Healthy Families

By Anna G. Eshoo

Very little counts as much to each of us and our families as quality health care and I believe that our national public policies should reflect our reverence for families as the foundation of our society. Therefore I remain steadfastly committed to reforming HMOs and re-establishing the doctor-patient relationship, covering prescription medicines under Medicare, and promoting preventive healthcare for all children. Combined with ensuring the long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare, these changes will greatly improve the quality of life for future generations.

Among my legislative accomplishments: I authored the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act to provide Medicaid coverage of uninsured and underinsured women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer by the CDC screening program. Currently, the federal government pays to screen these women for cancer but does not cover treatment for those who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.

I co-authored the Patients' Bill of Rights to provide comprehensive protections including direct access to specialists and the right to hold one's health plan accountable when they deny care that causes harm. Equally important, I wrote legislation to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with a comprehensive, affordable prescription medicines benefit.