Expanding Access, Cracking Down on Medicare Fraud

Each spring, as I travel across the Third District meeting with constituents, I am reminded just how special Nebraska is. There is a peace in rural America you cannot replicate anywhere else. It is the endless Sunday morning sunrise, the crunch of gravel under your feet during an evening stroll, and the sense of community where neighbors look out for one another without hesitation. This is even clearer as neighbors continue to help neighbors as we fight the ongoing fires across our state. 

But as strong as our communities are, we continue to face ongoing challenges, especially when it comes to health care. This is why the Ways and Means Committee has held a number of hearings focused on improving access and strengthening the health care system for rural Americans. 

During a recent hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., I had the opportunity to address several important issues facing Nebraskans today. During my questioning, I reminded Secretary Kennedy about the importance of policies and regulations rooted in sound science and risk-based standards. Highlighting how, if access to proven ag technologies is threatened, it can lower yields and raise food prices at a time when families are already feeling the pinch. Farmers and ranchers must have a seat at the table when policies are being made in Washington. 

From there, I turned to another pressing issue: access to health care in rural communities. Nebraska recently received a $218.5 million first-year award from the Rural Health Transformation Program, created through the Working Families Tax Cuts. This investment will help strengthen care delivery and improve health outcomes across our state.

Keeping this in mind, we must not forget pivotal role pharmacists can play in meeting rural health needs. Pharmacists are among the most accessible health care professionals, with nearly 9 in 10 Americans living within five miles of a pharmacy. In rural areas across the Third District, I know this accessibility can make a meaningful difference. 

I introduced my Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act with this in mind. My bill would allow pharmacists to test and treat seniors for common illnesses like the flu, strep throat, and RSV under Medicare. It is a practical solution that expands access, brings care closer to home, and helps reduce strain on emergency rooms and other providers.

While working to expand access to health care, it is crucial we ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t being taken advantage of. This is why we also held a hearing focused on fighting Medicare fraud. Medicare loses an estimated $60 billion every year to waste, fraud, and abuse. That is not just a number on a page, but real people who are being harmed by the misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Fraud erodes trust and diverts resources away from the people who truly need care, which is why I will continue to call on my colleagues in Congress to come together to put an end to it.