Letter Urges Five-Year Extension of Full Funding for Health Programs Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and 20 of her House Energy & Commerce Committee Democratic colleagues sent a letter to House Leadership urging immediate action on a five-year extension of full funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Community Health Centers (CHCs) program, and other important health programs that expire September 30th. The letter reads in part: “These programs are crucial elements of ...
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Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Co-Chairs of the Seniors Task Force, introduced H.R. 3713, the Geriatrics Workforce and Caregiver Enhancement Act. This bipartisan bill invests in geriatric training and caregiver programs to create a well-trained workforce to provide coordinated quality care for older adults. After introducing the legislation, Reps. Schakowsky and Matsui released the following statement: “A serious shortage in the health care workforce is failing to ...
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Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) issued the following statement on the Senate vote to reject the “skinny repeal” TrumpCare amendment: “Millions of Americans' healthcare was on the line last night. The American people knew what was at stake and because people raised their voices and shared their stories, the Senate rejected TrumpCare. “I've heard from so many of my constituents about the importance of access to care in their lives – from the mom of a son who has disabilities, to the fami...
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Today, Energy & Commerce Telehealth Working Group members Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congressman Bill Johnson (R-OH) introduced the Evidence-Based Telehealth Expansion Act of 2017, which would encourage the use of telemedicine in the Medicare program. “We need to harness the power of technology to get care to people efficiently and empower them to manage their chronic conditions,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This legislation helps ensure that we’re integrating telehealth into the hea...
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Today, House Democrats, led by the Seniors Task Force, the Democratic Women’s Working Group, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY), and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi marked the 52nd anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid with an anniversary party in the U.S. Capitol. The Medicare and Medicaid programs were created on July 30th, 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Act into law. After the celebration, the members released the following statements: “...
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Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) delivered the following remarks on the House floor during consideration of H.R. 3178, the Medicare Part B Improvement Act, which included a provision to extend the Medicare IVIG demonstration project. The IVIG demonstration project was originally created by the Medicare IVIG Access Act, co-authored by Rep. Matsui and Rep. Brady, and passed into law in 2013: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3178, the Medicare Part B Improvement Act, and speci...
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Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans moved to proceed to debate on Trumpcare: “Senate Republicans’ vote this afternoon to blindly advance their repeal of the Affordable Care Act is a reckless political stunt. Every single version of Trumpcare that we’ve seen will result in millions of Americans losing access to care. This is about peoples’ lives. I urge my Republican colleagues to put politics aside and do what’s right for American fam...
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This week, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) technology by behavioral health providers. The Meaningful Use Program has been successful in increasing adoption of EHR systems by eligible providers. However, behavioral health providers were left out of the program, and many do not have the resources to implement full EHR systems. H.R. 3331 would create a demonstration...
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Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans released another version of their harmful Trumpcare bill: “This latest bill does nothing to change the basic principles of Trumpcare – higher costs for less care. “It is shameful that Senate Republicans are continuing their assault on Medicaid. Seniors needing long term care, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and children will suffer from cuts under this bill. “To make matters worse, the lat...
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Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) issued the following statement on the House passage of H.R. 2430, the FDA user fee reauthorization bill: “Patients and families across the country battling diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, MS, and diabetes rely on innovation to provide new life-saving and life-enhancing treatments, and hopefully one day, cures. Without the FDA, we would not be able to ensure that those treatments and cures work and that they’re safe. “Swift Congressional action to reau...
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