Rep. Lois Capps: Lawmaker Praises Health-Care Bill

House OKs health-care reform legislation that includes several Capps provisions

By Emily Kryder | Published on 11.07.2009

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Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, celebrated the House passage of comprehensive health insurance reform, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3932), on Saturday. For the first time, the House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive health insurance reform bill, marking a historic point in the effort to lower health-care costs for families and businesses, improve American’s health and wellness, and provide all Americans with access to quality, affordable health care. The legislation passed by a vote of 220-215.

Rep. Lois Capps
Rep. Lois Capps

“This is a historic moment for our country, as we take a huge step forward in our effort to fix our broken health insurance system,” said Capps, a nurse and vice chairwoman of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

“I’ve spent the better part of my life working to improve the health and well-being of my patients and I am thrilled that with this vote we are closer than ever to delivering affordable, quality health care for all of us on the Central and South Coasts. I am proud that I was able to share my experience as a nurse and public-health educator to strengthen several provisions of the legislation dealing with prevention, access to affordable health insurance, securing a public-health insurance option and increasing the number of health professionals.”

The bill would enact critical health insurance reforms to stop insurance companies from refusing coverage based on consumers’ pre-existing medical conditions — such as pregnancy or high blood pressure — or refusing to cover a consumer’s medical expenses after a serious and often costly injury or diagnosis like cancer. It would also better serve consumers by closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” and ending insurance companies’ “gender rating” in which women are charged higher premiums just because they are women. The legislation would also establish a public-health insurance program to ensure that all Americans have access to health insurance and provide financial assistance for lower- and middle-income families to help them secure health insurance coverage. The public option would provide much needed competition to health insurance companies, which currently monopolize the vast majority of markets and leave consumers little leverage. The bill would ramp up programs to train more doctors, nurses and other health professionals to improve quality of care for all patients and refocus efforts on improving prevention and wellness efforts.

“The pride and joy that I feel today as we move one step closer on this important journey is tempered by my disappointment that this victory for all Americans’ access to affordable, quality health insurance came at a cost,” Capps said. “As is too often the case, women’s access to reproductive health care, specifically abortion services, were sacrificed by the adoption of the Stupak Amendment. I have said it time and again but it bears repeating, comprehensive health-insurance reform legislation is not the place to be re-debating federal abortion policy, nor is it the place to dramatically expand or contract access to abortion services. This victory for comprehensive health-care reform is a bittersweet one. I will continue to work to see this illogical, discriminatory and unnecessary language removed from the final legislation to ensure that comprehensive health-care reform works for all Americans.”

The Stupak Amendment will prohibit the use of federal funds from covering any part of the costs of any health-care plan that includes coverage of abortion. It also forces women seeking insurance coverage for abortion care to purchase such coverage through a “rider,” a supplemental policy that a woman would have to purchase separately that covers only abortion. This amendment is, in effect, a ban on abortion coverage that will take coverage away from millions of women who currently have it.

Capps Initiatives Included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3932):

» Improve Maternity Care: This Engel-Capps Amendment would ensure that the quality of maternity care is being measured in Medicaid and CHIP programs.

» Prohibit Co-Pays for Medicaid Preventive Services: This amendment prohibits cost-sharing requirements for Medicaid clinical preventive services (like screening for cancer and heart disease, as well as preventing serious infectious diseases, substance abuse, and vision and hearing disorders) that are rated A & B (highly recommended) by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

» Improve Children’s Access to Comprehensive and Easily Accessible Preventive and Primary Health Care (School-Based Health Clinic Establishment Act of 2009, H.R. 3003): This initiative would improve children’s access to comprehensive and easily accessible preventive and primary health care service to medically underserved communities at school-based health clinics. The legislation would provide a consistent, dedicated stream of federal funding to support the school-based health clinics.

» Support Nurse-Managed Health Clinics (derived from the Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009 H.R.2754): The initiative supports Nurse-Managed Health Clinics in providing comprehensive and accessible primary health care and wellness services to vulnerable populations in medically under-served communities. The services provided by these clinics would help reduce the level of health disparities experienced by these vulnerable populations while training the next generation of nurse professionals.

