I support full repeal of Obamacare. This law imposes a heavy tax and regulatory burden on American families and small businesses. It has already caused millions of Americans to lose the health care plans they liked and doctors that they trusted. It has also led to higher health costs and higher premiums, and drastically increased federal spending by subsidizing health coverage for millions of Americans. I believe Obamacare’s government-centered approach represents the wrong solution for the health care challenges in our country.
While Obamacare is not the solution, I certainly recognize that our health care system has major problems. First and foremost, I believe doctors and patients, not insurance companies or the government, should be in charge of health care decisions. Next, I believe we must always protect those with preexisting conditions. I believe Congress should provide people with greater freedom in shopping for health insurance, make the costs of medical care more transparent, and reward innovation in the delivery of health services. I will also back commonsense medical liability reform, because doctors currently must practice high-cost “defensive medicine” to protect themselves against unwarranted lawsuits.
Daines Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Expand Peer Counseling, Increase Montanans’ Access to Mental Health Services
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, cosponsored a bipartisan bill, the “PEERS Act,” to expand access to peer support services for Montanans with mental health and substance use conditions. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put a great strain on an already stretched thin mental health system, especially when it comes to the mental and behavioral health care workforce. Allowing Medicare to cover peer support services would expand critical access to care for individuals in Montana with mental illness or substance use conditions. It would also help build upon the successful peer support network in Montana, which helps deliver recovery-oriented behavioral health services
Daines: Democrats’ Reckless Tax & Spending Spree Puts Gov’t Between Montanans & their Doctor
U.S. SENATE — At a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing this week, Senator Steve Daines called attention to health care policies in the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reckless tax and spending spree bill that would create new entitlement programs, reduce private health coverage, and push Americans onto government-run health insurance. Watch and download the Senator’s remarks HERE. “President Biden and the Democrats are pushing a big government, $3.5 trillion reckless tax and spending spree that will reshape the foundation of America, create new entitlement programs, and increase Americans’ dependence on government-subsidized, government-controlled insurance coverage. It will further increase Washington’s control over Americans’ lives, including
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Care for Montana Servicemembers
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bipartisan bill to support suicide prevention and mental health care for Montana servicemembers. The introduction of the “Save Our Servicemembers Act,” follows an alarming report revealing a 15% increase in military suicides in 2020 from the year before. “Montana has one of the highest number per capita of veterans in America, and sadly has one of the highest veteran suicide rates,” Daines said. “Montana veterans and their families have sacrificed everything to defend our freedoms—we must support them when they return home. Read the bill text of the “Save Our Servicemembers Act” HERE. Background:
Daines Calls on VA to Address Impact of Afghanistan Withdrawal on Montana Veterans’ Mental Health
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined a bipartisan group of senators calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct outreach to Montana veterans who served in the Global War on Terrorism – especially those who served in Afghanistan – and provide them with mental health resources. Their request comes as reports find calls to veterans’ suicide hotlines have increased since the fall of Afghanistan earlier this month. “We write in light of the recent events in Afghanistan to encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to quickly develop a comprehensive outreach plan to connect Afghanistan and Global War on Terrorism veterans to VA benefits and services. More than two
Daines Introduces Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs, Expand Treatment Options for Montanans
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, introduced the “Lower Costs, More Cures Act,” which will support Montanans by lowering prescription drug prices, increasing transparency in the complex prescription drug pricing process and encouraging American ingenuity in the development of new treatments and cures. “Year after year, Montanans continue to face out of control prescription drugs costs. Folks in Montana and across the country should not have to choose between putting food on their table or paying for their medicine,” Daines said. “Congress should act to address the high out of pocket costs for prescription drugs, and we must
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health and Addiction Services in Montana
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, introduced a bipartisan bill to enhance access to addiction and mental health services in communities across Montana. This comes after Daines led a hearing last month on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Montana and the importance of having the resources to necessary to meet the mental health and substance use care needs of Montanans and Americans across the country. “This past year has been difficult, and with unprecedented social isolation and a continued struggle with illegal drug use in Montana, it is clear that more needs to be done to support individuals
Daines, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Pandemic-Driven Expanded Telehealth Access Permanent
U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) that would make pandemic-driven expanded access to telehealth services permanent. Daines originally authored and passed a temporary provision in the “CARES Act” to expand access to virtual care services during the pandemic and unveiled legislation making it permanent today at a Senate Finance Committee hearing focused on health care flexibilities and lessons learned from the pandemic. “I believe we need to make expanded access to telehealth permanent for Montanans and all Americans, especially in rural areas – not cut access back once we’re post
Daines Leads Senate Hearing on Mental Health, Addiction Challenges Facing Montana
U.S. SENATE — As the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Heath Care, Senator Steve Daines today led a hearing on improving mental health and addiction services in our communities, where he highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Montana. Click HERE to watch and download the Senator’s opening remarks. “May is Mental Health Awareness Month – an issue at the top of my mind and many others following a year of isolation for Montanans and Americans across the country,” Daines said. “Since the pandemic, lockdowns, economic hardships, and social isolation have only helped intensify what we already know – we need
Daines: We Must Stand for Life, Prevent Taxpayer Dollars from Funding Abortion
U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today fought to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. Senate Democrats blocked this prohibition from being added to the $1.9 trillion spending package disguised as COVID-19 relief. “Senate Democrats voted to allow billions of taxpayer dollars to be used to fund abortions and voted against applying a 44-year-old prohibition called the Hyde Amendment. We have had five bipartisan COVID relief packages and not one of them included any provisions that would undermine pro-life protections,” Daines said. “Preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortions is something a majority of Americans agree with. I’m very disappointed to see