Providing Healthcare For All
Congressman Ryan believes that affordable and accessible health care is a basic right for all Americans, and that health insurance is an investment not only in quality of life for our citizens, but also in our economy.
As Congress continues to work to promote accountability in the budget and avoid unnecessary spending I believe it is imperative that we continue to fund important programs to improve our Nation’s healthcare. That is why I am a longtime supporter of continuing to fund the National Institute of Health, which provides funding for research grants and clinical trials for such diseases as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Furthermore, I am proud supporter of the Affordable Care Act which put in place a patient bill of rights. The ramifications of a repeal of the Affordable Care Act for Ohioans are real. In Ohio alone, 35,500 young adults would lose their insurance coverage through their parents’ health plans. Nearly 6.7 million residents of Ohio with private insurance coverage will be vulnerable again to having lifetime limits placed on how much insurance companies will spend on their health care. More than 1.8 million seniors in Ohio who have Medicare coverage would be forced to pay a co-pay to receive important preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies.
Benefits of the Health Care Reform Legislation for Ohio’s 17th Congressional District:
• Improve coverage for 35,000 residents with health insurance
• Give tax credits to up to 180,000 families and 12,300 small businesses to help them afford coverage
• Improve Medicare for 109,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole
• Extend coverage to 39,000 uninsured residents
• Guarantee that 9,300 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage
• Protect 1,700 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs
• Allow 53,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans
• Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 4 community health centers
• Reduce costs of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $11 million annually
Addiction Treatment and Recovery Caucus:
I am proud to be the co-chair of the Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus with Congressman John Sullivan. Our mission is to educate and raise awareness about addiction and treatment issues.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009, and only 2.6 million—11.2 percent of those who needed treatment—received it at a specialty facility. That is why I am a supporter of making sure the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant get the appropriate funding to make sure people suffering from this illness get the help and treatment they deserve.
I joined with Congressman Tim Murphy in introducing the Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2012 (HR 6043). This legislation extends health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professional and facilities. I am also a cosponsor of the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act (HR 1833) and the Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act of 2012 (HR 5711)
Sponsor:
Gluten in Medicine Identification Act of 2012 (HR 4972):
According to the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease has increased as much as four times in the last decade. Celiac disease is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten or wheat grain products, affecting primarily the small intestine. This legislation would require that the label of drugs intended for human use contain a parenthetical statement identifying the source of any ingredient constituting or derived from a grain or starch-containing ingredient.
Cosponsor:
Cancer Research and Education
Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2011 (HR 111)
Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act (HR 733)
Improving Cancer Treatment Education Act 2012 (HR 3790)
Alzheimer’s Research
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act of 2011 (HR 1897)
Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer’s Act (HR 1386)
Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Support
Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011 (HR 1852)
Nursing Legislation
National Nurse Act of 2011 (HR 3679)
Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2011 (HR 2187)
Drug Shortages
Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2012 (HR 3839)