New York, NY - Congressman Charles B. Rangel applauded the successful efforts of the Obama Administration in reducing healthcare costs for the nation through the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted in 2010. The commendation came on the heels of an announcement by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that issued an updated data about the amount that our nation's citizens saved due to the passage of healthcare reform law.

"The Affordable Care Act is an historic piece of legislation that ensures that Americans across the board can afford to stay healthy," said Rangel. "The new statistics on health savings are a testament to the success of this reform, and I will continue to stand with President Obama to defend the healthcare benefits millions of Americans are now receiving as a result."

The Affordable Care Act, which Rangel sponsored in the House, has already saved Medicare recipients over $3.5 billion by closing the "donut hole" prescription drug coverage gap for senior citizens. Over 416,000 people saved an average of $724 on prescription drugs. In 2011, over 26 million people enrolled in Medicare also received one or more preventative services for free, where it would have cost them prior to the passage of the law.

For more information on Medicare-covered preventive services, many of which are now provided without charge to beneficiaries thanks to the Affordable Care Act, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/medicare-preventive-services/index.html.

To learn what screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services doctors recommend for you and those you care about, please visit the myhealthfinder tool at www.healthfinder.gov.