Christensen and HHS Regional Director Talk Health Care Reform Implementation

Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen met Wednesday with Dr. Jaime Torres, Director of Health and Human Services Region 2 which oversees Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "As we enter the implementation phase of health care reform, Dr. Torres and I spoke as a follow up to the meetings held last week with national health officials, where we are working to ensure that the new laws and regulations are interpreted in a manner that is beneficial to the U.S. Virgin Islands and the other territories," Congresswoman Christensen said. "We also spoke of his plans to visit the Virgin Islands which will be helpful as he has a chance to review the nuances of our situation."

Congresswoman Christensen met last Tuesday with Steven Larsen, who is in charge of insurance matters at the Health and Human Services Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight to advocate for the joint agenda developed by the five territories for implementation of the health care law. At the White House she spoke with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans and Jay Angoff, Director of the Office of the HHS Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Congresswoman Christensen has also met with lead Senate and House Committees over the last couple of months to press for inclusion into key provisions of the health care reform measures. While some provisions take effect this year, others will be implemented over the next three years.