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Health Care Topics:
 - H.R. 1200 - Universal Health Care
 - Global AIDS
 - Mental Health Parity
 
Ensuring that every American has access to affordable health care coverage is one of my top priorities. I've introduced legislation to create a single-payer universal health care program and both as a medical doctor and Member of Congress, I know that an American universal health care plan is the right prescription for the American people and U.S. economy.

Click here to read "A Short History of Health Care in America"

H.R. 1200 - Universal Health Care

Every other industrialized nation in the world provides universal health care to its citizens. Under the complicated, employer-based American system, average health care spending per person is double what Europeans spend - and many people still have no coverage. Over 70 percent of uninsured Americans are in families where at least one adult works full time.

I believe the U.S. should guarantee health care to every American through universal, single-payer health care. Which is why I introduced HR 1200, the American Health Security Act, which would provide care for every American, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system. The Congressional Budget Office reported that most Americans would pay less for health care under this plan than they pay now. I am also committed to finding interim solutions to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance, and have worked to expand SCHIP benefits for uninsured children, to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare and for adequate Medicaid funding.

Speeches:
• Speech on Single Payer Health Care
• Universal Health Care is Possible
• Access to Affordable Health Care Should Be a Right, Not a Privilege in America
• Universal Coverage is Inevitable
• Universal Health Care: Translating Knowledge into Action
• Time to Provide Health Care for All Americans

Global AIDS

I have worked on HIV/AIDS-related issues for many years. As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on HIV/AIDS, I am committed to increasing U.S. funding for prevention, treatment and research for HIV/AIDS worldwide. The global HIV/AIDS epidemic affects every nation on the planet. The rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS virus has devastated families, communities and entire nations and shows no sign of slowing.

Currently, over 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, of whom over 29 million reside in sub-Saharan Africa. The enormous impact of HIV/AIDS on Africa has prompted a growing U.S. commitment to fighting the disease by increasing funding for AIDS programs in Africa and providing less costly drugs to African nations. Although Congress’ focus has been primarily on the African epidemic, experts are also alarmed at the rapid spread of the virus in Asia.

I have sponsored and cosponsored several pieces of legislation designed to address the global AIDS epidemic. HR 5501, the President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) would appropriate funds to support effective public health programs as well as work to integrate PEPFAR into primary care. My own bill, HR 5237, the Global Pediatric HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Act, would strengthen the mother-to-child transmission efforts included in the original PEPFAR bill. I am also working on bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of health care professionals providing care in PEPFAR nations. This shortage has reached a crisis point and we cannot continue our efforts if we do not build capacity on the ground.

I am a strong supporter of community-based measures, from the free distribution of condoms, to the provision of preventive medicines for babies born to HIV-positive mothers. While there are many difficulties inherent in attempting to fund overseas community work, I remain dedicated to that objective.

Speeches:
• Rep. McDermott Addresses UN Conference on HIV/AIDS Pandemic
• Rep. McDermott Speaks Out in Support of Leadership to Fight HIV/AIDS
• Rep. McDermott Introduces Global Pediatric HIV/AIDS Prevent and Treatment Act of 2008

Mental Health Parity

Mental illness, including the psychological components of substance abuse, is one of the leading causes of disability in America. As a physician and psychiatrist, I am keenly aware of the far-reaching consequences of inequity between the coverage offered for treatment of mental illness and that offered for treatment of physical illness.

I am a strong supporter of HR 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, which passed the House of Representatives on March 5, 2008. This bill would expand the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 to require group health plans that offer benefits for mental health services to do so on the same terms as those governing the provision of benefits for other diseases.