Berkley Named to Ways and Means Health Subcommitte

Press Release

Berkley Named to Ways and Means Health Subcommitte
Healthcare, Insurance, Medicare Issues Included in Panel's Jurisdiction

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has been named to the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. The new assignment will provide Berkley a greater opportunity to advocate for increased access to affordable, quality healthcare for more Americans.

"As a member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, I will have the opportunity to help shape the debate in Congress on the need for major healthcare reform," said Berkley. "Every American needs access to medical care in order to stay healthy, but our current system is broken, despite the fact that we spend record sums as a nation on healthcare. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue of critical importance to families and to businesses, which remain a leading source of healthcare coverage."

Soaring healthcare costs, lack of affordable coverage and the rising number of uninsured Americans are all top concerns for Berkley as a new member of the Subcommittee on Health.

"Families without affordable health insurance often cannot access critical preventive care, which actually saves money in the long run. Regular check-ups can reduce or prevent illness and early disease detection can mean the difference between life and death when it comes to treatment options," said Berkley. "Uninsured families in Las Vegas and nationwide live in fear over the cost of one trip to the hospital or one doctor visit, and that is not right in a nation that spends more on healthcare than any other country on Earth," said Berkley.

The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Health includes programs providing payments (from any source) for healthcare, health delivery systems and health research, including bills and matters that relate to healthcare programs of the Social Security Act including Medicare.

"Congress needs to fix the current physician payment system so that Medicare patients can continue to see their doctors. Without action, this will continue to undermine the Medicare system by threatening the ability of seniors and others covered under the program to receive healthcare from a doctor of their choice. The current system must be changed and it will be the Health Subcommittee that takes the lead on addressing this important issue. The same holds true for increasing the use of technology to better manage patient care and to modernize medical record keeping for the 21st Century."

Berkley also retains her seat on the Ways and Means Income Security Subcommittee, but is no longer a member of the Subcommittee on Trade.

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