Health Care

As a longtime nurse, Congresswoman McCarthy understands, first-hand, the challenges facing our nation’s health care system.  As such, she is fighting to ensure access to affordable, dependable and high-quality health care for every citizen.

Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act

Congresswoman McCarthy and Congressman Tom Lathan introduced the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act on March 21^st 2013.  Because most health insurance plans exclude coverage for hearing aid purchases, this Act would provide a non-refundable $500 tax credit for the purchase of hearing aids by people with hearing loss or by parents of children with hearing loss, subject to an upper income eligibility cap.

Children’s Access to Reconstructive Evaluation and Surgery

Congresswoman McCarthy has always been an advocate for expanding health insurance coverage.  It is not enough, however, to simply expand coverage. Congress must make sure that the coverage that children have provides the health care that they need.  That’s why Congresswoman McCarthy has introduced the Children’s Access to Reconstructive Evaluation and Surgery (CARES) Act in the 110^th and 111^th Congresses.

In the wake of the Affordable Care Act and the published final rule related to Essential Health Benefits, the Congresswoman led a letter to HHS asking for how the final rule impacts the coverage of reconstructive surgery for children’s deformity.

Affordable Care Act

The passage of the Affordable Care Act during the 111^th Congress is a step toward ensuring equal access for all to affordable health care.  As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, one of the committees responsible for drafting the health care reform plan, Congresswoman McCarthy will continue to play a significant role in the oversight and improvement of our nation’s health care system as well as the law’s implementation.

Click here to visit the Affordable Care Act Toolkit for more information about the law and upcoming second enrollment period, which begins on November 15.

Medicare

The Medicare program has been vital in providing seniors with the care that they need.   The Congresswoman has worked with her colleagues to strengthen and improve Medicare services.  The Congresswoman has consistently fought against cuts to physician reimbursement in the Medicare program.  These cuts would be devastating to the senior population that depends on Medicare. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also made important investments in health care for our seniors, including: eliminating copayments for preventative care services, closing the prescription drug donut hole, and extending the life of the Medicare program

Social Security

The Congresswoman, while agreeing that reforms need to be made to the Social Security program to ensure its solvency, rejects the proposal that cost of living adjustments be tied to the chained CPI formula.  The Congresswoman will continue to support the long-term sustainability of the Social Security system while also protecting the benefits of our seniors and most vulnerable populations.