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Tammy Baldwin on Health Care

Democratic Representative (WI-2)

 


We need to build upon the Affordable Care Act

Baldwin: It was my provision that allowed young people to stay on their parents health insurance until they turned 26. Sadly my opponent called that provision stupid and has said that he would overturn the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. He opposes efforts to negotiate with the big pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of prescription drugs. We need to build upon the Affordable Care Act and we need to build upon our efforts to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

Hovde: I'm the one who was against Big Pharma. It's your Wall Street partner who invests in Big Pharma. You oversee it and take massive amounts of money. I can't even believe she would say that I don't want to negotiate against drug prices. I think drug prices are wildly too high. I will actually do something about it because I'm not taking Big Pharma money. I'm not taking special-interest money. Her partner is making money off of it and doesn't even disclose the profit she's making.

Source: C-Span transcript of 2024 Wisconsin Senate debate , Oct 18, 2024

Address racial disparities in health care system

Health Care: Increase or decrease government support for health care?

Tammy Baldwin (D): Increase. "No American should have to choose between basic necessities... and paying for the drugs they need." Introduced the Capping Prescription Costs Act. Supports expanding Obamacare, Medicare, and Medicaid. Calls for addressing "racial disparities that exist in our nation's health care system."

Eric Hovde (R): Decrease. "Obamacare created monopolies and oligarchies and wiped out the family doctor." Repeal it. It's "stupid" to keep young adults on their parents' insurance until age 26. Would continue protecting benefits for pre-existing conditions.

Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Wisconsin Senate race , Sep 9, 2024

Good health care for all, especially the most vulnerable

Senator Duckworth will fight to achieve high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans, and she is willing to work with anyone to expand access to health insurance, bring down costs and improve the quality of care for Illinois families. That means helping develop proposals that protect patients from abusive practices, lower prescription drug costs and guarantee that Veterans, children, families and most vulnerable citizens receive the high-quality care every American deserves.
Source: 2022 Wisconsin Senate campaign website baldwin.senate.gov , Oct 16, 2019

Take repeal off the table & work to improve ObamaCare

Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare?

Tammy Baldwin (D): Support. "Take repeal off the table & work to improve." Ultimately prefers Medicare for All.

Leah Vukmir (R): Repeal. "Leah supports full repeal of ObamaCare. Period."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Wisconsin Senate race , Oct 9, 2018

Supports single payer, public option, and Medicare for all

Thompson claimed Baldwin wants a "completely government-controlled" health care system that goes "far beyond ObamaCare" and is "a Medicare system for all." We rated that Mostly True--accurate but needing clarification or more information.

Baldwin hasn't advocated for socialized medicine. But she has pushed "Medicare for all" legislation and she supports single payer and the public option--government elements that go beyond President Barack Obama's health care reform law.

Source: FactCheck.org on 2012 Wisc. Senate debate , Sep 27, 2012

MEDS Plan: Cover senior Rx under Medicare.

Baldwin adopted the Progressive Caucus Position Paper:

Summary of the Medicare Extention of Drugs To Seniors Act (Meds)

MEDS establishes an 80/20 outpatient prescription drug benefit under a new Medicare Part D that will be administered by the Health Care Financing Administration. The plan will cost similar to figures for the Bush prescription drug plan due to this plan’s emphasis on lowering the price of pharmaceuticals.

Premiums and Low-income Assistance:

Premiums would be $24/month in the first year and indexed to a pharmaceutical Sustainable Growth Rate, which will ensure that premiums or drug costs do not increase arbitrarily.

Employer Incentive Program:

Employers providing drug coverage equal to or better than the Medicare coverage receive an incentive payment to maintain such coverage.
Source: CPC Press Release, MEDS Plan 01-CPC3 on Jan 31, 2001

Limit anti-trust lawsuits on health plans and insurers.

