Bingaman: Health Care Law Delivers Free Preventive Services to Tens of Thousands of New Mexicans on Medicare

Press Release

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today applauded news that New Mexicans are continuing to benefit from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the health insurance reform law Congress passed two years ago.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the ACA helped 70,923 people in New Mexico with original Medicare receive at least one preventive service at no cost to them during the first five months of 2012. This includes 5,617 who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit provided by the Affordable Care Act.

"Prevention is key to keeping Americans healthy and reducing health care costs. The Affordable Cara Act is making it possible for tens of thousands of New Mexicans who rely on Medicare to have free access to preventative screening services that they otherwise might not be able to afford," Bingaman said.

Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early. The law also added an important new service for people with Medicare -- an Annual Wellness Visit with the doctor of their choice-- at no cost to beneficiaries.

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