MAIN STREET MEMBERS IN ACTION
Lawmakers serve the public interest
when they show independent-mindedness
Sen. Ben Sasse and Rep. Don Bacon deserve credit for their recent displays of independent-mindedness. They have stood up, in the face of partisan criticism, for responsible behavior in Washington. Their actions are in line with a Nebraska tradition of similar independent judgment by Bob Kerrey and Chuck Hagel when they
served in the Senate.
Republican Main Street Partnership's Suburban Families' Legislative Agenda for
the 117th Congress.
Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the most pressing issues facing our country today. RMSP believes Main Street American families deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage. This means protecting care for pre-existing conditions, heightening transparency in our healthcare system, and tackling some of the largest health epidemics in our country head-on with pragmatic solutions that won’t leave the nation bankrupt.
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Pre-existing Conditions:
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- H.R.4159 - Maintaining Protections for Patients with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
The legislation amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by adding provisions from Obamacare in the case that it is overturned. The pre-existing conditions provisions include guaranteed issue and renewability, a prohibition on pre-existing condition benefit exclusions, a ban on health status underwriting, and inclusion of community rating.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Rep. Dan Newhouse
Medical Transparency:
- H.R.3630 - No Surprises Act
This bill protects healthcare plan holders from being gouged by surprise hospital bills charging out-of-network rates in the case of medical emergencies that are not within the consumer's existing insurance network by requiring the out-of-network provider to charge their median in-network rate and prohibiting the out-of-network provider from charging consumers the difference between in-network and out-of-network rates. It also requires the establishment of provider directories published by insurance companies.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Greg Walden*
Drug Pricing:
- H.R. 19 - Lower Cost More Cures Act
Lowers out of pocket spending on prescription drugs, protects access to new cures and medications, strengthens transparency, and encourages competition without stifling innovation.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Greg Walden*, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. David McKinley, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Larry Bucshon, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. John Rutherford, Rep. Bill Huizenga, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Roger Marshall, Rep. Troy Balderson, Rep. Dusty Johnson, Rep. Carol Miller, Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Rep. Paul Cook, Rep. John Curtis, Rep. Chris Smith, Rep. Bryan Steil, Rep. Dave Joyce, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, Rep. Pete Stauber, Rep. Mike Kelly, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, Rep. Will Hurd, Rep. Steve Watkins, Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Michael Waltz, Rep. Bob Gibbs, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Mike Bost, Rep. John Moolenaar, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Rep. Mike Simpson
Opioid Crisis:
- H.R.2439 - Opioid Workforce Act of 2019
This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain management programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,000 positions over a five-year period.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Peter King, Rep. Elise Stefanik
- H.R.1614 - John S. McCain Opioid Addiction Prevention Act
This bill establishes a new registration requirement for practitioners who are licensed to prescribe controlled substances. Specifically, a practitioner must agree to limit the supply of opioids prescribed for the initial treatment of acute pain, as a condition of obtaining or renewing a registration through the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. John Katko*, Rep. Carol Miller
Maternal Health:
- H.R.4215 - Excellence in Maternal Health Act of 2019
This bill would improve maternal health care quality, improve the training of health care professionals to prevent discrimination in health care services, and improve perinatal care.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Larry Buschon*, Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Greg Walden
- H.R.2507 - Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2019
This bill would promote expanded screening of newborns and children for hereditary disorders.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Mike Simpson, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Steve Watkins
Mental Health:
- H.R.1109 - Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2019
This bill would provide funding for public schools across the country to partner with local mental health professionals to establish on-site mental health care services for students.
Sponsors/Co-Sponsors: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. John Katko, Rep. Brian Mast, Rep. Tom Reed