Congressman Pete P. Gallego presents federal grant to United Medical Centers for $146,120
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013
Congressman Pete P. Gallego of the 23rd United States House of Representatives District of Texas presented the United Medical Centers and its Chief Executive Officer George Kypuros a federal grant of $146,120 from the United States Department of Health and Human Services to educate and assist local residents on how to enroll in the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010, also known as Obamacare, health insurance exchanges beginning on October 1, 2013.
Gallego pointed out that the “State of Texas leads the nation in people without health insurance coverage. Through the Affordable Care Act of 2010 it will be possible for everyone to to be able to get insured. Everyone will now be able to obtain health insurance regardless if one has pre-existing conditions. This Affordable Care Act will do away with disqualifying people with pre-existing health conditions from becoming insurable and getting health insurance coverage.”
Gallego stated that through this $146,120 federal grant “the United Medical Centers will be able to reach out and educate the community about the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and teach and assist them on how to enroll for health insurance coverage through the national health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act.”
United Medical Centers CEO George Kypuros welcomed Congressman Pete P. Gallego and the $146,120 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to educate and assist residents from Maverick, Val Verde, and Kinney Counties in Texas to enroll for health insurance coverage through the national health insurance exchanges beginning October 1st. Kypuros noted that approximately 30% of Texans do not have health insurance coverage and that this grant will assist to increase the number of residents obtain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
Kypuros stated that the United Medical Centers receipt of this $146,120 federal grant could not have come at a better moment as it is currently celebrating National Community Health Centers Week, which the United Medical Centers is one of them. “We are fortunate to have a Community Health Center in our city to provide quality and affordable health care services, whether you are rich or poor. We are very fortunate that we have so many people supporting our efforts to provide the necessary health services to our community,” said Kypuros.
“The Affordable Care Act is bringing about tremendous changes to health care that will impact millions of people locally and nationally, changes that are for the better of everyone’s health. We are at the tip of the program with October 1st commencing open enrollment by every American resident eligible to enroll and purchase health insurance to take effect on January 1, 2014,” said Kypuros.
Kypuros thanked and introduced his United Medical Centers Board of Directors present at the August 13th federal grant ceremony with Congressman Pete P. Gallego including Board President Ruben Carrillo, Jr., Helen Marie Jones, Maria J. Martinez, Frank Mendoza, Jose Maria De Luna, III, and Margarita Andrade. Other Board members include Socorro Hurley, James Hoback, Gene Mireles, Dr. Hector Alvarez, and Edelmira Martinez.
Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, individual states in the United States of America had the option to participate in the expansion of Medicaid to its residents. The State of Texas under Republican Governor Rick Perry chose not to expand Medicaid to over two (2) million Texans who are currently uninsured and up to six (6) million Texans who would be eligible to participate in Medicaid, hurting the most needy Texans including the poor, elderly, working and middle class residents, and the uninsured. Due to Governor Rick Perry and the Republican Party’s spite against President Barack Obama, Texas will lose over $100 Billion in Medicaid funds during the next 10 years as a result of the Republican leadership’s refusal to expand Medicaid to needy and uninsured Texans. The Texas medical and health care industry stand to lose this $100 Billion in health care and Medicaid funds which will now go to other states who chose to expand Medicaid to their uninsured residents. The Texas Medical Association and the Texas Hospital Association favored participating in the expansion of Medicaid to uninsured Texans but their cries for expansion fell on deaf ears of the Republican Party leadership in Texas.
Today, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and the Republican Party are threatening to abolish the Affordable Care Act of 2010 by refusing to fund the federal government budget starting October 1st even if it means shutting down the federal government due to their spite and political animosity against President Barack Obama. Republicans oppose expanding health insurance coverage to the uninsured, poor, senior citizens, working and middle class Americans. The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has voted over 40 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act of 2010, but the Democrat-majority U.S. Senate favors the Affordable Care Act and has blocked its repeal. Even the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act of 2010 was constitutional and legal.
Despite the Republican Party’s callous and lunatic attack to repeal the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and their disenfranchisement of over 30 million Americans from obtaining affordable health insurance coverage, including their parents and grandparents, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 will take effect on January 1, 2014.
