Health

I believe that everyone has a right to accessible and affordable healthcare. I am committed to protecting the health of all citizens regardless of age, socioeconomic status, health history, or gender. Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in 2010, I have seen firsthand the direct impact of this legislation locally over the past 14 years to communities and families across the Central Coast. 

The ACA meant Sarah from Lompoc could afford to open her own small business and afford insurance coverage for her two children.

It meant that when Kathleen in San Luis Obispo was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer, her $500,000 medical bill was covered by her healthcare plan.

And it meant that Adrienne, from Buellton, can now afford to pay for her husband’s nursing facility, as his debilitating disease prevents her from being able to physically care for him.

I have been a strong supporter of protecting the ACA and lowering premiums. In 2021, I voted in support of the American Rescue Plan to temporarily lower premiums by an average of 40 percent for two years. As these cuts were set to expire, I then voted yes on the Inflation Reduction Act to extend these reductions to premiums through 2025. Since 2021, these lower premiums have assisted over 9 million Americans in receiving high-quality, affordable health care. I will continue to advocate for the extension of these vital reductions.

Click here to read more about how the Inflation Reduction Act is cutting Central Coast health care costs.

While the ACA has provided health insurance to cover the 23 million Americans, it still is not perfect and health care and prescription drug costs remain too high. I am supportive of legislation to create a public option under the ACA and provide much-needed competition with private industry to bring down insurance costs. 

Now, more than ever, Congress must work across the aisle to improve our health care system and bring down costs for all Americans. That is why I have joined with a bipartisan group of my colleagues in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to craft smart, bipartisan legislation that would stabilize the insurance markets and lower prescription drug costs. These proposals include mandatory funding for CSR payments and creating a permanent reinsurance program. 

I am committed to strengthening Medicare and never seeing it cut. Medicare provides quality healthcare to thousands of residents on the Central Coast. I also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act because it gives Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, caps out-of-pocket prescription costs for seniors, and gives Medicare beneficiaries the option to make monthly installments on their prescription drugs at no additional cost. It also caps the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 per month, ensuring this life-saving drug is accessible to those who need it. I want to see Medicare expanded to include dental and vision so it can give all seniors access to services they need. 

It is Congress' responsibility to protect people’s right to accessible, affordable, and nondiscriminatory health care. Since being in office, I have fought to not only protect health care but sought to improve it within our community.

I have secured federal funding for our health care sector on the Central Coast, including $900,000 for the Lompoc Health Clinic to provide additional capacity for the clinic as well as to improve patient inflow and overall experience. In addition, I was successful in getting $1,000,000 for Marian Medical Center to help create an Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Residency Program Clinic at the hospital’s campus in Santa Maria.

For more information concerning work and views related to health, please contact our office.