Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

High quality and affordable health care must be a national priority. Care for all Americans -- whether seniors, children, or veterans -- must be comprehensive. We also must continue to emphasize preventative care, reproductive rights, and mental health care, while protecting funding for innovation and research. San Diego health care providers, and numerous companies in the region, are already hard at work to find savings through innovation, and Congress must continue to encourage this kind of development. Medicare and Medicaid are programs that are important to our seniors, and it is our job in government to make sure that seniors receive the benefits they deserve and have already paid for.

San Diego is lucky to be home to nationally recognized hospitals and numerous community clinics that provide high-quality care for thousands of people every day. Further, cutting-edge scientific research in every field imaginable is taking place at facilities in the 52nd District, contributing to our nation's health and our region's economy.

The Affordable Care Act

For questions and resources about the Affordable Care Act, visit the link below.

http://scottpeters.house.gov/resources/aca

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act)

For a quick visual overview of your rights surrounding your health care records, click here. Or visit the link below.

http://youtu.be/3-wV23_E4eQ

Some of the Votes I have taken regarding healthcare:

Voted to improve our nation's public health and medical systems' ability to prepare for and respond to major emergencies, whether natural or manmade.
Voted to increase research and accelerate the development of clinical trials to treat rare pediatric diseases.
Voted to reauthorize funding to support vital residency and training programs for pediatricians and subspecialists in children's hospitals, helping to address the physician shortfall.

Some of the healthcare bills I have cosponsored:

H.R. 523 -- "Protect Medical Innovation Act' of 2013, would repeal the medical device tax
H.R. 728 -- "Access to Birth Control Act' would ensure that pharmacies without prescribed birth control in stock order it in a timely manner or transfer the prescription to another pharmacy. It also prohibits harassment or intimidation, because access to birth control is the right of every woman this country.
H.R. 729 -- "Medical Research Protection Act': Exempts NIH from sequestration so that basic scientific research continues to be funded and our country maintains its superiority in innovation and discovery.

Some of the letters I have coauthored:

Supporting increase funding for safety net clinics, which are often the entry point into the health care sym for many families, including the Family Health Centers of San Diego
Supporting Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest for the quality services they offer and to encourage their expansion in neighboring areas
Letter to CMS (the agency that administers Medicare) expressing concern about cuts to Medicare Advantage
Support for full funding of the NIH research process

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