» Improve Nurse Education Grant Programs under Title VIII: During the drafting process Capps served as a liaison between the nursing community and the Energy and Commerce Committee to make sure their priorities are included. The improvements to the nurse education grant programs under Title VIII include:
» Expanding education, practice and retention programs for nurses.
» Enhancing existing student loan, scholarship and loan repayment programs.
» Enhancing development of advanced practice nurses, including those who deliver primary-care services.
» Expanding existing loan repayment programs to increase number of nursing faculty.
» Ensure Nurse Practitioners Can be Lead Coordinators for the Medical Home Pilot Program.
» Increase Reimbursement for Certified Nurse-Midwives.
» Improve Pain Care and Treatment (derived from The National Pain Care Policy Act H.R. 756): This Capps initiative would improve coordination of pain care and facilitate better sharing of information about pain across health disciplines. The legislation would combat pain in three ways: by authorizing an Institute of Medicine Conference on Pain Care; authorizing a Pain Consortium at the National Institutes of Health; and by instituting a public awareness campaign on pain management. More than 90 leading organizations representing the pain care community have joined Capps and Rep. Mike Rogers, D-Mich., in support of this legislation, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Pain Foundation and a coalition of leading professional organizations in the pain field.

» Expand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WISEWOMAN Screening Program for Low-Income & Uninsured Women: This Capps amendment expands the CDC’s WISEWOMAN screening program for low-income and uninsured women. Currently the program is available in only 20 states. The expansion of the successful WISEWOMAN program is a key provision of legislation authored by Capps and Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., the Heart Disease Education, Research and Analysis, and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act (H.R. 1032). The HEART for Women Act is endorsed by a number of leading health and women’s organizations, including the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, WomenHeart, the Society for Women’s Health Research and the Association of Black Cardiologists.

» Support Evidence-Based Programs that Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (the “Healthy Teen Initiative” Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program): This Capps amendment establishes grants to states to conduct or support evidence-based programs that reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Programs must be scientifically shown to reduce teen pregnancy or STD rates or the risk behaviors that lead to them. States can work with schools, faith-based organizations, community organizations and other partners. Requires independent evaluation, medical and scientific accuracy, and age-appropriateness. There is no litmus test on “philosophy” of the program — i.e., no preference given to comprehensive or abstinence-only programs, rather programs are funded based on scientific evidence of effectiveness and accuracy. It in no way preempts or limits state laws on parental involvement and decision making in their children’s education.

» Geographic Payment Fix (GPCI) for the state of California: Fixes flawed Medicare reimbursement system by updating methodology used to calculate geographic areas in California that are lumped together for calculating regional payment rates for physicians and other health providers.

— Emily Kryder is communications director for Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara.

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» Marsha on 11.08.09 @ 12:46 AM

So were President Obama and Rep. Capps lying when they told us abortion was NOT in the bill? Seems to me that the congresswoman has effectively refuted herself here.


» Sue on 11.08.09 @ 05:10 AM

That was hardly a Sweeping Legislation…One weak republican sold out.


» local on 11.08.09 @ 07:55 AM

Abortion is a legal medical procedure and should be included in any insurance bill. Unfortunately, an amendment to the bill needed to be added in order to secure enough votes for passage. This admendment does not allow any policy purchased under the exchange to insure this legal procedure. This of course discriminates against the poorer population that needed to acquire the more affordable poliy under the exchange. The good news is the the bill passed and now the Senate is up. The time in now for comprehensive healthcare reform and the scare tactics of the GOP are not working.


» John Ridland on 11.08.09 @ 08:14 AM

Thank you, Lois, for contributing so much expertise out of your professional nursing career to the crafting of this bill. Most Representatives do not have the professional credentials you earned in your years in nursing before taking on this difficult job after Walter died. He’d have been proud of you, now more than ever.
                    —old acquaintance


» Sara Miller McCune on 11.08.09 @ 08:44 AM

Congratulations to the 220 intelligent and caring members of the House who passed this measure, including our incredible Representative Lois Capps. We are fortunate to have her looking out for our interests in Washington. I too am disappointed by the Stupak mini-victory and hope it will be overturned in the future (sooner rather than later). But now pressure must be applied to the US Senate and its members to do the right thing and finish the job on health care legislation with a public option.


