Article Source:  CA U.S. Senator Padilla

 

Dear Mr. Riechel,

Thank you for writing to share your thoughts regarding health care policy in the United States. I appreciate hearing from you.

I believe that every American has the right to quality, affordable, and equitable health care. No family should face bankruptcy because of an illness or have to choose between making rent and paying for medication. I am a champion for increasing access to mental health care, lowering prescription drug costs, and reducing the systemic disparities that affect health care access and quality.

I have consistently fought for legislation that will lower prescription drug costs. That is why I was proud to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169), which President Biden signed into law on August 16, 2022. This bill caps out of pocket Medicare prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year, allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and caps insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $35 a month. Additionally, it holds drug companies accountable by penalizing them for increasing drug prices faster than inflation for Medicare beneficiaries.

Additionally, I am working toward eradicating inequities in our health care system that lead to disproportionately worse health outcomes for women and people of color. That is why I introduced the “Equal Health Care for All Act” (S. 2347), which would create standards to ensure that all patients have access to the same high-quality health care services, regardless of race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or religion. It would also create an Office of Civil Rights and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services, a system for patients to file complaints, and a new Federal Health Equity Commission to track progress on reducing disparities in health outcomes. This bill is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, of which I am not a member.

I also firmly believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. That is why I led a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues in launching the Senate Mental Health Caucus on October 17, 2023. The Senate Mental Health Caucus serves as a forum for Senators to develop bipartisan legislation to tackle our country’s mental health crisis, as well as raise awareness about and destigmatize mental health. Mental health challenges have touched the lives of all Americans, and it is time for us to come together and develop common-sense solutions.

I believe every Californian deserves high-quality, affordable health care, and I will fight tirelessly until that goal is a reality. Please know that I appreciate hearing your perspective on this issue, and I hope you will continue to contact me regarding issues of importance to you.

Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or comments, please call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3553 or visit my website at padilla.senate.gov. You can also follow me on Facebook, and Twitter, and you can sign up for my email newsletter at padilla.senate.gov/newsletter.

Sincerely,

Alex Padilla
United States Senator