Governor Statement on Affordable Care Act Ruling

From www.Hawaii.gov/gov June 28, 2012

HONOLULU –The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will improve the country’s current health care system by increasing access to healthcare coverage for Americans and introducing new protections for people who have health insurance.

The ACA provides tools to increase the ability of most Americans to obtain health insurance. In Hawai'i, 83,000 adults are uninsured. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ACA ensures Hawai'i’s families will get the healthcare security they deserve.

Governor Neil Abercrombie released the following statement:

“Here in Hawai'i, we already have our Prepaid Health Care Act, which enables a vast majority of our residents to be insured. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision supports President Obama’s initiative to make healthcare availability a national policy.

“In the days ahead you will continue to hear political discussion over health care plans. What is most important for Hawai'i to know is that your State government will continue to support a healthcare system that ensures high quality, safety and sustainable costs. The Affordable Care Act is our ally in this effort.

“Since appointing my Healthcare Transformation Coordinator, Beth Giesting, my Administration has and continues to work in partnership with the private sector –consumers, providers and insurers - to make sure the State of Hawai'i has that high quality healthcare system.”

Note to media:

Governor Abercrombie, the State Healthcare Transformation Coordinator Beth Giesting, officials from State departments of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Health, Human Services and Labor and Industrial Relations will hold a news conference to discuss the implications of the ACA ruling today at 11:30 at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (335 Merchant Street).

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Ignore This: Health Insurance? No need: Abercrombie promises to dump Prepaid Health Care Act

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SA: Hawaii's Congressional delegation says Supreme Court got it right