Health Care

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As a doctor, I took an oath to care for the well-being of my patients. Core to that oath are three principles: to do good, to do no harm, and to empower patients with the best available information so they can make the decisions that work best for them and their families. I have sat with patients during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and I have seen firsthand how complicated, expensive, and frustrating our health care system can be. Now, as your representative in Congress, I am committed to staying true to that oath by working to make health care more affordable, more accessible, and more focused on patients.

To me, health care should work by a simple principle: you should be able to see a doctor when you’re sick, and if you’re really sick, you should not have to go bankrupt to get the care you need. That is why I support universal coverage so every American has access to affordable, quality health care. 

Today, the biggest challenges in health care are cost, access, and stability. Too many families are paying more in premiums, deductibles, and prescription drug costs while still struggling to get timely care. Too many seniors are worried about whether Medicare will continue to be there for them, and too many patients are running into bureaucratic obstacles that make it harder to see a doctor or afford the medication they need.

That is why I have worked to lower costs and protect access to care. In Congress, I voted to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month because no one should have to choose between paying for lifesaving medication and paying their bills. I also supported efforts to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors, because bringing down the cost of medicine is one of the most direct ways we can help families and older Americans keep more money in their pockets.

I have also worked to protect affordable coverage for families who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. After President Trump and Republicans in Congress let the enhanced ACA subsidies expire, I voted to restore those subsidies for three years so families would not be hit with higher premiums or lose coverage altogether. The bill passed the House, but it remains stalled in the Senate.

At the same time, I have worked to strengthen Medicare and improve access to care more broadly. I have led bipartisan efforts to protect physicians from harmful Medicare payment cuts, pushed for reforms that move our system toward value-based care, and worked to reduce prior authorization barriers that delay treatment and keep doctors focused on paperwork instead of patients. I also introduced bipartisan legislation to help expand access to general surgery in underserved communities, because where you live should not determine whether you can get timely care.

I believe we can make progress if we focus less on politics and more on practical solutions. Health care should be centered on patients, and it should be affordable, accessible, and there when people need it. That is what I have worked for as a physician, and that is what I will keep fighting for in Congress.