Tag: healthcare

Daines, Smith Renew Push to Permanently Expand Telehealth Services During Telehealth Awareness Week

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in honor of Telehealth Awareness Week today reintroduced their bipartisan “Expanded Telehealth Access Act” that would make pandemic-driven expanded access to telehealth services under Medicare permanent. “In rural states like Montana, folks often have to drive long distances just to receive care. Expanded telehealth services help relieve this burden and give folks increased access to quality, affordable care. Now is not the time to cut back on these critical services, and I’ll keep working to ensure Montanans are able to see the providers they need,” Daines said. “The pandemic showed us

Daines, Manchin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Military Retirees from Losing their Healthcare

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (Mont.) and Joe Manchin (W. Va.) today introduced the bipartisan TRICARE Retiree Protection Act to ensure that America’s military retirees will not lose their healthcare as a result of new policy changes that took effect on January 1st, 2021. “Our bipartisan bill will help ensure we take care of our veterans and continue to provide quality healthcare for their service to this nation,” Daines said. “I’ll always support and protect our veterans who have served our nation and defended our freedom.” “Our servicemembers bravely fought for our nation and as they retire after

Daines Statement on First COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery to Montana

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines released the following statement following the first delivery of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Montana: “Today, the first COVID-19 vaccine was delivered to Montana and administered in the U.S. This day would not have been possible without American innovation, Operation Warp Speed, and the dedication from top scientists and the Trump administration,” Daines said. “I’m proud to have secured the initial $10 billion that helped make this modern medical miracle possible, and I will continue working to ensure all Montana communities get access.”  Montana is expected to receive an estimated first dose allocation of 9,750 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The second

Daines Votes for Major Prescription Drug Pricing Reform to Lower Costs for Montanans, Save Taxpayers Billions

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to advance the bipartisan Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 (PDPRA) out of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. This major bipartisan prescription drug pricing reform package will help reduce out-of-pocket costs and lower prescription drug costs for Montanans. The package also saves Montanans and taxpayers over $100 billion.  “From Great Falls to Miles City to Libby, Montanans are paying far too much for the medicine they need,” Daines said. “As Montana’s lone voice on the U.S. Senate Finance committee, I have made it one of my top priorities to lower prescription drug costs for Montanans.

Daines’ Blue Water Navy Veterans Bill Heads to President’s Desk

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today celebrated his bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act unanimously passing the U.S. Senate and heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.   “Our Vietnam vets who served both on land and sea deserve equal care for their bravery in defense of our country,” Daines said. “I am happy to see my legislation pass. It is due time we get our Blue Water Vets the care their sacrifices demanded.”    During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam to remove jungle foliage. This toxic chemical

Daines Introduces Bill to Increase Veterans’ Access to Outdoors

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill to expand opportunities for veterans recovering from trauma to access public lands for outdoor therapy and rehabilitation treatments. “In Big Sky Country, we know how important our outdoor heritage is to our Montana way of life,” Daines said. “This bill will help ensure our veterans are able to take full advantage of Montana’s and our nation’s outdoors as they recover from the trauma and injuries they experienced in combat. The therapeutic benefits the great outdoors can have on our veterans will help aide in their recovery and showcase the beauty of the

Daines calls for greater transparency on prescription-drug pricing

BILLINGS- More Americans struggle with paying for prescription drugs, and many times there’s someone in between the drug company and the consumer who negotiates the price. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said Monday he’s introduced a bill to create transparency around what that “middle man” is doing. That includes looking into the effects of company consolidation on drug pricing. As many companies merge, it creates less competition and allows for an increase in drug prices, according to Daines. In fact, three companies control a 73 percent share of the pharmacy benefit manager industry. One of the most well-known spikes is the 500 percent

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency, Accountability in Drug Pricing

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced a bipartisan bill to shed light on the drug pricing process and the middlemen responsible for negotiating prescription drug costs.  “Montanans can’t afford to keep paying the outrageous costs of prescription drugs,”Daines said. “Transparency and accountability in drug pricing is long overdue. That’s why I’m introducing this bill to protect Montanans and ensure those responsible for negotiating drug prices are focused on driving costs down, not lining the pockets of their own industry.”  The bipartisan bill, the Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019, helps shed light on the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry

Daines Continues Bipartisan Fight for Vietnam Veterans Harmed By Agent Orange

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

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