» Sand Flea on 11.08.09 @ 09:05 AM

Thanks Lois, for leading us toward the cliff.


» Mic on 11.08.09 @ 09:43 AM

Our representative is marching in lock step with the rest of her party right down the road to socialism. It makes me sick to know that my hard earned tax money would be used to support a pulbic option that would pay for discretionary abortion. And she thinks this is unfair? What is unfair is that representatives like her are leading this Country in an inmoral and ultimately destructive direction. The legality of discretionary abortions may be settled just as she says. But please Ms. Capps, don’t make me pay for them!


» John Q on 11.08.09 @ 10:31 AM

This just proves that Lois Capps is fiscally irresponsible. Can someone tell me why I can go to jail if I don’t purchase their insurance? It is so retarded. So short sighted. Good luck on China to buy more of our debt.


» SJR on 11.08.09 @ 10:48 AM

“I’ve spent the better part of my life working to improve the health and well-being of my patients ...”

Wasn’t Capps a school nurse before she became a career politician? Too bad the parents of her “patients” no longer have jobs. What’s she doing about the economy? Other than destroying one of the few sectors — health care — that has had positive growth?


» Lois- California is Bankrupt on 11.08.09 @ 11:32 AM

This is a Rep that has no clue our state is bankrupt. California has 40.000 new hires the last four years, and way too much pay & perks going to our servants..Now public health care means even more big government..

Remember government runs NOTHING well..Not the sharpest tools in the shed working for Gov..Lazy people end up in Government..


» DMac on 11.08.09 @ 02:01 PM

I live in Georgia, and am so grateful to Representatives like Mrs. Capps for her work in bringing health care reform to passage. 

My congressman, Tom Price was the jerk who kept interrupting Rep. Capps when she was trying to speak.  Price is an embarrassment to my state and the US House of Representatives.


» John B on 11.08.09 @ 02:42 PM

We do need reform but I can’t see why such common sense cost savings’ initiatives such strong tort reform, allowing insurance competition across states lines and ensuring 100% coverage for legal residents and citizenship verification rqmts can’t be included.  Take out the bickering in forming a good package and think of us for a change.


» b_reynaldo on 11.08.09 @ 03:24 PM

This bill has nothing to do with making health care more affordable for the middle class.  It is about vastly expanding Medicaid to cover the poor and especially poor immigrants (including illegals) who are the Democratic party constituency.


» b_reynaldo on 11.08.09 @ 03:34 PM

Also, Rep. Capps has claimed the health care bill would not cover illegal aliens.  But illegal aliens are already being covered in California by the taxpayers at the County clinics for routine care. Sacramento County operates a “Clinica de La Raza” (I guess no gringos allowed) that treats illegal aliens. Under the current system, taxpayers have even paid for organ transplants for illegal aliens.  Health care for illegals would only expand under the House bill.

From

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/november-6-2009/illegal-alien-access-remains-health-care-bill-floor-vote-nears.html


“The House bill would allow illegal aliens to use the new health care “exchange” and would not require verification to keep illegal aliens out of the other parts of the proposed federal health care system.”

The last line is important—illegal aliens have no qualms about using fake social security numbers and IDs to obtain jobs, and they certainly would use the same methods to get public option health care and Medicaid.


» Lee Moldaver on 11.08.09 @ 04:38 PM

Thank you, Lois, for a brave vote on a challenging bill.

Judging by the responses from readers, not everyone agrees.

May I offer a “modest proposal” for all House and Senate members?

Until a genuine Health Reform bill passes Congress and is signed into law, let each
House or Senate member opposing health reform voluntarily surrender their own
publicly funded Platinum health plans.

Let them go into the private health market to insure themselves and their
families out of their own pockets, not their campaign warchests.

The taxpayer subsidy now going to vocal opponents could help pay down the Debt.

Personally experiencing skyrocketing private insurance rates, and tightly limited approval of life-saving services could be both educational, and morally bracing.

John Boehner and Mitch McConnell could set a great example by going first.


» Linda Phillips on 11.09.09 @ 12:08 AM

Thanks to Lois for her principled and ethical work to achieve health coverage for all Americans.


