gntbldr
06-27-2005, 04:42 PM
The AMA release below explains the bill.
A05013
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Lindsay
Phone: (614) 856-1900 x1357
E-mail: tlindsay@ama-cycle.org
AMA-BACKED BILL TO END BIKER HEALTHCARE BIAS INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has
announced that a bipartisan bill to end health-care discrimination against
motorcyclists and ATVers has been introduced in the U.S. House.
U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) on June 8
introduced H.R. 2793 -- "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction
Act" -- would bar health-care discrimination against those who take part in
legal transportation and recreational activities such as motorcycling, ATV
riding, snowmobiling, or horseback riding.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) introduced
similar legislation in the Senate: S. 577, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury
Technical Correction Act."
The measures are in response to action taken by federal bureaucrats that
legalized health-insurance discrimination against riders and others.
"It's shameful to allow health insurers to discriminate against individuals
who take part in perfectly legal hobbies and activities" Strickland said.
"According to this rule, a person injured while drinking and driving would
be covered by their health insurance, but an individual who falls from a
motorcycle may not. It just makes no sense."
Burgess added: "The development of this bill could not have been possible
without bipartisan congressional support and the hard work of the American
Motorcyclist Association. I look forward to working alongside the AMA to get
this legislation passed into law."
On August 21, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to prohibit employers from
denying health care coverage based on a worker's pre-existing medical
conditions or participation in legal activities, such as motorcycling.
But later federal bureaucrats reversed the law, writing rules to allow
health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and others who engage
in legal activities like ATV riding, or horseback riding.
The AMA was outraged when federal bureaucrats went against the will of
Congress and immediately lobbied Congress to right this wrong. Others
involved in the effort include the BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Riders
Foundation, ABATE of Wisconsin, ABATE of Ohio, the American Council of
Snowmobile Associations, and the American Horse Council.
"This loophole written by federal bureaucrats must be changed," said Ed
Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "We need all AMA and
ATVA members and all motorcyclists to contact the members of their
congressional delegations to support legislation to fix this."
Enthusiasts can send letters of support to members of Congress through the
AMA Rapid Response Center at www.AMADirectlink.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded to you by the ABATE of Wisconsin Legislative Committee Chair Dave Dwyer
Our Health Care bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and we need to ask our members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors. Rep Green has already signed on and Rep Sensenbrenner is going to wait until after the bill clears the Energy and Commerce committee before he will sign on.
That leaves us with 6 House members to contact to encourage them to sign on to HR 2793 as cosponsors either by calling their office or through their website;
Rep. Paul Ryan, 202-225-3031, www.house.gov/ryan
Rep Tammy Baldwin, 202-225-2906, www.tammybaldwin.house.gov
Rep. Ron Kind, 202-225-5506, www.house.gov/kind
Rep. Gwen Moore, 202-225-4572, www.house.gov/gwenmoore
Rep. Thomas Petri, 202-225-2476, www.house.gov/petri
Rep. Dave Obey, 202-225-3365, www.house.gov/obey
All those listed above were cosponsors last year except Rep. Moore who is in her first term this year.
We also need to encourage Sen. Herb Kohl to sigh on to the Senate bill this year. He voted in favor of our bill last year even though he did not sign on then either.
Sen. Hebert Kohl, 202-224-5653, kohl.senate.gov.
A05013
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Lindsay
Phone: (614) 856-1900 x1357
E-mail: tlindsay@ama-cycle.org
AMA-BACKED BILL TO END BIKER HEALTHCARE BIAS INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has
announced that a bipartisan bill to end health-care discrimination against
motorcyclists and ATVers has been introduced in the U.S. House.
U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) on June 8
introduced H.R. 2793 -- "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction
Act" -- would bar health-care discrimination against those who take part in
legal transportation and recreational activities such as motorcycling, ATV
riding, snowmobiling, or horseback riding.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) introduced
similar legislation in the Senate: S. 577, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury
Technical Correction Act."
The measures are in response to action taken by federal bureaucrats that
legalized health-insurance discrimination against riders and others.
"It's shameful to allow health insurers to discriminate against individuals
who take part in perfectly legal hobbies and activities" Strickland said.
"According to this rule, a person injured while drinking and driving would
be covered by their health insurance, but an individual who falls from a
motorcycle may not. It just makes no sense."
Burgess added: "The development of this bill could not have been possible
without bipartisan congressional support and the hard work of the American
Motorcyclist Association. I look forward to working alongside the AMA to get
this legislation passed into law."
On August 21, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to prohibit employers from
denying health care coverage based on a worker's pre-existing medical
conditions or participation in legal activities, such as motorcycling.
But later federal bureaucrats reversed the law, writing rules to allow
health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and others who engage
in legal activities like ATV riding, or horseback riding.
The AMA was outraged when federal bureaucrats went against the will of
Congress and immediately lobbied Congress to right this wrong. Others
involved in the effort include the BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Riders
Foundation, ABATE of Wisconsin, ABATE of Ohio, the American Council of
Snowmobile Associations, and the American Horse Council.
"This loophole written by federal bureaucrats must be changed," said Ed
Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "We need all AMA and
ATVA members and all motorcyclists to contact the members of their
congressional delegations to support legislation to fix this."
Enthusiasts can send letters of support to members of Congress through the
AMA Rapid Response Center at www.AMADirectlink.com.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded to you by the ABATE of Wisconsin Legislative Committee Chair Dave Dwyer
Our Health Care bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and we need to ask our members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors. Rep Green has already signed on and Rep Sensenbrenner is going to wait until after the bill clears the Energy and Commerce committee before he will sign on.
That leaves us with 6 House members to contact to encourage them to sign on to HR 2793 as cosponsors either by calling their office or through their website;
Rep. Paul Ryan, 202-225-3031, www.house.gov/ryan
Rep Tammy Baldwin, 202-225-2906, www.tammybaldwin.house.gov
Rep. Ron Kind, 202-225-5506, www.house.gov/kind
Rep. Gwen Moore, 202-225-4572, www.house.gov/gwenmoore
Rep. Thomas Petri, 202-225-2476, www.house.gov/petri
Rep. Dave Obey, 202-225-3365, www.house.gov/obey
All those listed above were cosponsors last year except Rep. Moore who is in her first term this year.
We also need to encourage Sen. Herb Kohl to sigh on to the Senate bill this year. He voted in favor of our bill last year even though he did not sign on then either.
Sen. Hebert Kohl, 202-224-5653, kohl.senate.gov.