Legislative Priority: Health Care

Since I have been in Congress, I have been working to cut the high cost of prescription drugs for Oregonians and to strengthen Medicare and ensure drug coverage for all seniors.  Also, I have used my position as a key member of Science Committee to fight for increases in funding for scientific and medical research.

Cost of Health Care

I am very concerned about rising health insurance costs and believe too many insurance companies care more about their profit margins than their patients' health.  I am a strong supporter of efforts to ensure that everyone has access to health care and have aggressively worked to bring down the costs of prescription drugs, helped to make insurance more portable for individuals changing jobs, and supported equal coverage for mental health benefits.  I have also supported legislation to provide small business owners with incentives for offering health insurance coverage for their employees.

Oregon's Medicare Reimbursement

Oregon gets one of the worst Medicare reimbursement rates in the nation.  The National reimbursement average is $5,490.  The District of Columbia receives $10,373.  Yet, Oregon receives only $3,829.  Why is the system so unfair? Because a formula was developed that rewards inefficient practices.  States with the highest medical costs - often those that are least efficient - are rewarded with higher reimbursements.  Since Oregon has been on the cutting edge of efficiency, it gets punished in its reimbursement.  This inequity means Oregon struggles with an inadequate amount of money to reimburse its services.  I authored legislation that would restore equity to the reimbursement.

Health Care Information Technology

Congressman Wu has introduced legislation to advance the use of electronic records across health systems, a move that will bring greater efficiency to the health care industry.  While the use of electronic health systems is gaining momentum, no one is addressing the workforce concerns.  Congressman Wu's legislation would train 10,000 health care information technology professionals by 2011 to create a workforce capable of innovating, implementing, and using electronic health systems.

Helping Seniors Afford Prescription Drugs

I supported the Medicare prescription drug bill (H.R. 1) because I strongly believe that it was time to modernize Medicare to keep up with today's treatments.  For this reason, I did not want to let this historic opportunity pass us by.  If this bill did not pass, seniors could have had to wait many more years for meaningful prescription drug coverage.  Growing costs, continuing budget deficits, and partisan politics could have significantly diminished the prospects for passing a $400 billion prescription drug bill.  I felt it was important to be realistic about what was achievable in a Congress that is now, and likely will continue to be, very closely divided for years to come.  Moreover, this legislation, while not perfect, provided meaningful prescription drug coverage to those with the greatest needs: the sickest and the poorest beneficiaries.  Up to 15 million beneficiaries will be eligible to receive much needed drug coverage under this legislation, because they would qualify for low-income protections and are not currently eligible for Medicaid, or because they will have prescription drug expenses above the catastrophic cap of $3,600 in total drug costs.  Moreover, those seniors with an average of $200 in total drug spending a month, will see their costs cut in half.  Also, starting in April 2004, Medicare beneficiaries will receive a Drug Discount Card that will provide them with savings of 15%-25% off the costs of their prescription drugs right away.  This compromise Medicare bill also includes other important benefits that many may not be familiar with, including: a $600 subsidy next year for lower income beneficiaries under a drug discount card; significant new coordinated care benefits for chronically ill beneficiaries; improved preventive care coverage for diabetes and cardiovascular disease screening; and coverage for an initial physical exam for new beneficiaries.  There are a number of important provisions included in this bill that I opposed.  For instance, the bill includes a "donut hole," that leaves many seniors with a gap in coverage after their first $2,250 in drug costs.  The legislation also does not adequately address the reimportation of prescription drugs and it prohibits the federal government for negotiating for the best drug price.  With that in mind, I authored legislation that will address these concerns.

High Cost of Prescription Drugs

I believe we must bring down the skyrockets costs of prescription drugs for all Americans.  In addition to voting to allow for the reimportation of prescription drugs from other countries, I authored legislation that will allow for prescription drug reimportation.  I have also supported efforts aimed at delivering generic drugs to the market in a more timely, cost-effective way.

Long-Term Care

I believe we must improve American's access to long-term care choices, increase families' access to better long-term care, and provide assistance to families nursing a relative or friend.  I support legislation to provide an above-the-line tax deduction for long-term care premiums and tax relief for those with long-term care needs.  I also supported legislation to benefit caregivers.

Patients' Bill of Rights

I believe Americans are entitled to receive the best medical advice and attention possible.  That is why I am a proud sponsor of the Patients' Bill of Rights, which will help end the abuses that plague the managed care system by ensuring that patients and doctors -- not bureaucrats -- make medical decisions.  In addition to allowing doctors and patients to chart the best course of treatment, the legislation would ban gag clauses, establish a sensible outside appeals process, and allow lawsuits against HMOs when patients are harmed by their plan's restrictions.  These protections are common sense, basic rights that all Americans deserve.