» Travel on 11.09.09 @ 12:46 AM

Way to go Lois !


» b_reynaldo on 11.09.09 @ 08:02 AM

Lois Capps—an “F” grade on immigration enforcement from American for Better Immigration. Feinstein and Boxer both get higher grades (C and D-).

http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=CA&VIPID=86

We can’t trust anything Rep. Capps says about health care coverage for illegals.


» jon bennett on 11.09.09 @ 08:25 AM

Does anyone really believe Lois wrote this commentary?


» fire1 on 11.09.09 @ 08:29 AM

Representatives like Capps have no clue about fiscal responsibility. She like all the Democratic leadership are leading this country down the wrong path - towards a socialized state. There is no doubt the health care industry of this coutry needs some form of reform, but this is not the method. All this and the other goverment socialist programs these Democrats have implemented has done is guarantee that I will NEVER vote for a Democrat again - and that mean NEVER. Its not like I was/am a hard core conservative/right winger, I have always voted independently - in 2004 I voted a straight Democratic ticket on the federal level, but they will never get my vote again - we need to take back the country from these socialists.


» Chuck Duffy on 11.09.09 @ 09:21 AM

Does anyone really believe that Lois Capps represents our district? Take a close look folks. Nancy Pelosi is really our representative. Just take a look at the voting record. Nancy says “jump Lois” and she does!


» Richard Cabeza on 11.09.09 @ 09:22 AM

Why are there so many right wing intellectual midgets commenting on this story?


» SB Citizen on 11.09.09 @ 09:31 AM

Does anybody know if the house health care bill will pay for medicinal marijuana?  Lois won’t answer my question.


» Greg on 11.09.09 @ 09:33 AM

Gee thanks Lois, 1/2 of the docs in Santa Barbara don’t even take insurance anymore because the system is so wrecked. Now “everyone” will have insurance that the docs won’t take. You are my hero.


» Michael on 11.09.09 @ 10:49 AM

Lois has grown…to like the Washington D.C. lifestyle, having a staff and expense account.  Why think when Dems send you your talking points?  Her 15 minutes were up sometime late last century, which was at about the same time that she had her last original idea.


» db on 11.09.09 @ 10:56 AM

It’s not been a year, and I’m so sick of the power grab of this administration.  If the need was to bring in the 30 million uninsured, why is it necessary to disrupt the other 300 million who are insured.  The insurance industry does need regulation as to lay out exactly what they will cover and what they will not before the fact not after like with auto ins and home owners ins so you can plan accordingly and there does need to be more competition by opening up insurance selection across state lines. And, in regard to the 400 mil savings from Medicare from fraud ... how are they going to do that since from what is being said they haven’t been doing that now?  Oh, right, 111 new government agencies in this bill creating new jobs with wonderful benefits for the rest of us to pay for.  We are in dire straits ... the deficit and the addtional taxes are going to
do us in.


» Give me a Break on 11.09.09 @ 11:44 AM

This is the most dangerous piece of legislation in American history.  All of the Socialist Nanny staters can get the hell out of our Country if they have a problem with American values.  I don’t want to turn my health over to the government and NEVER will.


» Lois on 11.09.09 @ 12:38 PM

You wont be celebrating after the next election Capps. You’ve sold us down the river.


» Jon Williams on 11.09.09 @ 01:55 PM

Tremendous thanks to Lois Capps for her courageous stand on the need to make sure ALL legitimate medical procedures and practices are available to patients. Sadly, so many of those who’ve chosen to take a “pro life” stance are the same who cheer for war over diplomacy and death by lack of insurance over health care that’s truly for all. I hope Lois, now that she’s in a fighting mood, will stand up for single-payer and defunding the debacles in Iraq and Afghanistan.


» CalPeach on 11.09.09 @ 03:26 PM

Since Lois Capps has voted for this massive government takeover of our health care system I conclude that she is beholden to all the special interest groups,unions and advocates for illegal immigrants who keep her in office. By giving these groups everything they could ever want it will effectively kill the golden goose. How will businesses keep employees when faced with huge tax increases? How will law-abiding citizens keep up with all the new government mandates and/or fines? Aren’t the existing entitlement programs already bankrupt? Are all politicians this ignorant, incompetent or corrupt?


