Issue Position: Healthcare

Issue Position

Today, too many Americans, especially seniors and children, are either uninsured or underinsured, many lack the essential access to basic healthcare. I believe healthcare must be accessible and affordable for all Americans, which is why one of the first votes I made as your Congressman was to lower the cost of prescription drugs by using the federal buying power to do so. As I travel my district meeting with constituents, healthcare providers, nurses, and doctors, I hear a similar theme: our current healthcare system is not working for anyone. We must increase transparency in the medical billing process and lower the patient to nurse ratio. There is no easy or quick fix, but it is the responsibility of elected officials to find solutions to complicated problems.

Mental Health

Mental health is a vital component to our health and well being. Unfortunately, too often there is a stigma related to mental health disorders and treatment. It is estimated that one in five Coloradans suffer from mental health disorders, yet less that one-third receive any treatment. Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., resulting in 217 million lost workdays annually. For our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, concussive-type injuries have led to an increase in PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other disorders such as anxiety and depression. The screening process for brain injuries and PTSD has proven to be ineffective, and our troops are discouraged from reporting mental health issues. Individuals with mental health and addiction problems are flooding our correctional facilities. Nearly 40% of committed youth in the Juvenile Justice system have serious mental health issues in addition to 83% having substance abuse problems. These statistics are only the beginning when dealing with untreated or under-treated mental health and addiction treatment. The time to act on this important issue is now. In February 2007, I had the honor of hosting a mental health parity field hearing with Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) & Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN). These two colleagues from both sides of the aisle have brought mental health and addiction parity to the forefront with their courageous personal stories. Mental health parity would make certain disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar, PTSD and severe and chronic depression on an equal status with other physical health problems. I am a proud co-sponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 which will provide parity for mental health and addiction treatment. Removing the stigma associated with mental illness and providing treatment will save employers money and help our citizens achieve total body health.

Stem Cell

The debate and controversy regarding stem cell research bring to light many passionate personal opinions. I respect everyone's right to their opinion on this issue but religion and politics should not drive policy based on science. In the first 100 hours the 110th Congress passed H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 1. I served as a Freshman Whip for this bill, a role that deals with helping to organize support. What I am most proud of about my experience working with this bill was the civility displayed on both sides of the aisle during the floor debates. I hope all future debates are conducted with this kind of discourse. President Bush used his first ever veto against this same bill in 2006. Stem cell research has the potential to help people suffering from illnesses such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and spinal cord injuries. On a personal note my oldest daughter, Alexis, has epilepsy so I've seen first hand how these illnesses effect people everyday. This bill also has in place a myriad of ethical safeguards. These embryos have been donated for embryonic stem cell research from fertility clinics and have consent from the donors. These embryos have been deemed to have no further use for the donors and will be discarded. There is an alternative to discarding an unwanted embryo; it could be utilized to promote research that could find cures for millions of suffering Americans.

1. http://thomas.loc.gov

Uninsured

Over 46 million Americans are uninsured, including many children. According to a March 2006 Current Population Survey (CPS) an estimated 46 million Americans are uninsured. The same survey estimated 788,000 or 17% of Coloradans are uninsured. As a country we can and must do better. I support reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) at a level of funding to cover the children eligible for the program. In 2006, Colorado enrolled 46,755 children; however, 57,000 more children are eligible and need funding to be enrolled. America, with all its wealth and prosperity, must find a way to bridge that gap. I will work with my colleagues in Congress, constituents, health care workers, providers and the insurance industry to try to develop a solution to this serious issue.

Medicare

What is Medicare?
Medicare is a nationwide health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and over and certain people with disabilities. Approximately 43.7 million people were enrolled in Medicare 2007.

Medicare Part D, what is it and what is the "doughnut hole"?
In 2003, Congress enacted a major Medicare bill, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. This act provided access to a voluntary prescription benefit plan. The gap or "doughnut hole" takes place because in 2007 the "standard coverage" begins with a $265 deductible. Medicare then pays 25% coinsurance for costs between $266 and $2,400. When annual prescription costs exceed $2,400 there is no coverage until the beneficiary has out-of-pocket costs of $3,850 ($5,451.25 in total spending); this coverage gap has been labeled the "doughnut hole"

Basically the "doughnut hole" means that there is a gap in a middle portion of Medicare Part D coverage. After the initial $265 deductible, Medicare Part D pays for a percentage of your prescription costs from $266 to $2,400. Prescription costs from $2,401 to roughly $5,250 are the individual's responsibility. Once the individual reaches the set limit (approximately $5,250), the program pays all costs except for nominal cost-sharing. Congress needs to find a way to close that gap in prescription drug coverage.

Medicaid

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is an entitlement program financing the delivery of primary medical services as well as long-term care to more than 63 million people. The estimated cost to the federal and state governments is roughly $317 billion. States individually design and administer their own version of Medicaid under broad federal rules. Individuals and their children, who meet certain income requirements along with eligible persons with disabilities, may qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, there are some state by state variations for eligibility.

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