Pelosi Statement on ACA Helping to Dramatically Improve Patient Safety

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services released a report showing that patient safety has improved dramatically in the last few years, due in part to reforms in the Affordable Care Act: 1.3 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions, 50,000 lives saved, and $12 billion in health spending avoided from 2010 to 2013.

"The facts are unmistakable: the Affordable Care Act is helping to save thousands of lives and billions of dollars every year. Today's report from HHS shows historic progress in improving patient safety and a precipitous drop in the number of lives lost and dollars wasted due to avoidable hospital-acquired conditions.

"Thanks in part to the protections of this historic law, Americans can have greater confidence that a visit to their local hospital will bring healing, not avoidable complications or unaffordable medical bills. In 2013 alone, the reforms of the Affordable Care Act have helped to achieve almost 35,000 fewer patients dying in hospitals, 800,000 fewer incidents of harm and $8 billion saved.

"The Affordable Care act is strengthening the practice of health care for all Americans. Today, American seniors, workers, women and middle-class families can put their trust in quality, accessible health care and dependable, affordable health coverage. We must continue to build on the newfound health security enjoyed by so many millions of Americans, and ensure that all Americans everywhere can rely on the highest quality health care."

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