Health Care
As a sitting Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, I am at the forefront of debates surrounding health care policy. People across western and central Wisconsin have shared with me for years their concerns with our current health care system. Our economy continues to suffer as Wisconsin families fall further into debt due to rising health care costs. Comprehensive health care reform could not wait and I was glad to help shape and support the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. As part of health care reform, I was committed to making sure that we fixed what’s broken in the health care system and strengthened what’s working. For 46 years, Medicare has provided critical health care and financial stability for seniors and people with disabilities – and it’s working for seniors in western Wisconsin.
Legislative Successes:
- Part of the health care reform bill included provisions from legislation I authored. The provisions move the Medicare system from one that pays for the quantity of services provided to one that is quality-based and addresses the long-term sustainability of the program.
- This year, I partnered with Chairman Ryan to include access to Medicare data for Qualified Entities in the SGR repeal and replace bill that was signed into law.
- This Congress, I introduced bipartisan legislation that seeks to improve the health and lives of our children, our families, and our seniors.
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More on Health Care
La Crosse, WI —Today, Rep. Ron Kind announced close to $2,000,000 in grants to support telehealth services and distance learning in Wisconsin. The grants, approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, were awarded to St. Vincent Hospital and the HSHS System to help purchase telehealth equipment and expand access to services and to Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 10 to upgrade schools' distance learning technology and provide resources to help overcome disparities experienced by rural school districts.
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar calling on them to provide additional support to Wisconsin to address the severe spike in COVID-19 cases statewide. This is Rep.
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Ron Kind voted for the updated Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. This legislation would provide relief to Wisconsinites as the COVID-19 crisis continues and includes support for small businesses, assistance for industries hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional round of $1,200 stimulus checks for taxpayers and $500 for dependents, restored weekly unemployment benefits, and expanded funding for education and child care.
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging them to direct additional resources to Wisconsin in order to keep communities safe amid severe spikes in COVID-19 cases, particularly in counties with universities as students and faculty returned to campuses last week for the fall semester.
La Crosse, WI — Today, Rep. Ron Kind joined his colleagues in condemning the Administration’s continued legal assault on existing health care coverage and urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in court.
La Crosse, WI – Today, Rep. Ron Kind announced his support for the Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act, bipartisan legislation that will expand and improve Wisconsinites’ access to telehealth services under Medicare. This bill will continue the expanded use of telehealth beyond the COVID-19 crisis by eliminating restrictions on its use in Medicare, providing a bridge for patients currently using these services due to the pandemic and requiring a study on the use of telehealth during COVID-19.
La Crosse, WI – Yesterday, Rep. Ron Kind sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging them to work swiftly to provide appropriate PPE to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Wisconsin.
La Crosse, WI – Today, Rep. Ron Kind announced that $121 million was included in the recently passed House funding bill to implement pain management reforms included in the Jason Simcakoski PROMISE Act, which Rep. Kind introduced and helped pass into law. The funding will help implement updates to pain management practices within the VA, including strengthening provider education and training and improving patient advocacy. The appropriations package now must pass the Senate before it can be signed into law.
Washington, DC— Today, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) that would improve coverage under Medicare for immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This legislation now moves onto consideration by the full House of Representatives.
La Crosse, WI —Last week, Rep. Ron Kind joined 48 of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide immediate relief to rural health care providers affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.