Health

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced the Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act (H.R. 6781), legislation that would increase access to mental health services through telemedicine for Medicare beneficiaries.  Currently, Medicare limits access to telemedicine to certain geographic regions with provider shortages. However, even patients who can use telemedicine are not… Read more »

Today, Rep. Suzan DelBene joined the YMCA of Greater Seattle to pass out lunches to children from low-income families as part of their Summer Meals Program. The event took place at Kingsgate Library in Kirkland. Every child in attendance received a meal, and accompanying parents were given a snack. “No child should be forced to skip meals or go to bed hungry just because school is not… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) hosted a press conference on women’s health and economic empowerment with Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington and Moms Rising to highlight how the constant attacks on women from President Trump and House Republicans are impacting American families. DelBene and her fellow speakers defended a woman’s right to choose and spoke… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene sharply criticized a Republican-led bill that would take away premium tax credits from millions of hard-working, middle class Americans if their plan covers comprehensive women’s health, including abortion services.  During a House Ways and Means Committee markup, DelBene offered an amendment to strike down language prohibiting premium tax… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene held a discussion with Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and constituents to talk about the impacts of the Republican sabotage of our nation’s health care system. Topics included the actions taken by the administration to that have increased premiums, the threats to people living with pre-existing conditions, the uncertainty in individual markets… Read more »

This week, the House of Representatives passed several bills to help address the opioid crisis, including two bipartisan bills introduced by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) – the Expanding Oversight of Opioid Prescribing and Payment Act (H.R. 5273) and the Combatting Opioid Abuse for Care in Hospitals (COACH) Act (H.R. 5774). Both of these bills are included in the SUPPORT for Patients… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2018 (H.R. 5997), a bill that would guarantee Medicare beneficiaries access to cutting edge medical innovation. Her bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Tony Cardenas… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced H.R. 5723, the Expanding Oversight of Opioid Prescribing and Payment Act of 2018. This bipartisan legislation requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to evaluate and report on adverse incentives that lead to the over prescription of opioids and under-utilization of non-opioid alternatives for post-surgery recovery and the… Read more »

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) sent a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urging the agency to continue fostering Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the beginning stage model. ACOs are a market-based solution where groups of physicians, hospitals, and other providers voluntarily collaborate to… Read more »

Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a Chief Deputy Whip and the Ranking Democrat on the now-defunct Select Investigative Panel, led the Democratic Members of the Panel on a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar. In the letter, Reps. Schakowsky, Jerrold Nadler, Diana DeGette, Jackie Speier, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Suzan DelBene, expressed their serious concerns about the… Read more »