Baldwin co-sponsored limiting anti-trust lawsuits on health plans and insurers

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY:

EXCERPTS FROM CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS:

    Congress finds the following:
  1. A large number of Americans receive their health care coverage from managed health care plans.
  2. The market power of insurance companies has increased tremendously since the early 1990`s, due to mergers and acquisitions.
  3. Health plans improperly manipulate the practice of medicine through such mechanisms as inappropriately making medical necessity determinations, and knowingly denying and delaying payment.
  4. The intent of the antitrust laws is to encourage competition and protect the consumer, and the current per se standard for enforcing the antitrust laws in the health care field frequently does not achieve these objectives.
  5. An application of the `rule of reason` will tend to promote both competition and high-quality patient care.
  6. In any action under the antitrust laws challenging a health plan, conduct shall not be deemed illegal per se, but shall be judged on the basis of its reasonableness, taking into account all relevant factors affecting competition and proposed contract terms.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary; never called for a House vote.

Source: Health Care Antitrust Improvements Act (H.R.3897) 02-HR3897 on Mar 7, 2002

Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.

Baldwin scores 100% by APHA on health issues

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. APHA is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.

The following ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization`s preferred position.

Source: APHA website 03n-APHA on Dec 31, 2003

Improve services for people with autism & their families.

Baldwin co-sponsored improving services for people with autism & their families

Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to:

  1. convene, on behalf of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a Treatments, Interventions, and Services Evaluation Task Force to evaluate evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services for individuals with autism;
  2. establish a multi-year demonstration grant program for states to provide evidence-based autism treatments, interventions, and services.
  3. establish planning and demonstration grant programs for adults with autism;
  4. award grants to states for access to autism services following diagnosis;
  5. award grants to University Centers of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities to provide services and address the unmet needs of individuals with autism and their families;
  6. make grants to protection and advocacy systems to address the needs of individuals with autism and other emerging populations of individuals with disabilities; and
  7. award a grant to a national nonprofit organization for the establishment and maintenance of a national technical assistance center for autism services and information dissemination.
  8. Directs the Comptroller General to issue a report on the financing of autism services and treatments.
Source: Promise for Individuals With Autism Act (S.937 & HR.1881) 07-HR1881 on Apr 17, 2007

Establish a national childhood cancer database.

Baldwin co-sponsored establishing a national childhood cancer database

Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007 - A bill to advance medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients and families have access to the current treatments and information regarding pediatric cancers, establish a population-based national childhood cancer database, and promote public awareness of pediatric cancers.

    Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to childhood cancer professional and direct service organizations for the expansion and widespread implementation of:
  1. activities that provide information on treatment protocols to ensure early access to the best available therapies and clinical trials for pediatric cancers;
  2. activities that provide available information on the late effects of pediatric cancer treatment to ensure access to necessary long-term medical and psychological care; and
  3. direct resource services such as educational outreach for parents, information on school reentry and postsecondary education, and resource directories or referral services for financial assistance, psychological counseling, and other support services.
Legislative Outcome: House version H.R.1553; became Public Law 110-285 on 7/29/2008.
Source: Conquer Childhood Cancer Act (S911/HR1553) 07-S911 on Mar 19, 2007

Establish a National Diabetes Coordinator.

Baldwin co-sponsored establishing a National Diabetes Coordinator

A bill to reduce the incidence, progression, and impact of diabetes and its complications and establish the position of National Diabetes Coordinator. Establishes the position of National Diabetes Coordinator, whose duties shall be to:

  1. serve as the principal advisor on reducing the rates of diabetes and its complications;
  2. develop a measurement for the incidence of diabetes;
  3. develop and coordinate implementation of a national strategy to reduce the incidence, progression, and impact of diabetes and its complications;
  4. provide leadership and coordination to ensure that diabetes-related programs are coordinated internally and with those of relevant federal, state, and local agencies with a goal of avoiding duplication of effort, maximizing impact, and marshaling all government resources; and
  5. coordinate public and private resources to develop and lead a public awareness campaign regarding the prevention and control of diabetes and its complications.
    In carrying out the duties described, the Coordinator shall adhere to the mission of:
  1. preventing diabetes in those individuals and populations at risk for the disease;
  2. increasing detection of diabetes;
  3. maximizing the return on diabetes research;
  4. increasing diabetes control efforts;
  5. improving the standard of diabetes care available; and
  6. supplementing, but not supplanting, existing diabetes research programs.
  7. Requires reports to the President on ways in which food programs and nutritional support can be better targeted at concerns specific to those at risk for diabetes or those already diagnosed whose complications could be reduced by more effective diet.
Source: National Diabetes Coordinator Act (S2742/HR4836) 08-S2742 on Mar 11, 2008

Remove restrictions on estriol (menopause medication).

Baldwin co-sponsored removing restrictions on estriol (menopause medication)

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Food and Drug Administration`s (FDA) new policy restricting women`s access to medications containing estriol does not serve the public interest.

    Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Congress that--
  1. physicians are in the best position to determine which medications are most appropriate for their patients;
  2. the FDA should respect the physician-patient relationship; and
  3. the FDA should reverse its policy that aims to eliminate patients` access to compounded medications containing estriol.
Source: SCR88/HCR342 08-SCR88 on Jun 10, 2008

Require insurers to cover breast cancer treatment.

Baldwin co-sponsored Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act

Congressional Summary: Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to require coverage and radiation therapy for breast cancer treatment.

Congressional Findings:

  1. According to the American Cancer Society, excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women.
  2. An estimated 40,480 women and 450 men died from breast cancer in 2008, and an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in women, plus 1,990 cases in men.
  3. Most breast cancer patients undergo some type of surgical treatment.
  4. Treatment for breast cancer varies according to type of insurance coverage and State of residence.
  5. Currently, 20 States mandate minimum inpatient coverage after a patient undergoes a mastectomy.
  6. Breast cancer patients have reported adverse outcomes, including infection and inadequately controlled pain, resulting from premature hospital discharge following breast cancer surgery.
    Source: H.R.111 11-HR111 on Jan 5, 2011

    Increase funding for occupational & physical therapy.

    Baldwin signed Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (MARS)

    Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the cap on outpatient physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy services of the type furnished by a physician or as an incident to physicians` services.

    SEC. 2. OUTPATIENT THERAPY CAP REPEAL.

    Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(l)) is amended by striking subsection (g).

    [Explanatory note from Wikipedia.com `Therapy Cap`]:

    In 1997 Congress established per-person Medicare spending limits, or `therapy cap` for nonhospital outpatient therapy, but responding to concerns that some people with Medicare need extensive services, it has since placed temporary moratoriums on the caps. The therapy cap is a combined $1,810 Medicare cap for physical therapy and speech language pathology, and a separate $1,810 cap for occupational therapy ($1870 for 2011). Medicare patients requiring rehabilitation from disabilities, car accidents, hip injuries, stroke, and other ailments would be limited to roughly two months worth of treatments at an outpatient therapy clinic. Any patients that exceed the cap, whether they are healed or not, would have to stop therapy, or pay for the therapy services out of their own pocket.Several medical associations have lobbied against therapy caps because the bill inadvertently restricted disabled seniors, stroke patients, and other severe cases from receiving therapy treatments.

    Source: HR.1546&S829 11-HR1546 on Apr 14, 2011

    Establish a public insurance option via healthcare Exchanges.

    Baldwin co-sponsored Public Option Deficit Reduction Act

    Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA, known as ObamaCare] to require Exchanges to offer a public health insurance option that ensures choice, competition, and stability of affordable, high-quality coverage throughout the United States. Declares that the primary responsibility is to create a low-cost plan without compromising quality or access to care. Sets forth provisions related to the establishment and governance of the public health insurance option, including that such plan:

    1. may be made available only through Exchanges;
    2. must comply with requirements applicable to other health benefits plans offered through such Exchanges; and
    3. must offer bronze, silver, and gold plan levels.
      Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to:
    1. establish an office of the ombudsman for the public health insurance option;
    2. collect such data as may be required to establish premiums and payment rates;
    3. establish geographically adjusted premiums at a level sufficient to fully finance the costs of the health benefits provided and administrative costs related to the operation of the plan; and
    4. establish payment rates and provide for greater payment rates for the first three years.
    Requires repayment of start-up costs for the public health insurance option. Authorizes the Secretary to utilize innovative payment mechanisms and policies to determine payments for items and services under the public health insurance option.
    Source: H.R.191 11-HR191 on Jan 5, 2011

    Opposes repealing ObamaCare.

