Health Care

Ensuring access to effective and affordable health care is one of the greatest challenges facing the health profession, insurers, and local, state and federal governments. The burden that high insurance and medical costs places on working families and seniors with fixed incomes needs to be addressed. As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, I am focused on solutions that make health care more affordable, cover the uninsured and strengthen the safety net to prevent Americans from falling through the cracks.

As a cancer survivor, I know how important affordable, quality care is to Idaho families. Congress must take a number of steps to address this issue including promoting prevention and wellness, modernizing federal tax rules for health coverage, encouraging states to design health solutions for their citizens, and improving access to information on the price and quality of health services. While the government can play a role in providing and regulating health care, ultimately both consumers and providers should be free from excessive government interference with their health care choices. Instead of giving the government more power over health care, individual patients must be given more control, choice, and information to make their health care decisions. When individual patients have these choices, they will reward innovative providers and insurers who reduce costs and improve quality.

Idahoans deserve solutions that improve outcomes, increase consumer choices, promote quality care and curb excessive costs. Please know I continue to work with my Senate colleagues to reform our system of health care so that all Idahoans can receive the care they deserve and need.