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Congresswoman Karen Bass

Representing the 37th District of California

Health Care

Watch Congressmember Bass speak about health care here.

Health care should be a right not a privilege.  However, tens of millions of Americans go uninsured or are burdened by the high costs of health care, putting the health of our communities and our country at risk. The passage of Affordable Care Act ensures that every American has access to affordable, quality health care.  The Affordable Care Act also builds a strong health care workforce and promotes job creation.  Even though Republicans have attempted to repeal health care dozens of times, Congressmember Bass has consistently voted against repealing this landmark bill and will continue to ensure it is fully implemented. 

The Affordable Care Act has been beneficial to many Americans already and more benefits are still to come.

Click the chart above to see how the Affordable Care Act is changing health care across the country.

Medicare

The Republican plan to end Medicare is very real. They are fixated on cutting benefits and want to put insurance companies in control of your health. They want insurers to decide what tests and treatments seniors receive, and Democrats are united like never before in opposition to this scheme. Reforms to Medicare that break a pledge we have made to our seniors is wrong and will not stand.

Medicaid

Millions of Americans are dependent on Medicaid as a vitally important program for medical care and medication. This safety net provides low-income families with the access they need to stay healthy during difficult times and helps to lift families out of poverty. Congressmember Bass will continue to protect Medicaid regardless of the Republican attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the neediest Americans.

Key Health Care Initiatives & Accomplishments

Congressmember Bass is committed to protecting access to affordable health care, closing health care disparities and increasing technology in the health care system. As a former Physician Assistant (PA), she has both personal and professional experiences that inform her voting record in Congress. This is why Congressmember Bass has continued to fight vote against any attempts Republicans have made to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Bass Legislation & Key Votes

Co-sponsored Legislation

  • H.R.321: Firearm Safety and Public Health Research Act of 2013
  • H.R.485: National Nurse Act of 2013
  • H.R.725: Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2013
  • H.R.728: Access to Birth Control Act
  • H.R.855: Optometric Equity in Medicaid Act
  • H.R.920: National Health Service Corps Improvement Act of 2013
  • H.R.1830: Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2013

Health Care Issues in California’s 37th District

California’s 37th District is home to a committed group of health care advocates and professionals. Congressmember  Bass is strongly committed to protecting access to affordable health care across the 37th District and the United States.

Congressmember Bass has hosted and attended many town halls devoted to helping constituents learn more about health care reform and get enrolled in Covered California. 

Watch coverage of a 2011 Health care Town Hall.

Local health care priorities include:

  • Ensuring that access to family planning is available throughout the community. 
  • Protecting the Affordable Care Act and other resources to ensure that the health care professionals in the six hospitals and throughout the 37th District can perform their duties.

For assistance with health care enrollment, feel free to call Maral Karacussian in my LA Office. For more information concerning my work and views on health care, please contact my Washington, DC office. I look forward to your feedback.

More Resources

More on Health Care

January 5, 2017 In The News

Obamacare isn’t just a healthcare plan, it’s also a jobs plan. If Republicans destroy the ACA, they are not only abandoning millions of Americans with new health benefits, they are also abandoning those jobs. Thank you to those you who flooded my offices with calls yesterday to share your stories. Know that I hear you and will stand to protect Medicare and Obamacare. Watch my interview from last night on MSNBC below.

November 30, 2016 In The News

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to pass a bipartisan bill that allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue funding the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH). Rep. Karen Bass, a cosponsor of the bill, made the following statement prior to its passage on the House Floor.

August 9, 2016 In The News

Los Angeles-On Sunday, July 31, 2016, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Health Braintrust with the support of Congressional Representatives Karen Bass (D-California) and Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) joined with the Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church of South Los Angeles and Health Net to host a free Church Community Health Fair.

November 5, 2015 Press Release
As the only former Physician Assistant (PA) now serving in Congress, Rep. Karen Bass introduced two pieces of legislation to make sure that people who want to become Physician Assistants have the ability to successfully attend college as well as making sure that Physician Assistant education programs have the resources they need.
October 5, 2015 Press Release
Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.)—Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth—announced today they introduced H.R. 3641, the “Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act of 2015,” legislation that will close a loophole and guarantee that foster youth will still receive health insurance through Medicaid until they turn 26 years old regardless of their state of residence.
March 6, 2015 Press Release
Rep. Karen Bass released the following statement after the last Ebola patient in Liberia was discharged from a treatment center in Monrovia.
January 8, 2015 Press Release
Congresswoman Karen Bass released the following statement after voting to oppose the Sabotage American Workers Act of 2015.
November 25, 2014 Press Release
Last Saturday, Congresswoman Karen Bass joined hundreds of families, insurance seekers, and healthcare advocates for a Healthcare Resource Fair and Town Hall.
November 13, 2014 Press Release
Following a House Foreign Affairs committee hearing entitled “Combatting Ebola in West Africa: The International Response” with top administration officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Representatives David N. Cicilline (D-RI) and Karen Bass (D-CA) today introduced a congressional resolution to acknowledge and thank medical professionals and volunteers for their extraordinary courage in responding to the Ebola outbreak.
October 24, 2014 Press Release
Congresswoman Karen Bass, Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Africa, released the following statement after Dr. Craig Spencer tested positive for Ebola in New York City: