Delaware Delegation Holds Affordable Care Act Roundtable for Local Health Care Providers

DOVER, Del. – Today, Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Rep. Carney (all D-Del.), in partnership with AARP and Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services, convened a roundtable event at Delaware Technical and Community College in Dover for local health care providers to discuss the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and its effect on Delawareans, particularly seniors.  

Leaders of Delaware’s senior and community health center facilities are valuable resources for their membership and patients. This informational event gave local health care providers the opportunity to take detailed information about Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act back to the patients who use their services. The roundtable also provided a forum for providers to offer feedback and ask questions about the law and its impact on Delaware’s health care system.  

“The Affordable Care Act helps patients, particularly seniors, take charge of their health in various ways,” said Sen. Carper. “It is our responsibility to ensure that Delawareans have accurate information readily available to them regarding the impact of the Affordable Care Act. We also have a responsibility to find new ways to further improve and strengthen Delaware’s health care system, including Medicare and Medicaid. Reaching out to Delaware’s leading health care providers is just one of the many ways we continue our outreach and education efforts of the Affordable Care Act.”  

“The Affordable Care Act is already having a significant, positive impact on the way many Delawareans access health care,” said Sen. Coons. “With the ongoing debate in Washington about the federal government’s budget priorities and efforts by some to undo the progress we’ve made with the Affordable Care Act, it’s important that we keep Delawareans up to speed on how their medical coverage is being affected. I know that my office, Senator Carper’s office, and Congressman Carney’s office are all standing by ready to answer any questions Delawareans have about Medicare, Medicaid, and the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.”  

“I was happy to partner with Sens. Carper and Coons to provide a forum for those individuals who are on the front lines working with seniors to ask questions and discuss the impact of the Affordable Care Act on Medicare,” said Rep. Carney. “While the Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, it is an important first step in controlling spiraling costs while expanding access to health care for thousands of Delawareans. As we continue implementation of the Affordable Care Act, I believe it is important to continue to engage in a dialogue about how the Act affects Delawareans.”  

The Affordable Care Act includes many provisions to help to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, including free preventive health services and free annual wellness visits, as discounts on prescription drugs for Medicare recipients and stronger fraud and waste protections.  

In addition to Sens. Carper and Coons, the panel members included Secretary Rita Landgraf, Debbie Feierman of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Brian Posey of AARP, and representatives from the Aging and Disability Resource Center, and Social Security Administration.  

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