insurance coverage never have to worry about their coverage running out and facing catastrophic out-of-pocket costs, and tightly regulates insurance plans’ use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care.  This will protect the 2.3 million residents of Alabama with health insurance from their employer, along with anyone who signs up with a new insurance plan in Alabama.
 
For more information concerning my work and views on the issue of Health Care, please contact my Washington, DC office.
 
I look forward to your feedback.
 
Thank you.

 

More on Health Care

Rep. Sewell Introduces Bipartisan Physician Assistant Direct Payment Act

Apr 13, 2018 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) joined Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) to introduce H.R. 5506, the Physician Assistant Direct Payment Act. This bill is designed to allow physician assistants (PAs) to receive direct payments from Medicare for the services they provide. Currently, PAs are the only Medicare-eligible health professionals not paid directly.

Rep. Sewell Leads Funding Letters on Sickle Cell Research, Rural Medicare Payments, Poison Control, and Health Disparities

Mar 19, 2018 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell led four appropriations letters urging FY19 investments in sickle cell disease research and screening, poison control centers, equitable Medicare payments for rural hospitals, and programs that reduce racial, economic, ethnic, and geographic health disparities.

Rep. Sewell Questions HHS Secretary Azar on Trump Budget

Feb 14, 2018 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee to testify about the White House budget request for HHS. The President’s budget cuts Medicare by $500 billion, Medicaid by $1.3 trillion, and renews the failed Republican attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, raising health costs and taking health coverage away from millions of Americans. Congresswoman Terri A.

Transcript: 2018 State of the District Address for Alabama's 7th District

Jan 30, 2018 Speech

On Tuesday, January 30, 2018, Rep. Sewell delivered her State of the District Address for Alabama's 7th District. A transcript of Rep. Sewell's speech is available below and video is available here. 

Thank you all for joining me today.

To my constituents, to Alabama’s state and local elected officials, and to my district’s many community leaders, I am honored to be before you today to report on the state of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.

Rep. Sewell Statement on CHIP Reauthorization

Nov 3, 2017 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, November 3, the House of Representatives voted to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), offsetting the reauthorization with cuts to Medicare, the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and other health programs. Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) voted against the bill when it passed by a 242 to 174 vote.

Rep. Sewell Statement on Beginning of Open Enrollment Period

Nov 1, 2017 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the national health care open enrollment period begins, enabling people who buy health insurance through the individual marketplace to shop for coverage for 2018. The federal open enrollment period runs from November 1st through December 15th. During this time, constituents have the opportunity to enroll in or change their health care plan. Alabama residents can visit EnrollALA.com for more information or call (844) 248-7698 for free assistance.

2017 Enrollment Period Navigators

Oct 31, 2017 Speech

On Wednesday, November 1, the national health care open enrollment period begins, enabling people who buy health insurance through the individual marketplace to shop for coverage for 2018. The attached PDF provides a list of navigators for towns across the state of Alabama. If you have trouble signing up for health care, take a moment to call your local navigator for free guidance.

Reps. Sewell and Abraham Letter to Protect Home Health Provider Payments

Oct 26, 2017 Speech

On Thursday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Ralph Abraham (R-LA) led a bipartisan group of 174 Members of Congress in a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)  not to finalize cuts to Medicare payments for home health providers until stakeholders can fully analyze the impact of the proposed changes. The proposed CMS cuts would result in an estimated loss of $950 million for home health providers that care for more than 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries across the country. 

Reps. Sewell and Abraham Lead Letter to Protect Home Health Provider Payments

Oct 26, 2017 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, Oct. 26, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D. (R-LA) led a bipartisan group of 174 Members of Congress in a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)  not to finalize cuts to Medicare payments for home health providers until stakeholders can fully analyze the impact of the proposed changes. The proposed CMS cuts would result in an estimated loss of $950 million for home health providers that care for more than 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries across the country.

Rep. Sewell Calls on Ways and Means Committee for Immediate Action on CHIP, DSH Cuts

Oct 5, 2017 Video

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 30, funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expired after Congress missed a deadline to reauthorize the initiative. CHIP provides insurance coverage for children in low- and middle-income families.

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) released the following statement: