Health Care
Healthcare Overview
For the first time in decades, the United States has seen a drop in life expectancy. This is extremely troubling and emphasizes the need for our country to take a hard look on the health and wellness of our citizens. We need to increase access to healthcare for all Americans, improve preventative health, and make the necessary investments into research and development on how to combat diseases.
Affordable Care Act
I am proud supporter of the Affordable Care Act which put in place a patient bill of rights. The ramifications of a repeal of the Affordable Care Act for Ohioans are real. In Ohio alone, more than 35 thousand young adults would lose their insurance coverage through their parents’ health plans. Nearly 6.7 million residents of Ohio with private insurance coverage will be vulnerable again to having lifetime limits placed on how much insurance companies will spend on their health care. More than 1.8 million seniors in Ohio who have Medicare coverage would be forced to pay a co-pay to receive important preventive services like mammograms and colonoscopies. Repealing the ACA will have tragic effects on the millions of Americans who rely on quality and affordable healthcare for their families.
Research and Development
As Congress continues to work to promote accountability in the budget and avoid wasteful spending, I believe it is imperative that we continue to fund important programs to improve our Nation’s healthcare. That is why I am a longtime supporter of continuing to fund the National Institute of Health, which provides funding for research grants and clinical trials for such diseases as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Further, I was pleased to support the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama. This legislation focuses on increased investments to the NIH, expedites reviews of lifesaving medicine, and streamlines the drug and device development process. This legislation will deliver $8.75 billion for the NIH in mandatory funding over the next five years which will help continue research grants and clinical trials for many diseases. This legislation also focuses on the modernization of clinical trials and supports the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical research, which allows for the use of new and creative adaptive clinical trial designs and encourages the development of next generation treatments. Furthermore, it supports the development of precision medicine through funding in the NIH and Cures Innovation Fund. In addition, the package includes key provisions on substance use disorders and mental health, including $1 billion in grants for states to treat heroin and prescription opioid addiction. I hope this legislation will give the millions of people of who are suffering from life-threatening diseases and their families hope that a cure will be discovered.
Nutrition Curriculum
Healthcare spending in the United States continues to rise. Healthcare expenditures surpassed $2.3 trillion in 2008, with costs from chronic disease treatment accounting for over 75 percent of national health costs. Many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and stroke are linked to dietary and lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, many physicians feel inadequately trained to provide proper nutrition advice. Furthermore, the same can be said for physical activity – although expert recommendations encourage more medical schools to teach physical activity, only 13 percent of medical schools integrate it into the curricula. That is why I introduced the bipartisan Expansion of Nutrition’s Role in Curricula and Healthcare (ENRICH) Act, which would create a grant program for U.S. Medical Schools and Osteopathic Colleges to create an integrated nutrition and physical activity curriculum program.
More on Health Care
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13)--a member of the Defense Appropriations Committee--voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act, a bill that supports our warfighters, restores military readiness, and bolsters our Armed Forces. This minibus also included funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.
Congressman Tim Ryan Blasts House Republicans for Slashing Women’s International Health Care Funding
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) introduced an amendment to the FY 19 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to provide $575,000,000 for international family planning and reproductive health programs during today’s full committee markup. By a 22-29 vote, Congressional Republicans rejected Congressman Ryan’s amendment.
National Recovery Month - September 2012
I am excited to celebrate National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month this September. This month demonstrates that recovery from addiction is possible and commemorates all the men and women who have successfully recovered from drug and alcohol addiction. It is important to remember that drug addiction is a disease that can be treated and we must do everything in our power to help those people who need it the most.
Youngstown, Ohio – Congressman Tim Ryan today joined ‘Get Ohio Covered’ to host a press conference with State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan, and Dr. Alexis Smith of Trinity Health Systems to get Ohioans to enroll during Open Enrollment. The Open Enrollment period began November 1, and residents have until December 15 to make a decision about their health insurance plans for 2018. After Trump Administration pulled support for marketing and local outreach, it is up to local communities to help residents sign up for coverage.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan today issued the following statement after House Republicans finally passed a partisan bill that reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the expense of other important programs. Legislation awaits Senate action.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan released the following statement in recognition of the first day of the open enrollment period. The period runs from November 1 through December 15 in 42 states, with 8 states and DC having longer enrollment periods:
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan released this statement after Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) announced a bipartisan agreement to stabilize insurance marketplaces for the next two years. The plan takes a strong first step to stabilize the insurance marketplaces, lower premiums and provide additional state flexibility while ensuring protections for those living with pre-existing conditions and for low-income populations.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan released this statement following the Trump Administration’s announcement that the President would halt, unilaterally, cost-sharing reduction payments required under the Affordable Care Act. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that ending these payments will increase American’s premiums by 20 percent or more.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan released the following statement today in response to President Trump’s executive order designed to undermine and sabotage Americans’ access to quality, affordable healthcare. The executive order is meant to drive Americans into lower quality health insurance plans and prompt healthy people to exit insurance markets, which would cause premiums to increase for millions of Americans across the country.
Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Joyce Beatty (OH-03) called on Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma to provide detailed answers regarding cuts in services and outreach programs that help citizens enroll in health care plans. This is in response to the Trump Administration’s handling of the upcoming open enrollment period.