Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that 15 additional prescription drugs have been selected by the Biden administration for Medicare price negotiations. This is the second round of negotiations authorized by Democrats’ signature Inflation Reduction Act, which is designed to lower costs for seniors and families.
Negotiations with participating drug companies for… Read more »
Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced a new benefit for seniors on Medicare that will cap their Part D out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year. This provision of Democrats’ 2022 Inflation Reduction Act will save over 340,000 Washington seniors an average of $413 per year.
“One of the biggest expenses for seniors and their families is prescription costs and… Read more »
Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702), their legislation that would speed up access to quality care for seniors by streamlining prior authorization under Medicare Advantage, was endorsed by over 500 health… Read more »
Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) and Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) and Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), John Thune (SD), and Sherrod Brown (OH) recently introduced an updated Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. The bipartisan legislation would streamline Medicare Advantage’s prior authorization process to… Read more »
When doctors diagnosed Robin Sparks with cancer two years ago, they needed to act fast.
The hard lump on her neck was Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer that penetrates bone marrow and attacks the immune system.
Sparks, of Marysville, spent weeks wading through tests and appointments to get her diagnosis. Three months into her six-month chemotherapy treatment, Sparks’ doctors… Read more »
A prior authorization overhaul for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries may have a stronger chance of passage in this Congress.
That's because of an expected lower CBO score, a new rule on the issue, and renewed urgency in a post-Chevron environment.
Why it matters: Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have faced delays and denials of care due to the prior… Read more »
Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) hosted a roundtable discussion with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Washington patients, and physicians to discuss the policy changes taking place that will improve Washingtonians access to health services and reduce burden on Washington providers.
During the discussion, participants… Read more »
Today, the House Ways & Means Committee marked up the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act (H.R. 1691), bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) to provide Medicare beneficiaries with faster access to safe, effective breakthrough medical devices. The bill was approved 36-5.
The bill would… Read more »
Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) introduced an updated Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act along with Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) and Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) and Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), John Thune (SD), and Sherrod Brown (OH).
The bipartisan legislation would help get seniors the care they need and… Read more »
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act (H.R. 6020) that Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Jay Obernolte (CA-23) introduced. The HOLD Act will allow more living donors to qualify for wage, travel, and caregiver reimbursements when donating organs.
“No one should have to choose between a paycheck and donating a… Read more »
