Health Care

What Hank has done:

• As Southeast Regional Whip during the 111th Congress, helped lead passage of President Obama's historic health care reform legislation.
• As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Competition Policy Subcommittee during the 111th Congress, co-authored provisions of the health care reform legislation in the House of Representatives that removed the insurance industry's immunity to anti-trust regulation.
• Actively defended Georgia’s critical PeachCare children’s healthcare program.
• Voted for the successful bill that directs the federal government to negotiate lower Medicare drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, and urged Medicare to re-examine its specialty-tier drug system. 
• Original Cosponsor of H.R.508, the Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act of 2017. This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare coverage to include eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental care. Introduced 01/12/2017 by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard.
• Cosponsor of H.R.807, the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2017. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps, and for other purposes. Introduced 02/01/2017 by Representative Erik Paulsen.
• Cosponsor of H.R.1478, the Gun Violence Research Act. This bill amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 to eliminate the prohibition on the Department of Health and Human Services using federal funds to advocate or promote gun control. Introduced 03/09/2017 by Representative Stephanie N. Murphy.
• Original cosponsor of H.R.2788, the HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act of 2017, to expand access to healthcare services, including sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services, for immigrant women, men, and families by removing legal barriers to health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. Introduced 06/06/2017 by Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham.
• Cosponsor of H.R.3770, the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence Act of 2017. To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and extend funding for community health centers. Introduced 09/13/201 by Representative Elise M. Stefanik.

What Hank will do:

• Ensure that the health care reform legislation is implemented such that it protects consumers and empowers ordinary Americans seeking affordable health insurance.
• Continue to pursue additional funds for Georgia’s critical PeachCare program.
• Continue to support a public option to counter insurance industry price gouging.
• Introduced the “Neglected Infections of Impoverished Americans Act of 2011” – H.R. 528 – which would require Health and Human Services to report to Congress annually on the impact of parasitic diseases – mostly in poor, minority populations along the U.S.-Mexico border, the rural South, Appalachia and distressed urban areas – to address their threat and make funding recommendations on how to eradicate them.
• Continue to support investment in health care research.