[Ducati] Support for bill to end health insurance discrimination against motorcylists

[Veloce916 at aol.com]

AMA  seeks support for bill to end health insurance discrimination  against 
motorcyclists
The American Motorcyclist  Association announced today that more than 100 
members of the U.S.  House of Representatives have co-sponsored a bill that would 
end  health insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and others who  
participate in legal recreational activities or use their  motorcycles for 
transportation. 
While the action is  significant, there is still much work to be done, 
according to AMA  Vice President for Government Relations Edward Moreland. 
"The AMA is calling on  motorcyclists and others who face health insurance 
discrimination to  urge their Representatives to support H.R. 1076, known as the 
HIPAA  Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act," said Moreland. "Time  
is short. The bill has broad bi-partisan support but we need 218  votes for 
passage. If we don't act by April, we will likely miss our  chance for 
legislative action in 2008." 
Health insurance  discrimination can have a devastating financial effect on 
families  and has been the focus of efforts by the AMA and other groups for  
many years. Following the passage of the original HIPAA legislation  in 2001, 
bureaucrats at the Department of Health and Human Services  created a loophole 
that allowed insurance companies to deny benefits  to people who are injured 
while participating in legal recreational  activities, such as riding 
motorcycles or off-road vehicles,  horseback riding, skiing, and other activities. H.R. 
1076 will close  that loophole. 
Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D.  (R-Texas) has worked diligently to get H.R. 1076 
passed. "Laws like  HIPAA are passed to protect people," he said. "Sometimes 
they have  unintended consequences. When this happens, Congress has an  
obligation to fix the loopholes and that's what this bill  does." 
"No one should be denied  health coverage for no reason other than they enjoy 
snowmobiles,  motorcycles or other recreational activities," said Rep. Bart 
Stupak  (D-Mich.), the lead Democrat sponsoring the bill. "This legislation  
would enforce the original intent of Congress and ensure  recreational 
enthusiasts are not discriminated against." 
In the last Congress, the  U.S. Senate passed a companion bill by unanimous 
consent, but the  bigger challenge has been getting legislation approved in the 
 House. 
"We now have 101  co-sponsors for this legislation in the House, which is an 
important  milestone," said Moreland. "But to reach 218 votes and get H.R. 
1076  passed, immediate grassroots action is crucial, especially since  House 
members are returning to their districts soon to campaign for  the fall 
election." 
U.S. Representatives can  quickly and easily be contacted by going to the AMA 
Rapid Response  Center at _www.AMADirectlink.com_ 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IFyHSejnKRSKV1s2PNzgeeFa424UMSeMvuFIYk4VLjSbLOaARBmjuugIdjd9m5D1tyHtnQBEOhRIWd
u6pSgXryCzZ6faWTu-adOHUI0jFKKRT3B2as546PGtuqYCnmsx) . 
Other organizations  supporting this legislation include: American Council of 
Snowmobile  Association; American Horse Council; American Recreation 
Coalition;  American Trails; Americans for Responsible Recreational Access; Blue  
Ribbon Coalition; International Mountain Bicycling Association;  Motorcycle 
Industry Council; Motorcycle Riders Foundation; National  Ski Areas Association; 
Specialty Vehicle Industry Council; Sporting  Goods Manufacturing Association; 
and the Washington Road Riders  Association.       
The  American Motorcyclist Association: rights. riding.  racing.
Founded in 1924,  the AMA is a non-profit organization with 290,000 members. 
The  Association's purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the  interests of 
motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members.  For more information, 
visit the AMA website at _www.AMADirectlink.com_ 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IFyHSejnKRSKV1s2PNzgeeFa424UMSeMvuFIYk4VLjSbLOaARBmjuugIdjd9m5D1tyHtnQBEOhRIWdu
6pSgXryCzZ6faWTu-adOHUI0jFKKRT3B2as546PGtuqYCnmsx) .




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