April 24, 2017

Kilmer discusses health care in visit to Port Angeles clinic

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer paid a visit to his native Port Angeles to discuss health care issues with North Olympic Healthcare Network officials.

Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, said the Affordable Care Act has abated the upward trajectory of health care premiums and fostered primary care relationships that will reduce expensive trips to the emergency room.

“Over time, that should help premiums go down further,” Kilmer said in a Friday meeting with Dr. Michael Maxwell, CEO, and other NOHN officials.

While not a perfect law, the 2010 Affordable Care Act, or ACA, is a better option than the replacement bill that would have resulted in 24 million Americans losing health insurance had it been approved last month, Kilmer said.

The President Donald Trump-backed GOP bill was pulled off the House floor March 24, with Democrats and some Republicans prepared to vote no.

Kilmer, who was elected to represent the 6th Congressional District in 2012, has proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act to help small-business owners provide insurance to employees.

“Part of my push has been: Let’s see if there’s things we could adjust within the ACA so that you’re providing help to small employers, in particular, who want to do the right thing but just have a financial difficulty doing that,” Kilmer said.

U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer paid a visit to his native Port Angeles to discuss health care issues with North Olympic Healthcare Network officials.

Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, said the Affordable Care Act has abated the upward trajectory of health care premiums and fostered primary care relationships that will reduce expensive trips to the emergency room.

“Over time, that should help premiums go down further,” Kilmer said in a Friday meeting with Dr. Michael Maxwell, CEO, and other NOHN officials.

While not a perfect law, the 2010 Affordable Care Act, or ACA, is a better option than the replacement bill that would have resulted in 24 million Americans losing health insurance had it been approved last month, Kilmer said.

The President Donald Trump-backed GOP bill was pulled off the House floor March 24, with Democrats and some Republicans prepared to vote no.

Kilmer, who was elected to represent the 6th Congressional District in 2012, has proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act to help small-business owners provide insurance to employees.

“Part of my push has been: Let’s see if there’s things we could adjust within the ACA so that you’re providing help to small employers, in particular, who want to do the right thing but just have a financial difficulty doing that,” Kilmer said.


By:  Rob Ollikainen
Source: Peninsula Daily News