Thank you . . .
. . for contacting me regarding problems with our health care system. Without a doubt, this is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking issues that I hear about from families, and I am grateful for your willingness to share your thoughts and experiences with me.
When it comes to health care, our families and businesses are in a serious crisis. High health care costs are causing cuts in benefits and increases in premiums, adding to the ranks of the uninsured at alarming rates. But the impact of this problem goes beyond individual families. Skyrocketing health care costs make our businesses less competitive in the global marketplace and cost us good-paying jobs.
Addressing the problems in health care is a critical priority for me-one that I view with the same sense of urgency as families dealing with their own medical emergencies. And I am doing everything that I can so that my colleagues in Congress will join me in addressing this issue with the same urgency.
I am honored to serve as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. This committee is responsible for many issues critical to Michigan's future, including our nation's health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. These programs are the backbone of our nation's health care system and cover over a quarter of our nation's population.
To address the health care problems facing us today, I am focused on a number of initiatives to:
o Provide every American with affordable health insurance that gives real choice to consumers. Everyone should be allowed to choose between their current coverage or options among public or private providers. We need health insurance that covers people when they change jobs and never denies people based on pre-existing conditions.
o Establish an equitable Medicare payment system that does not financially burden our health care providers or does not put Medicare beneficiaries at risk of losing access for treatment.
o Lower the cost of prescription drugs for everyone by closing loopholes in our generic prescription drug approval process. This will create more competition for name-brand drug companies and will save consumers money.
o Offer seniors a comprehensive, affordable prescription drug benefit administered through Medicare. Medicare must be allowed to negotiate directly with drug companies for lower prices.
o Create public/private partnerships to provide affordable health care plans for uninsured employees working for small businesses by sharing costs between employees, employers, and communities.
o Invest in cutting-edge medical research to save lives and bring good-paying biotechnology jobs to Michigan.
o Allow the re-importation of safe, affordable, FDA-approved prescription drugs, most of which are American-made, from Canada and other approved countries with strict safety regulations.
o Help Michigan's automakers keep their promise to retirees through a manufacturer's tax credit that helps offset the high legacy costs associated with retiree benefits, which are typically not paid by foreign automakers.
o Address the burdensome duplication and paperwork in our health care system by encouraging hospitals, nursing facilities, health centers, and physicians to invest in information technology, saving both lives and dollars.
I believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. There is no doubt that the problems we face are complex, but there are real solutions. Now is the time to show the political will to tackle these issues because there is so much at stake. To get updates on this issue, or to share your story about health care, please visit my website at http://stabenow.senate.gov/peo...
Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again if I can be of help to you or your family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
