Healthcare
Representative Neguse believes that all Americans have the right to high-quality, affordable health care. He is committed to defending against efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, fighting for Medicare-For-All and lowering prescription drug prices. One of the first pieces of legislation he co sponsored in the 116th Congress was a legislative package to provide sweeping cost relief to American consumers purchase of prescription drugs and he seeks to make affordable healthcare one of his priority issues in the 116th Congress.
Medicare for All
The Affordable Care Act was a critically important step towards the goal of universal healthcare, allowing for 22 million Americans to gain health insurance for the first time, young adults to stay on their parent’s health plans until they’re 26 and individuals with pre-existing conditions to benefit from increased protections. As we move forward, though, we must continue to build on the success of the ACA to achieve the goal of universal health care.
Twenty-nine million Americans today still do not have health insurance and millions more are underinsured and cannot afford the high copayments and deductibles charged by private health insurance companies that put profits before people. Healthcare must be recognized as a right, not a privilege. The only long-term solution to America’s health-care crisis is a single-payer national health care program. Representative Neguse supports the Medicare for All Act which would reduce overhead and administration costs in our healthcare system, focus federal investments on training health care providers, build on the strength of the 50 years of success of the Medicare program and finally separate health insurance from employment. He is also a Vice Chair of the Medicare for All caucus.
Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs
Today, American consumers pay far more for drugs than it costs to manufacture them. The government is giving exclusive monopoly to pharmaceuticals, and it has to stop. Lowering prescription drug prices and providing cost relief to Americans has to be a priority. A life-saving drug does no good if the people who need it cannot afford that drug. Representative Neguse supports efforts to allow for Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices with prescription drug companies, as the Veterans Administration currently does. He also supports efforts to allow American consumers and pharmacies to import drugs from Canada and other major countries. Fundamentally, Representative Neguse believes we must get the profit motive out of our healthcare system, this begins with putting a check on the pharmaceutical companies’ reckless price hikes and lowering prescription drug prices across the board.
Medicare
Representative Neguse views Medicare as an indispensable social safety net. Approximately 50 million Americans receive coverage through the program each year, including nearly 900,000 Colorado seniors. Representative Neguse is committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program for future generations, and will oppose any legislation that undermines the opportunity for our seniors to maintain a healthy and productive standard of living after they retire.
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Washington, DC—Today, Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act, legislation that would encourage telehealth innovation and promote expanded access to healthcare services in rural and urban areas through telehealth and digital services. Currently, Medicare covers limited telehealth services, setting a poor industry standard, discouraging innovation, and restricting access to specialized care.
Washington D.C.—On Friday, June 14th at 3:00 p.m. MT, Congressman Joe Neguse will host a roundtable discussion with advocates and patients to discuss the skyrocketing cost of drug prices. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that Americans spent more than $460 billion on prescription drugs in 2016. In Colorado, an estimated 500,000 individuals do not fill a prescription per year because of the high cost. High prescription drug costs are a concern for patients, providers, and policy makers.
Washington D.C.— Congressman Joe Neguse released the following statement in response to President Trump’s 2020 budget draft, released today:
Washington D.C.— Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, introduced the Restraining Excessive Federal Enforcement & Regulations of Cannabis (REFER) Act, a bipartisan bill to prevent federal agencies from using taxpayer funds to interfere in state and local cannabis laws.
Washington D.C.— Congressman Joe Neguse joins the Medicare for All Caucus as a Vice-Chair and signs onto Medicare for All Act of 2019, set to be introduced this week.
Washington, D.C.— Following his swearing in on January 3rd, in Washington D.C., Congressman Joe Neguse went to work immediately to fix the ongoing government shutdown and has introduced several pieces of original legislation that will have a positive impact on the 2nd Congressional District and State of Colorado. Despite being a freshman, Rep.
Washington D.C.—This morning, Congressman Joe Neguse joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and other colleagues from the House and Senate to support a legislative package which would provide cost relief to American consumers purchasing prescription drugs.