Shelley Moore Capito - Congresswoman

Reforming and modernizing our healthcare system continues to be a top priority for the 111th Congress, which is why Congresswoman Capito believes it's imperative that reforms move forward in a truly bipartisan fashion.  An issue this large and complex deserves bipartisan solutions that build on areas of agreement between the administration and members of both political parties in Congress. 

We're already seeing consensus around ideas like prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions.  There's also bipartisan consensus to encourage health insurance portability, promote wellness and provide financial assistance to help lower income Americans access health insurance. 

The congresswoman has argued that these areas of agreement should be the immediate focus of Congress, instead of a divisive debate about a government-run healthcare option - which experts have said could push millions of Americans off their private insurance coverage and into a government-run plan. 

Capito has also stressed the need for meaningful tort reform to control healthcare costs associated with frivolous lawsuits, and has called for regulatory reforms to create downward price pressure through the increased competition associated with allowing health insurers to compete across state lines. 

While a member of the state legislature, the congresswoman was proud to have been an integral player in the development of the Children's Health Insurance Program for West Virginia. This program insures more than 24,000 low-income children in the Mountain State and gives them access to quality healthcare.

She's also argued for Medicare modernization to ensure that our seniors and disabled populations have access to the modern health tools they need. This is why Capito worked to bring Medicare Part D to West Virginia, giving Mountain State seniors access to a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. As the Vice Chair of the Speaker's Task Force on Prescription Drug Reform in the 107th and 108th Congresses, Congresswoman Capito played a key role in drafting this important legislation.

Rep. Capito is also a strong proponent of Health Savings Accounts, which allow consumers to have greater control over their health care expenditures by allowing them to save, tax free, for health care expenses. This means that patients can have a more open discussion with their health care provider of what is best for them and can then make a decision on how they want to utilize their resources. First available in 2004, enrollment in these plans has grown to over 6 million Americans and continues to rapidly increase each year.

As the national healthcare debate continues, the Congresswoman looks forward to continuing her work toward a truly bipartisan solution that ensures universal access to healthcare for all Americans.