Washington, D.C.—Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement today regarding the announcement of new health care rules to improve access and affordability of preventive health care services:
 
“When Congress passed and the President signed historic health reform into law earlier this year, we knew that the impact would be felt almost immediately.  Rules announced today ensure that thousands of Nevadans will have access to preventive care like cholesterol tests and check-ups for babies and children at no out-of-pocket cost.
 
“Too many people in Nevada and across the nation do not receive the basic preventive care they need to stay healthy and avoid preventable diseases because of burdensome costs.  Because of these prohibitive costs, Americans use preventive services at about half the recommended rate.  That sad reality of our old health care system ends with these new rules requiring new plans to cover preventive services like blood pressure readings, cholesterol tests, routine vaccinations, flu shots, and regular check-ups for babies and children without charging a deductible, co-payment, or co-insurance.
 
“I hope my colleagues who want to take these benefits away will reconsider.  I am pleased that thousands of Nevadans and millions of Americans are immediately feeling the impact of reform to make our nation’s health care system more accessible and more affordable.”
 
Additional information about these new guidelines can be accessed at http://www.healthcare.gov/law/about/provisions/services/index.html.