    Baldwin opposes the CC Voters Guide question on ObamaCare

    Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Repealing "Obamacare" that forces citizens to buy insurance or pay a tax"

    Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q5a on Oct 31, 2012

    Religious exemption from ObamaCare individual mandate.

    Baldwin co-sponsored H.R.631 & S.352

    Congressional Summary: To provide an additional religious exemption from the individual health coverage mandate. This Act may be cited as the `Equitable Access to Care and Health Act` or the `EACH Act`. The `Religious Conscience Exemption` exempts individuals who are members of a recognized religious sect which relies solely on a religious method of healing, and for whom the acceptance of medical health services would be inconsistent with their religious beliefs.

    Supporters reasons for voting YEA: (TheHill.com weblog, April 29, 2013): `We believe the EACH Act balances a respect for religious diversity against the need to prevent fraud and abuse,` wrote Reps. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and William Keating (D-MA). `It is imperative we expand the religious conscience exemption now as the Administration is verifying the various exemptions to the individual mandate,` they wrote. Religious exemption from ObamaCare has come up before, including contraception. The EACH Act, however, deals only with exemptions from the insurance mandate.

    Opponents reasons for voting NAY: (CHILD, Inc. `Children`s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty`, Dec. 2014): The Christian Science church is pushing hard to get another religious exemption through Congress. The EACH Act exempts everyone with `sincerely held religious beliefs` from the mandate to buy health insurance. We are particularly concerned about uninsured children: hundreds of American children have died because of their family`s religious objections to medical care. The EACH Act increases the risk to children in faith-healing sects and the cost to the state if the children do get medical care. Some complain that their church members should not have to pay for health care that they won`t use. But insurance works on the assumption that many in the pool of policyholders will not draw from it. Most people with fire insurance don`t have their homes burn, for example.

    Source: EACH Act 15_S352 on Feb 3, 2015

    Make health care a right, not a privilege.

    Baldwin adopted the Progressive Caucus Position Paper:

      The Progressive Caucus is united in its goal of making health care a right, not a privilege. Every person should have access to affordable, comprehensive and high-quality medical care. We must use our health care dollars efficiently and ensure public accountability in all medical decisions. Based on this goal, we support the following principles:
    1. All Americans, including the 44 million currently without health insurance, deserve to have the health care they need, regardless of ability to pay.
    2. Medicare must remain solvent and available for the millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on the program. The Progressive Caucus supports expanding the program to cover prescription drugs and other needed products and services for beneficiaries. We support a Medicare buy-in for individuals age 55 and older. We support lowering out-of-pocket costs for seniors who currently pay, on average, 20% of their income for health care.
    3. Proposals should be rejected to change traditional Medicare from a defined benefit to a defined contribution or voucher system.
    4. Balanced Budget Act cuts that are negatively affecting patient access to hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies must be restored.
    5. Medicaid must have the resources to continue to provide coverage and care for low-income individuals, including children in the CHIP program.
    6. Individuals with disabilities should retain their health benefits when they return to work and to have access to rehabilitative and other needed services.
    7. Funding and outreach and other programs serving low-income Americans should be expanded. Examples of such programs are the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Qualified Individuals programs; transitional funds for Medicaid recipients who are also welfare-to-work recipients; and for HHS for mental health outreach for the elderly.
    Source: CPC Position Paper: Health Care 99-CPC2 on Nov 11, 1999

    Supported funding women's health needs.

    Baldwin adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

    Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC2 on Jul 15, 1999

    Supported funding older women's health.

    Baldwin adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

    Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC3 on Jul 15, 1999

    Supported funding Prenatal and Postpartum Care.

    Baldwin adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

    Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC5 on Jul 15, 1999

    Supported funding Family and Children's Coverage.

    Baldwin adopted the Women's Caucus policy agenda:

    Source: Women's Caucus Agenda-106th Congress 99-WC6 on Jul 15, 1999

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