I intend to offer a motion to commit the reconciliation bill to the Finance Committee with instructions to report the bill back to the Senate within 3 days, not counting any day on which the Senate is not in session, with changes that would eliminate or reduce access to affordable preventive services that are currently offered without copayment or cost-sharing under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ACA, including blood pressure screening, colorectal screening, breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening and domestic and interpersonal violence screening and counseling. I am offering this motion because the Finance Committee should review the implications of reducing access to affordable preventative services to millions of Americans. A key provision of the ACA is the requirement that private insurance plans cover recommended preventive services without any patient cost-sharing. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are responsible for 7 of every 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75 percent of the Nation's health spending. Research has shown that evidence-based preventive services can save lives and improve health by identifying illnesses earlier, managing them more effectively, and treating them before they develop into more complicated, debilitating conditions. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of my motion to commit be printed in the Record.…
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