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Tag: Health Care

Daines Continues Bipartisan Fight for Vietnam Veterans Harmed By Agent Orange

April 17, 2019

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines renewed efforts to secure disability and health care benefits for Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange while fighting in the Vietnam War. “Commonsense tells us that sailors who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam deserve the same level of care as their counterparts ashore,” Daines said.  “Together with the court’s recent Procopio decision, this bill should settle any questions over Congress’ intent to care for all Vietnam veterans who were injured in the line of duty.” During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent

Daines, King Launch Bipartisan Bill to Protect Seniors

April 10, 2019

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Angus King (Maine) today renewed efforts to protect Medicare benefits by re-introducing the bipartisan Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act. The bill would reverse an unintended policy of the Affordable Care Act that is currently denying millions of seniors and people with disabilities the full measure of their Medicare Advantage benefits. “There are currently 16,000 Montanans being shortchanged the full scope of their Medicare benefits because of Obamacare,” Daines said. “My bipartisan legislation will ensure that seniors and people with disabilities receive the Medicare Advantage benefits they deserve.” “Medicare Advantage is a tried and true program that gives Maine seniors and people with disabilities high-quality, patient-centered

Daines Fights for Increased Transparency, Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Montanans

April 9, 2019

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing grilled Pharmacy Benefit Manager executives (PBMs) on the need to increase transparency and lower prescription drug costs for Montanans. PBMs, which serve as the middle men between insurance companies and patients, are responsible for negotiating drug costs for patients. Daines slammed their current practices as failing Montanans. Click HERE to download Currently, there is a bill moving through the Montana legislature shedding light on PBMs pricing practices. Several of the PBM executives on the panel today oppose the bill. Daines pressed the executives, “Why are you fighting

Daines to HHS: Convicted Pedophile Should Not Receive One Cent of Taxpayer Money

March 28, 2019

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging he stop Stanley Patrick Weber, a former Indian Health Service (IHS) pediatrician recently convicted for molesting children while working on the Blackfeet Reservation, from continuing to receive a government pension in prison. “If the Department of Health and Human Services cannot stop Mr. Weber’s pension payments, then we stand ready to provide any assistance necessary from Congress that will fix this flawed system,” the letter states. “A convicted pedophile should not receive one cent of taxpayer money while serving

Daines Continues Fight Against Montana Meth Crisis, Demands Answers for Abuse Scandal in IHS

March 14, 2019

  U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing pressed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar for solutions on combatting Montana’s growing meth epidemic. Daines also demanded answers on recent cases of abuse in the Indian Health Service (IHS). In the hearing, Daines discussed his recent trip to Rimrock Facility in Billings, where he saw firsthand Montana’s growing meth epidemic and the impact it has on Montana moms and families. Click HERE to download.  “In Montana, we’re facing a meth crisis, and it’s devastating our families and communities… How is HHS

Daines Pushes to Stop Nursing Home Abuse, Protect Seniors in Montana

March 6, 2019

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today in a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing pressed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure that horrific cases of nursing home abuse in Montana, such as a recent case in Lewistown, will never happen again. Download video HERE “Last year, a state-run nursing home in Montana was cited for failing to protect patients from verbal, physical, and sexually abusive behaviors of fellow patients… according to reports, on 13 occasions, officials were not notified of incidents that included abuse in the facility’s wing which houses dementia patients,” Daines said. At the hearing, Daines

Daines, Tester Designate National Asbestos Awareness Week

March 4, 2019

U.S. SENATE  – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester championed legislation to designate April 1-7, 2019 “National Asbestos Awareness Week” as part of their ongoing efforts to combat the dangers of asbestos exposure. The bipartisan resolution raises awareness about asbestos-caused diseases and urges the U.S. Surgeon General to teach Americans about the substance’s risks. “Asbestos caused diseases have tragically claimed the lives of far too many Montanans,” Daines said. “By shedding light on the dangers of asbestos exposure, we can work to protect the health of Montanans state wide and ensure that what happened in Libby and Troy never happen again.”

Daines Demands Accountability at Indian Health Service

February 22, 2019

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines sent a letter to Rear Admn. Michael Weahkee, the Acting Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), demanding answers on Stanley Patrick Weber, a former pediatrician at IHS who was recently convicted of sexually molesting children while working on the Blackfeet Reservation. “While justice is being served in the court of law, accountability must be demanded of IHS and the individuals who enabled Mr. Weber to continue molesting children for over two decades,” the letter states. “Our Native youth are already a uniquely vulnerable population facing severe social and economic challenges. Our Indian population, especially

Daines Rallies Support for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans

May 18, 2016

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and David Valadao (R-CA) to rally support for their legislation to ensure Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans are eligible to receive benefits linked to Agent Orange Exposure. Daines at the U.S. Capitol with Senate and House co-sponsors and veterans. Click here to download.  Click here to watch Daines’ remarks. Click here to download Daines’ remarks.  Daines introduced legislation to ensure thousands of Vietnam-era Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” vets, who were exposed to the powerful toxin Agent Orange will be eligible to receive disability and health care benefits

Daines, Tester Help Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Medically Necessary Equipment in Rural America

March 18, 2016

U.S. SENATE —Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester this week helped introduce the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment Act of 2016, legislation that would provide durable medical equipment (DME) providers and patients in certain parts of the country with relief from harmful payment policies. DME providers help connect patients with medically necessary equipment like wheelchairs, hospital beds, and oxygen.  This bipartisan legislation would extend the current payment phase-in period of six months to 15 months, which is necessary to avert deep cuts in reimbursement for these products. Without action, these cuts could harm Medicare beneficiary access following the rollout