Health Care
More on Health Care
When I meet with hospitals and health care providers around Nebraska, both prior to and during the current pandemic, the impact of unnecessary regulations on their ability to provide care in rural areas is always at the top of their list of concerns. Over the last four years I have appreciated working with the Trump administration on these issues because of their persistent willingness to listen to rural Americans, take these concerns seriously, and act. We cannot afford to go in the other direction.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after his bill, the Reducing Unnecessary Senior Hospitalization (RUSH) Act, was included in the Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act (H.R. 14), a package of bipartisan provisions designed to aid Americans in addressing the impact of COVID-19 by promoting policies which incentivize innovation and supports healthy workplaces.
There are two approaches to meet the health care needs of Americans. The first way is a command economy approach, such as the Medicare for All effort, which uses mandates to force patients, providers, and insurers to take action – demonstrated under Obamacare to worsen access and drive up costs. The second way is to use the marketplace to drive down costs and improve consumer access like we used in constructing Medicare Part D to improve prescription access for seniors.
Many of the steps we have taken to physically and economically combat COVID-19 have received widespread coverage, such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and quarantining. The most critical measure, however, has largely been going on behind the scenes and deserves our attention. Developing a vaccine for COVID-19 is the only way to defeat the virus, potentially helping billions of people worldwide.
Washington, D.C. –Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), released the following statement after President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) addressing rural health and telehealth concerns. This EO creates new ways of financing for rural health, and extensions of emergency telehealth waivers previously limited to the COVID public health emergency.
In times of uncertainty Americans have pulled together and forged a path forward. Now, during a worldwide health crisis, is our chance to refocus on solving our urgent health care challenges by unleashing American innovation.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – also known as Obamacare – is ten years old. However, with ten years of hindsight, it is clear the ACA has been anything but affordable for Nebraska families. In the Third District, insurance on the ACA exchange often costs upwards of $30,000 for a family when you include annual premiums and deductible. Despite the ACA raising health insurance rates instead of lowering them, this week Speaker Pelosi brought a new ACA expansion bill (H.R. 1425) before the House of Representatives.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), released the following statement after opposing H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. H.R. 1425 would expand the so-called Affordable Care Act, implement government mandated drug price controls, and would punish states like Nebraska who followed a Supreme Court ruling and chose not to expand Medicaid.
For the past few months, the focus in Congress has been COVID-19 relief and recovery. While we have all adapted to the current reality, we must keep our focus on bringing an end to this pandemic and resuming our daily lives as the situation allows. Several times now, the House of Representatives has returned to Washington to vote, and on May 27, for the first time since the beginning of March, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing.
COVID-19 has certainly affected all of our lives. To slow the spread of this virus, we have been asked to go without many things: sporting and entertainment events, family functions, celebrations, and even congregating for worship services. While this situation is far from ideal, I am thankful we have technology to bridge the gap and keep us connected.