Adam On The Issues

Our health care system is fragile, and the rising cost of healthcare and growing number of uninsured people is creating a crisis situation in Washington and the United States. 

In 2004, health care costs rose nationally by 8.2%, an increase much higher than that of inflation or the cost of living.  Even those Americans who have health insurance have reason to feel insecure about the quality of their health care and whether or not they will have insurance in the future. 

I believe we must make it a goal that every American should have health insurance. Not only will this help the 45 million Americans who are currently uninsured, but it makes good economic sense for all of us - people who don't have healthcare get medical attention through costly emergency rooms, for which taxpayers end up footing the bill. If we continue to rely upon an employer-based healthcare system, we need to ensure that people are covered even if they don’t receive health insurance through their jobs.

We must also work to improve access to prescription drugs. I believe in greater competition through generic drugs, and would like to see a much less costly and confusing drug benefit implemented as part of the Medicare program.  

I am also committed to using new technology to increase efficiency in both medical care and healthcare administration.  By eliminating the paper-based records used by most hospitals and clinics, and implementing new information technology, both patients and healthcare professionals will have easier and more accurate access to information, which will cut down on lost productivity and errors.  I am also committed to funding the necessary research and development measures to ensure the US stays at the cutting edge of healthcare technology.  

Record to Prove It:

• Passed a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 4157, the Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005, which creates a demonstration project using health information technology to provide more efficient and effective chronic disease management for the Medicaid population.

• Supported the bi-partisan Medicare Equity and Access Act (HR 2549) to ensure the survival of the Medicare+Choice system in Washington state

• Worked with Senator Patty Murray to introduce the MediFair Act of 2005, which will increase the Medicare reimbursement rate for the State of Washington, so that our state no longer pays more than others for Medicare. 
• Introduced a bipartisan bill, the Medicaid Access Project through Information Technology (MAPIT) Act, to establish a pilot project that demonstrates the impact of health information technology on chronic disease management in the Medicaid program. 

• Cosponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810) to provide for using embryonic stem cells in research

• Cosponsored the Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act (HR 1955), to improve access to healthcare by establishing a national health program administered by the Officer of Personnel Management to offer health benefits plans to people who are not federal employees

• Cosponsored the Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act (HR 3351) to block scheduled cuts in reimbursement rates for doctors

• Voted for legislation to streamline some of the paperwork and red tape associated with Medicare-- the Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act (HR 3391)