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HHS: Health law gave millions free preventive care
Federal health officials announced that more than 16 million Medicare beneficiaries received free preventive care in the first six months of this year, as the administration continued its efforts to tout the Affordable Care Act to voters.
"Millions of Americans are getting cancer screenings, mammograms and other preventive services for free thanks to the healthcare law," said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, praising the president's signature domestic achievement in a statement Tuesday.
"These new benefits, made possible through the healthcare law, are helping people stay healthy by giving them the tools they need to prevent health problems before they happen."
The exam reviews patients' health and introduces "education and counseling about preventive services and other care," according to Healthcare.gov. HHS stated that 1.35 million seniors have used their visit this year so far.
Other free preventive services include shots for pneumonia, hepatitis B and the flu, HIV screenings and help quitting smoking.
A total of 32.5 million people in Medicare received one free preventive benefit or more last year, according to HHS. These seniors would have paid for some of the value of the service before the healthcare law was enacted.
