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Democratic

Daniel Kildee

Congressman Dan Kildee holds various leadership positions in Congress. As Chief Deputy Whip—part of the Democratic leadership team in Congress—he acts as an important liaison among Members of Congress and the leadership to build support for Democratic priorities and legislation. Congressman Kildee serves on three committees, including the Ways and Means Committee, the Budget Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

On the Ways and Means Committee, the oldest and one of the most powerful committees, Congressman Kildee works to lower the costs of health care premiums and prescription drugs, protect Social Security and Medicare, negotiate fair trade deals and create a tax system that benefits working families, not just the richest corporations.

HEALTH CARE

I have heard from too many families who are worried about the high cost of health care and prescription drugs. Every person in our district and across America deserves access to high quality and affordable health care coverage. In the richest country in the world, Americans shouldn’t be forced to choose between putting a roof over their head, paying for food, or getting the health care and prescription drugs they need.

Below you will find some work I have been working doing in Congress to lower costs, expand access to care and protect Medicare and Medicaid.

  • Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions: I remain committed to protecting the gains we made through the Affordable Care Act to ensure that those with pre-existing health conditions are not denied access to care. Before the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies could deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions—simply put, we cannot go back. Unfortunately,  President Trump and Republicans in Congress have sought to eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions. I strongly oppose these efforts to take away health care coverage. Additionally, I voted for H.R. 986, the House-passed Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, to protect families from insurance plans that exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, and often don’t cover essential health benefits like prescription drug coverage or mental health treatment. These insurance plans are considered ‘junk’ insurance plans because they don’t cover these essential health services. 
  • Lowering Drug Prices: Michiganders are paying too much out-of-pocket for their prescription drugs. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I have championed legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to lower the cost of drugs for seniors and people with private health insurance. I have also supported legislation that would pave the way for generic prescription drugs to come into the market sooner, which can significantly lower costs for consumers.
  • Surprise Medical Billing: I have supported efforts to take decisive action to protect patients from the unreasonable and unacceptable practice of surprise medical bills. Surprise billing could arise in an emergency when the patient has no ability to select the emergency room or doctor and they are charged for out-of-network services which can be significantly higher than in-network rate. When a patient has a medical emergency, the last thing they should have to worry about is an unexpected medical bill from an out-of-network provider. If there is a payment dispute between insurance companies and health care providers, patients should not be stuck paying the bill.
  • Safety Net Programs: Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid are critical programs that provide health care and economic security to seniors, people with disabilities, and the most vulnerable Americans. I was a vocal supporter for Medicaid expansion in Michigan, which has provided hundreds of thousands of people with access to care. I will continue to fight against any efforts to dismantle these programs and remain committed to making sure that they are protected now and for the future.