Coakley: Senate Health Care Bill a ‘Real Solution’

The following statement is from Martha Coakley, candidate for US Senate:

“Today’s historic vote takes us one step closer to passing meaningful health care reform that will work to provide quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

It establishes coverage for more than 30 million Americans, it prevents insurers from denying coverage to children based on pre-existing conditions, and it will reduce the skyrocketing health care costs for families and businesses while also reducing our nation’s long-term deficit.

This bill has specific additional benefits for Massachusetts, including $500 million towards our Medicaid budget, tax credits for small businesses and non-profits, and the further reduction of prescription drug prices for our seniors.

Families and small businesses have seen their health care premiums rise by 8-10 percent every year, and they know that our health care system is broken. This bill offers a real solution to reduce these skyrocketing health care costs while reducing our long-term deficit. For Scott Brown to suggest that we should do nothing and continue with the status quo is simply not acceptable.”