| As a former chairman of what is now called the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, I am deeply committed to ensuring that Americans receive the best health care available. I have worked—and continue to work—to provide increased access to affordable health insurance, fund promising medical research, remove bureaucratic red tape, and ensure access to new, safe, and affordable medicines and dietary supplements.
In fact, legislation I sponsored with Sen. Ron Wyden authorized a Citizens' Working Group to conduct a nationwide discussion to find solutions to the problems in our health care system. The Working Group recently submitted its final recommendations to the President, which may be viewed at www.citizenshealthcare.gov. I hope this effort will invigorate Congress into passing meaningful reform that the American people can accept.
I am also deeply involved with efforts to strengthen and improve the Medicare and Medicaid programs as the ranking Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee. I am committed to ensuring that these programs meet the current needs of beneficiaries and that physicians are adequately reimbursed to provide the necessary care.
I have been greatly impressed with the success of the new seniors’ prescription drug benefit – Medicare Part D – which offers reliable, affordable, and guaranteed coverage to pays for both brand name and generic drugs, and offers a choice of plans. While there have been minor growing pains along the way as we transition to this new plan, it has generally been very successful for saving seniors and taxpayers money. Visit www.medicare.gov to learn more about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. |
