Health Care Archives - Congresswoman Cheri Bustos

Making Health Care More Accessible and Affordable

Health care is a deeply personal issue to me.

My sister-in-law, Barb, died several years ago without health insurance. Barb and her husband both worked full-time, but they couldn’t afford health insurance and when she got sick, she couldn’t afford the most effective cancer treatment she needed to survive.

Even those who can afford insurance are not immune to the extremely high costs of operations and prescription medications. A few months after my sister-in-law passed away, my brother Danny died, leaving behind a wife and two daughters. His insurance would not cover his cancer treatment because an experimental drug was required. No family should have to go through the suffering my family did. That’s why I’ve consistently supported legislation to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable and strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

Another major issue across our nation are societal factors that lead to negative health outcomes, like access to care and racial disparities. We’ve seen this borne out in the 17th Congressional District, where many residents in Peoria lack access to healthy food following the closure of grocery stores. Many in the District also include lack of access to care caused by physician shortages and long drives to the doctor in rural areas.

That’s why I have introduced the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, which would provide funding to communities to combat these issues and help drive positive health outcomes. As a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, I am committed to pushing for Health and Human Services funding that will improve access and quality of care in our communities.

More on Health Care

July 7, 2020

Barb Byers, Western Illinois Home Health Care

“Western Illinois Home Health Care contacted the Office of Congresswoman Cheri Bustos on August 16, 2017 to express concern with the trouble of collecting a payment dated April 10, 2017 in the amount of $29,159.42 from Health Net Federal Services, LLC. Western Illinois Home Health Care had made contact with Health Net Federal Services several […]

Press Release

March 4, 2020

Bustos Helps Pass $8.3 Billion Coronavirus Funding Package

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) helped pass the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020. The $8.3 billion emergency package includes funding for vaccine development, support for state and local governments and assistance for businesses effected by the coronavirus. “Americans deserve a comprehensive plan to make sure our country is prepared […]

Press Release

March 4, 2020

VIDEO: Bustos Questions VA Secretary on Coronavirus Response, Transportation for Rural Veterans

CLICK HERE for a video of Congresswoman Bustos questioning Secretary Wilkie Washington – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie during a Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing. Congresswoman Bustos asked Secretary Wilkie how the VA is coordinating with the Department […]

Press Release

March 3, 2020

Bustos Meets First-Ever Rural Health Liaison

Rural Health Liaison Position Created by Bustos as part of 2018 Bipartisan Legislation Washington – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) first-ever Rural Health Liaison, Betty-Ann Bryce, in her Washington, D.C. office. Last month, the USDA announced that Bryce would fill the Rural Health Liaison position, which was […]