1ST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN ED WHITFIELD GRILLED DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS THURSDAY ABOUT THE IMPACT THE HEALTHCARE REFORM LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED BY CONGRESS WILL HAVE ON KENTUCKIANS, ACCORDING TO A WHITFIELD NEWS RELEASE.
DURING A HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE HEARING THURSDAY, WHITFIELD SAYS HE QUESTIONED THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ABOUT HEALTHCARE REFORM LEGISLATION BEING CHAMPIONED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA. HE REPORTEDLY PRESSED HER ABOUT ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THAT AMERICANS WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR CURRENT INSURANCE COVERAGE UNDER THE PROPOSALS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE. WHITFIELD SAYS SHE ADMITTED THAT NOTHING ENSURES AN EMPLOYEE THAT HIS OR HER EMPLOYER WILL CONTINUE EMPLOYER BASED COVERAGE.
WHITFIELD ALSO EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS OVER CLOSED-DOOR DEAL MAKING CURRENTLY ONGOING IN THE HEALTHCARE DEBATE. SPECIFICALLY, HE POINTED TO STATES, LIKE NEBRASKA, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS AND FLORIDA, WHERE CITIZENS WILL RECEIVE CERTAIN BENEFITS IN TERMS OF MEDICARE COVERAGE UNDER THE PROPOSED HEALTHCARE BILLS THAT OTHER TAXPAYERS, INCLUDING THOSE IN KENTUCKY, WILL NOT RECEIVE, WHICH HE ADDS IS PATENTLY UNFAIR.
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