Health Care Reform Benefits Thousands in Indiana -- March 23, 2012
March 23, 2012
Dear Friend:
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. For additional information, please visit our website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
· Health Care Reform Benefits Thousands in Indiana
· Raising Awareness Regarding the Dangers of Using Synthetic Drugs
· Round Table Seeks to Increase Housing Opportunities for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Health Care Reform Benefits Thousands in Indiana
Prior to the historic passage of the Affordable Care Act, seniors, young adults and small businesses struggled to afford the rising cost of health care or simply did without. This week marks the second anniversary of this landmark health care legislation, which is already having a positive impact on the people of Indianapolis:
· 4,700 young adults in our district now have health insurance.
· 63,000 seniors are benefitting from Medicare preventive services without paying co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles.
· 520 small businesses in Indianapolis have received tax credits to ensure health care coverage for their employees.
· Community health centers, hospitals and other health care providers have received public health grants totaling $36.1 million.
· As many as 40,000 children with preexisting health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurance companies.
Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues continue to turn a blind eye to the benefits of expanding affordable health care to more than 48 million Americans. While I recognize our health care system continues to require improvement, Republican proposals would raise health care costs for the most vulnerable Americans.
Clearly, the need for reform did not begin and end with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, but I refuse to support GOP proposals that seek to return this nation to an untenable system in which only those currently insured and the wealthiest among us have access to health care.
Raising Consumer Awareness about the Dangers of Synthetic Drugs
This week, I introduced legislation which calls upon the Office of National Drug Control Policy to include a public service announcement on the dangers of synthetic drugs as part of it national youth anti-drug media campaign.
Synthetic drugs are manufactured chemical compounds which mimic the effects of Schedule I controlled substances like methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana. Currently, many of these chemical compounds are not scheduled under federal drug laws and can be sold legally in retail stores or over the Internet.
Both the Indiana Generally Assembly and Indianapolis City-County Council have passed legislation making many of these substances illegal to possess, but these drugs, often labeled "bath salts", "plant food" or "incense," continue to be used recreationally throughout much of the nation.
According to reports by the U.S. Justice Department, more prevalent use of synthetic drugs has led to exponential growth in the number of young people being admitted to emergency rooms around the country. Congressman Carson's bill seeks to address the lack of awareness among teens and parents regarding the dangers of using synthetic drugs.
Too many of our young people use synthetic drugs, because they do not understand the immense risks. Sadly, parents and teens alike don't realize that the use of these substances can be extremely dangerous and may even result in death. This legislation seeks to raise our public consciousness about the issue and helps prevent our young people from falling into the trap set by these dangerous drugs.
Round Table Seeks to Increase Housing Opportunities for People Living with HIV/AIDS
My office recently participated in a roundtable discussion with Julie Fidler, the human services grant coordinator for the City of Indianapolis, and our community partners who provide housing assistance to those living with HIV/AIDS through federal assistance from the Housing Opportunities for People Living with AIDS (HOPWA) initiative.
Nancy Bernstine, the Executive Director of the National AIDS Housing Coalition, offered compelling proof of the importance of stable housing for improved health outcomes for those affected by AIDS, which is why I support preservation of HOPWA funding.
Indianapolishas already received the largest HOPWA grant in the nation, and because of the Roundtable's improved coordination among providers, we are in a strong position as we compete in the future for HOPWA grant funding. I applaud all of the participating organizations for their collaboration and support of this effort.
Local organizations who receive HOPWA funds to further the mission are the Indiana Minority Aids Coalition, Damien Center, Concord Neighborhood Center, Bethlehem House, and IU Health/Positive Link.
Thank you for reading theCarson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. For more information, visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov, my Congressional Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanAndreCarsonand follow me on Twitter @RepAndreCarson. I value your views and your input, which help me better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District.
Sincerely,
André Carson
Member of Congress