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Tag: healthcare

Daines, Tester Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Asbestos Awareness Week

March 27, 2024

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester today introduced a bipartisan resolution to declare April 1-7 as the 19th annual National Asbestos Awareness Week. The resolution aims to raise awareness of the ongoing effects of asbestos and directs the U.S. Surgeon General to issue a warning to all Americans about the dangers of asbestos exposure. “Too many Montanans have suffered from asbestos exposure and the related health impacts that can take years to appear. As we continue to raise awareness around the risks of asbestos, we also must continue to help clean up communities like Libby and Troy and help protect the health and wellbeing of

Daines Bills to Bolster Mental Health Workforce One Step Closer to Becoming Law

November 8, 2023

Two of Daines’ Bills Passed Out of the Senate Finance Committee with Bipartisan Support U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke at a Senate Finance Committee meeting about the importance of mental health services, especially in rural states like Montana. The committee passed the “Better Act” with bipartisan support which included Daines’ bipartisan “Expand the Behavioral Health Workforce Now Act” and the “More Behavioral Health Providers Act.” The legislation Daines helped pass today specifically targets lack of access in several ways, including bolstering telehealth services, addressing coverage gaps, and strengthening the mental and behavioral health workforce. Watch Daines’ remarks HERE. “In

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

September 21, 2023

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

February 2, 2021

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

December 14, 2020

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

July 25, 2019

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

June 13, 2019

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

May 1, 2019

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

April 30, 2019

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

April 29, 2019

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