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Tag: Health

Daines Tours VA Equine Therapy Center in Helena

May 5, 2016

U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today toured the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Equine Therapy Center in Helena and learned about how the program helps veterans across Montana.  Daines recorded a video of his experience. Click here to view: Click here to watch the video Click here to download the video Click here to download the picture  Daines was joined by members of his Veteran Affairs team at the Montana VA Equine Therapy Center to learn more about the program and its work to help veterans with service-related illness.   The Montana VA Equine Therapy Center is the only center of its kind

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

Daines’ Bill to Reform Veterans Choice Act Receives First Legislative Hearing

March 15, 2016

  U.S. SENATE — Senator Steve Daines’ legislation to improve health care services for America’s veterans today received its first legislative hearing in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.  Daines’ bill, the Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016 makes major changes to the Veterans Choice Program, which was created in 2014 to allow veterans to get needed health care outside of the VA system, and creates a permanent program with advance funding.  More information on the legislation is available here. Additionally, the Express Appeal Act of 2016, cosponsored by Daines, received a legislative hearing in the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs committee today. The Express

Daines Announces Over $750,000 to Combat Opioid and Heroin Abuse

March 11, 2016

U.S. SENATE — Following yesterday’s passage of bipartisan legislation to address prescription opioid abuse and heroin epidemic in America, Senator Steve Daines today announced $379,167 in funding for Bighorn Valley Health Center and $379,167 in funding for Billhook Community Health Center to help tackle this crisis.  “Tackling our nation’s drug epidemic from all sides – to help the victims of addiction dealing with their disease to providing resources for our law enforcement officials – is the only way we’re going to change course and combat drug abuses,” Daines stated. “This funding is critical to helping Montanans get care closer to home and serve those most

Daines Works to Improve Federal Cooperation with Indian Country

March 9, 2016

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines today fought to improve Montana’s tribes’ sovereignty, pressing the Obama administration to work more collaboratively and efficiently with Montana’s tribes relating to health care and management of tribal forests.  During two different Senate Committee hearings today, Daines called on witnesses to improve stewardship of federal funds while working to alleviate some of the challenges associated with wildfires in Indian Country. U.S. Indian Health Service Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request: Click here to download Daines’ remarks. Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.  During this morning’s Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing on the Indian Health

Daines Announces over $3.9 Million DHHS Grant for Yellowstone County Health Center

March 9, 2016

US. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced over $3.9 million in funding for Montana community health centers in Yellowstone County. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will provide RiverStone Health Center in Yellowstone County with funding to improve community health and public healthcare services. “Montana’s community health centers provide critical health care services to thousands of Montanans,” Daines stated. “This grant will give the Yellowstone County community the needed resources to better serve Montanans with reliable, quality care.” RiverStone Health will receive $3,925,417 in discretionary funding for administrative changes that will help the health center provide Yellowstone

Daines Helps Introduce Veterans Choice Improvement Act

March 7, 2016

U.S. SENATE —Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced legislation to improve health care services for America’s veterans. Daines’ bill, the Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016 makes major changes to the Veterans Choice Program, which was created in 2014 to allow veterans to get needed health care outside of the VA system, and creates a permanent program with advance funding.  It makes changes and reforms to address the bureaucratic delays, hassles and confusion that veterans continue to experience in attempting to get health care. “Problems with the Choice Act is the number one concern I hear from veterans in Montana,” Daines stated. “We need to

Daines, Gillibrand, Gibson, Valadao Urge VA to Clarify Decision Against Providing ‘Blue Water’ Veterans VA Benefits

February 25, 2016

U.S. CONGRESS — U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representatives Chris Gibson (R-NY) and David Valadao (R-CA) today are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to clarify their misguided decision against providing “Blue Water” Navy veterans with the disability and health care benefits that they deserve for diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure. In a letter to VA Secretary Bob McDonald and Deputy Secretary Gibson, the members request the VA to clarify how they came to their conclusion ruling against providing care to “Blue Water” Navy veterans. On February 5, Daines and Gillibrand received a letter from VA Secretary

Tester, Daines designate National Asbestos Awareness Week

February 25, 2016

Senators’ resolution highlights impact of asbestos on Libby & Troy (U.S. Senate) – Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines are designating the first week of April as National Asbestos Awareness week to educate the public about asbestos-related diseases that have plagued folks in Libby and Troy. The Senators’ resolution highlights the devastating impacts of asbestos exposure to residents in Libby and Troy and urges the U.S. Surgeon General to educate people about the public health issues related to asbestos exposure. “While we work together to continue to clean up Libby and Troy and care for its residents, we also have

Tester, Daines push Blackfeet Water Compact to Senate floor

February 3, 2016

After years of negotiations, Senators lead charge to pass historic water rights agreement  (U.S. Senate)—Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines today led the charge to push the Blackfeet Water Compact through the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and onto the Senate floor.  This decades-in-the-making agreement will resolve water rights claims on the Blackfeet Reservation and ensure access to reliable and clean water for the communities within the Reservation, as well as farms, ranches, and businesses in the surrounding area.  This compact will save taxpayers millions by avoiding costly litigation between the Blackfeet Tribe and the federal government.  “Reliable access to clean