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. I remain steadfastly committed to 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:

• Authored the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act of 2001, which increases pediatric drug research and the development of safe drug formulations for children;
• 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;
• Led the charge in the House to forestall the implementation of a rule proposed last year by the Bush Administration to trim Medicaid reimbursement to California public hospitals, which threatens the viability of California's Medi-Cal program and hurts public, private and children's hospitals.
• I also co-authored the Patients' Bill of Rights, which provides comprehensive protections including direct access to specialists and the right to hold health plans accountable if they deny care that causes harm. I've authored legislation to provide all Medicare beneficiaries with a comprehensive, affordable prescription medicines benefit.