Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) announced today that they have introduced a bipartisan bill, H.R. 3796 - Health Savings for Seniors Act, that would allow seniors covered under Medicare to continue using or create new Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Seniors covered by Medicare are not eligible for HSAs under current law.An HSA allows individuals to set aside pre-tax… Read more »
Today, Congressman Ami Bera M.D. (D-CA-7), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), and Congresswoman Katie Hill (D-CA-25) introduced the Affordability is Access Act (AAA), legislation to make sure over-the-counter birth… Read more »
An amendment introduced by Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act passed the House of Representatives last night with a near unanimous bipartisan vote (396 in favor). The amendment directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to explore using its funds to research peer to peer mental health… Read more »
Today, Reps. Bera (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced H.R. 3107, the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, which would improve delivery of care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, while also providing much needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America's seniors.… Read more »
Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) last week introduced H.R. 1841, the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act. This bill would ensure that we have high-quality data on where general surgeons are in short supply around the country, particularly in rural and other under-served communities."We already know that… Read more »
Representatives Bera (D-CA), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Walorski (R-IN), and Marchant (R-TX) yesterday introduced H.R. 1398, the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act. This bill would stop the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Tax from going into effect until after 2021 and save consumers hundreds of dollars. According to America's Health Insurance Plans, the HIT could increase premiums by over… Read more »
SACRAMENTO, CA – Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) today was joined by Sacramento Police Chief Dan Hahn, Sacramento Metro Assistant Chief Maurice Johnson, and first responders to unveil H.R. 6571, the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act. September is National Suicide Prevention Month and studies have indicated that first responders could be at a higher risk for suicide than other professions. The federal government must do more to study, prevent, and respond to mental health challenges among first responders. Read more »
My office is hosting our third annual Brain Health Forum. The Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California will also be participating in the program and providing resources to the community. Read more »
I sent an email update on Thursday on the latest I'm doing to lower health care costs and expand access to care. Join my email updates today so you don't miss any in the future! Read more »
Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) led members of Congress today in a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging them not to cut vital pandemic funding. The Trump administration recently proposed slashing allocated, but unspent, funds for a number of programs, including children's health insurance, affordable housing, and emergency pandemic response. Congress is expected to consider… Read more »
