Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

Access to quality, affordable health care is a critical part of American life. Unfortunately, one in six Americans is without health insurance. This equates to more than 45 million Americans, or roughly the cumulative population of 24 states plus the District of Columbia. Nearly 6.6 million Californians are uninsured.

In September 2007, the House and Senate passed bipartisan legislation that will extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) - known in California as Healthy Families - for five more years. This bill continues health coverage for 6.6 million kids and expands the program to 4 million additional kids who qualify but aren't currently covered. California alone has identified 200,000 uninsured kids who would be immediately eligible for enrollment in the program, if only the state had the adequate resources.

Unfortunately, President Bush vetoed this bill, denying more than 10 million children the health coverage they desperately need. Learn more about Congressman Thompson's opposition to the president's veto.

In addition, in August 2007, the House Ways and Means Committee, of which Congressman Thompson is a member, approved major legislation extending health insurance coverage to millions of children and improving the Medicare program. The Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP Act) represents the government's most significant investment in children's healthcare since 1997. It passed both the House and Senate in August.

This legislation also equips states with the tools and the means to find and enroll more than 80% of the six million kids eligible for but not enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program. It also makes significant changes to our Medicare program, improving primary and preventive benefits for our seniors, strengthening low income assistance programs, and bringing payment parity to various Medicare providers. Learn more about this legislation.

Medicare Reimbursement

Congressman Thompson has worked on legislation that moves toward correcting low Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians in Sonoma County. In August 2007, the House passed a bill to eliminate the scheduled cuts in Medicare's physician reimbursement rates, and replaces them with a rate increase. This will impact doctors across the nation and preserve access to care in many communities, including those throughout California's 1st Congressional District.

Telemedicine

In previous Congresses, Congressman Thompson has secured funding to support the implementation of a comprehensive telemedicine initiative, the North Coast Telemedicine Network. Telemedicine enhances medical care services to rural regions of the District by enabling a consulting physician at one location to observe a patient or interpret data at another location via two-way audio or video telecommunications links.

Nursing

As the husband of a nurse, Congressman Thompson is well aware of the problems faced by the nursing community. Additionally, as a member of the Congressional Nursing Caucus and, as chair of the Blue Dog Coalition's health care task force, Congressman Thompson works with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to address the issues of workforce shortage and workplace conditions.

Mental Health

Mental illness and addiction are diseases like any other. Yet, according to the Government Accountability Office, 90 percent of health insurance plans impose financial limitations and treatment restrictions on mental health and addiction benefits. In response, Congressman Thompson co-authored the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addition Equity Act (H.R. 1424). This bill requires all insurers that offer mental health care to provide the same level of benefits as they would for any other medical condition.

Preventative Care

The efficacy of cancer prevention screening is clear. When caught in the first stages, the five year survival rate for breast cancer is 98 percent and the five year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90 percent. This is why Congressman Mike Thompson, along with Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) introduced legislation to improve beneficiary access to Medicare's cancer screening services. If we eliminate the co-pays, more seniors will get screened, saving lives and money.

In August 2007, this legislation was included in the Champ Act and passed by the House.

Doctors in the National Guard and Reserve

Additional legislation authored by Thompson was also included in the CHAMP Act. Specifically, the act permanently waives Medicare's 60-day leave of absence limitation for National Guard and Reserve physicians called to active duty. This provision is based on Thompson's legislation, HR 3007.

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