» John Q on 11.09.09 @ 03:40 PM

Lois Capps, Not my representative.


» Dan on 11.09.09 @ 03:52 PM

Capps was a school nurse for many years. So that makes her an expert on Health Care and fiscal policy.


» Tomahawkdeb on 11.09.09 @ 04:15 PM

To Lee Moldaver - boy, do you have it wrong.  Let all those who voted FOR this reform give up their publicly funded Platinum health care.  They’re the ones who don’t care what the rest of us get stuck with and are ensuring they get to keep their special plan!


» AN50 on 11.09.09 @ 04:55 PM

Jon, Murdering babies so you can fornicate is not the same as killing cowardly terrorist on a battlefield (and after they murdered 3000 innocent civilians to boot). So take your loony moral equivalence and stuff it. Further, no one with a brain will die in our country because of lack of insurance. That is just another bold faced lie told by liberal lap dogs who think compassion is stealing from some to give to others so you don’t have to do or think about anything except playing with your toys.


» todd on 11.09.09 @ 05:36 PM

This bill is a huge mistake. More taxes will crush this already weak economy. When the government takes over any industry, they skrew it up and become less efficient. I bet your getting campaign contributions for voting this way. You are a fool Ms. Capps.


» Be Afraid...... on 11.09.09 @ 06:40 PM

Is there anyone out there who has any doubt at all that a disaster is looming in government-regulated health care equivalent, if not worse, than the disaster of 2008 that the SEC and other government regulators either turned a blind eye to or were too ignorant, cowardly, or lazy to stop?  Deregulation of financial services under Clinton and Bush spurred changes in the markets which came dangerously close to destroying our economy and ruined the lives of millions of Americans.  The incompetence (or worse, these of the heads of the very institutions these bureaucrats oversee) of the regulators who were left in the system is mind-boggling.  With all the pals new agencies, bureaucracies, pencil pushers, committees, and talking heads who soon will be feeding at the public trough through the proposed health care reform, it will be numbing to witness the degree to which this experiment is destined to fail.  Good luck to us all.


» HB on 11.10.09 @ 07:31 AM

The correct bill number for the Affordable Health Care for America Act is H.R.3962, not 3932.


» David Bearman,M.D. on 11.10.09 @ 09:54 PM

Well we are half way to joining the rest of the industrialized world in providing access to heaLTH CARE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. tHE CURRENT SYSTEM SPENDS TWICE AS MUCH OF OUR gdp AS OTHER wESTERN NATIONS(17% TO 8%) YET ON MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH STATISICS WE WALLOW SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10TH AND 30TH.

By providing easier access to primary care fewer illnesses will progress to requiring expensive tertiary care and far fewer people will seek their primary care at the emergency room.If that doesn’t save enough dough to pay for humane care,pare $1500 off the cost of an automobile and prevent millions of people for declaring bankruptcy for the sin of getting sick ,we can always raise money by sin taxes on the stuff that makes us sick-alcohol,tobacco,excess fats and unneccessary sugar.

So thank you Lois and the other 218 Democrats and one Republican who voted for this bill. You are creating an America where the middle class don’t have to live in fear of losing their insurance od having a catastrophic illness drive them to the poor house.

Now it’s important that adequate safe guards are added to and remain in the bill to protect the American people from the preditory practices of the insurance companies.

I’m just curious, any idea how mant US Senators and Congressmen and women have declined their taxpayer covered healthcare because it is a socialist system


» MamaBear on 11.10.09 @ 11:36 PM

I have lived on the Central Coast for over 30 yrs. I have watched some of our best Doctors and medical specialists leave this area and disappear just like the Pismo Clams did.
This bill unconstitutionally forces people to buy a product with threat of fines and jail if we refuse.
This price of this bill wil sky-rocket after 10 yrs., and will no doubt be as well run and cost-effective as any other government agency.
We are being driven into a single-payer system and we are being lied to daily about it.
This is a mockery and nothing to be proud of. I will fight it with all my strength.


» Patti Okeefe on 11.11.09 @ 10:16 AM

You mean you just voted to contribute to our national debt and make sure it undeniably gets passes down to our children? We are outraged!


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