What has President Obama done for healthcare?

Answer 1

1. Many people have had significant improvement in the availability of health care due to his signing the healthcare reform laws after he pushed for the successful passage of the comprehensive health care reform. Some now have their monthly health insurance premiums cut in half and have been able to get a plan that had previously not been open to them if they had a pre-existing condition.
2. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children.
3. Expanded vaccination programs.
4. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America's Veterans.
5. Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans.
6. Ended the previous practice of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules for drug approvals and food safety.
7. Ended previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings.
8. Encouraged Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research.
9. Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals.
10. Improved benefits for veterans.
11. Cracked down on companies that deny sick pay, vacation and health insurance to workers by abusing the employee classification of independent contractor. Such companies also avoided paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.
12. Pushed for the Children's Health Insurance Re-authorization Act on February 4, 2009, which provides quality health care to 11 million kids - 4 million who were previously uninsured.
13. Lowered drug costs for seniors.
14. Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at improving the lives of Americans living with paralysis.
15. Announced creation of a Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for medical records of members of the U.S. Armed Forces to improve quality of medical care.
16. Encouraged new federal funding for science and research labs.
17. Reengaged in the talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions (a source of illness for many asthmatics and others with lung diseases).
18. Pushed for the FDA to now regulate tobacco.
19. Signed a bill to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to classify certain children's products containing lead to be banned hazardous.
20. Issued a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making.
21. Supported the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide, another source of illness especially in children.
22. Appointed the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.
23. Signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act authorizing advance appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority thus enabling better medical care for veterans which was endorsed by the American Legion, American Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Vietnam Veterans of America.
24. Held impromptu press conference to urge Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross and other corporate health insurance companies that raise premiums in high amounts without explanation. Rep. Henry Waxman launches probe. In this case, Anthem Blue Cross wanted to raise premiums 39%. They have now put the increase on hold for two months (as of February 2010). Legislation preventing such increases is pending.
25. Extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the nation's unemployed from 9 months to 15 months. Workers laid off between September 1, 2008 and February 28, 2010 qualify .
26. Eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education which was significantly increased during the Bush Administration and which has proven to be a well-meaning but completely failed approach. There is an increase in teen pregnancy rates with an increase in costly pregnancy complications and deaths in mothers and newborns, and premature births, etc., due to these high risk pregnancies and "babies having babies".
27. Provided the Department of Veterans Affairs the largest spending increase in 30 years to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.
28. Empowered states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves. Fourteen states have allowed some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
29. Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The Act extends the Ryan White programs through 2013 .
30. Stood for the food safety regulation bill.
31. Quit smoking cigarettes as a leader and role model to set an example of a healthier lifestyle.

Answer 2

He has held town meetings, provided information and support for employers, and provided information to state Medicaid agencys.