healthcare Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Senator Steve Daines

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

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 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 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 Announces Grants for MSU for Rural Healthcare & Asbestos Research

June 14, 2016

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced Montana State University (MSU) received $190,000 to increase quality healthcare services and for asbestos research. MSU received $172,000 for the State Office of Rural Health (SORH) to improve access to, and the quality of, healthcare for rural Montana. “I look forward to seeing Montana State University use this funding to expand their healthcare services to increase the quality of services for rural Montanans,” Daines stated. Kristin Juliar, Director of Montana Area Health Education Center and Office of Rural Health: “We find inspiration every day in the work of the healthcare organizations that serve rural and

Daines Announces over $400,000 for Rural Hospitals

May 26, 2016

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that Montana State University was awarded $428,617 for the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center to improve services at small rural hospitals in Montana – all but one are Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). “Ensuring rural hospitals have the tools and training they need will provide a better healthcare system and better care for all Montanans,” Daines stated. There are forty-eight rural hospitals in Montana which meet the requirements for participation in the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP), forty-seven of which are CAHs. Montana is one of the

Daines Prioritizes National Security and Secures Air Support for Nuclear Weapons

May 26, 2016

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today worked to bolster aviation security, cybersecurity and nuclear security. The Senate Committee on Appropriations today marked up and passed the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill and Fiscal Year 2017 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. “It’s unconscionable to imagine that our nuclear warheads do not have adequate air security,” Daines stated. “With my provisions and additional funding, we will have the needed air support for our nuclear weapons until the permanent solution of an expedited procurement is complete.” Daines secured the following provisions in the Defense Appropriations Bill: Upgrading UH-1Ns: $75 million in the bill for the Air

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