HEALTH CARE
When it comes to achieving health care coverage for every American, Richie’s focus has always been on what Congress can do to deliver positive change to the people, right away. That’s why he helped write the Affordable Care Act, which finally made health insurance obtainable for tens of millions of Americans.
He knows that as significant as that victory was, the work is not nearly done. He agrees with Barack Obama and Joe Biden - we need to do everything we can to strengthen and expand the coverage provided by the ACA, and defend it from constant attacks by the Trump administration.
When COVID-19 spread through the country, Richie passed legislation that ensured people would have access to testing and healthcare.
While Trump tried to take affordable healthcare away from nearly 130 million people with pre-existing conditions, Richie is working to cover more people and make coverage more affordable. He has given his full support to a bill that would lower premiums for working-class people by hundreds of dollars a year. It would also reduce deductibles and prescription drug costs, encourage more states to expand Medicaid coverage, and result in millions more Americans getting covered.
As Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee, Richie has made healthcare a top priority. That’s why he held his first hearing as Chairman on protecting healthcare for those with pre-existing conditions. Over the last two years, Richie has also:
Passed H.R. 3, which allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and make those prices available to people with private insurance.
Proposed the Prescription Drug STAR Act, which requires pharma companies to be more open and upfront on drug pricing, so Americans are not paying higher prices for drugs being sold for less in other countries.
Advocated for lower drug prices by holding two hearings on the rising prescription drug prices and Overcoming Pharmaceutical Barriers.
Held a hearing on pathways to universal health care.
Filed bill to expand telehealth practices, in order to make healthcare more accessible in rural communities.
“As we strive for universal coverage at the federal level, I continue to look at Massachusetts’ success. This means continuing to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act.”
Daily Hampshire Gazette
“Neal, who is chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee that oversees HHS, said he had the department’s deputy secretary get on a phone call with Hatiras and other hospitals, so Hatiras could ‘make the argument for Holyoke Hospital, and he did it.’ ‘He pointed out that beyond the formula, there were these individuals from the Soldiers’ Home that had to be treated,’ Neal said… Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton also received $5.5 million in the second round of funding.”
“The Massachusetts State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has endorsed Congressman Richie Neal for re-election, citing his leadership in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and his ongoing work on behalf of working families everywhere… “As Richie Neal was creating emergency relief legislation in the wake of COVID-19, he was also making sure that our economy was supported with stability measures like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), grants for child care and development, and Election Assistance Grants,” said Kwesi Ablordeppey, a Springfield worker at the Holyoke Soldiers Home and member of SEIU 888.”
22 News (WWLP)
“Congressman Richard Neal said this new bill expands protections. Neal told 22News, ‘It will provide health insurance for 23 million Americans. It would provide an opportunity for us to address the issue of runaway Rx drug costs. And it expands protections for American families.’ Congressman Neal also said it’s very likely we will see a second stimulus check in July. He added that Americans still need protection to pay their bills.”
MassLive
“A proposal to renovate and expand the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home got a major boost Saturday as First District U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, threw his support behind the plan. ‘The proposals that we are speaking about today regarding the renovation for the future of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home are critical given the terrible tragedy of 76 veterans losing their lives due to the coronavirus outbreak here,’ he said.”
MassLive
“Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping health care package to strengthen the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, lowering the costs of insurance premiums, expanding eligibility for premium tax credits and allowing states to create state-based health insurance marketplaces… The Congressional Budget Office estimated that drugs subject to negotiation could see price drops of up to 55% if the bill passes, according to a news release from the office of Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. ‘The well-being and security of American families and the workers of our nation are at stake,’ Neal said.”
22 News
“On Tuesday, Congressman Richard Neal teamed up with Peter Pan Bus Lines and local restaurants to get free meals to health care workers in Springfield… Congressman Neal and volunteers distributed hundreds of boxed lunches to Mercy Medical Center employees just before noon. Neal purchased about $3,200 worth of lunches from local restaurants for Tuesday’s meals donation. ‘These are the people we count on and they have done a superb job. I would have done whatever they would have asked. I think the better emphasis is to thank the workers in this small but significant way,’ said Neal.”
Daily Hampshire Gazette
“On Sunday, U.S. Congressmen Richard E. Neal and Joseph Kennedy III, joined by Dr. Michael Kauffman, the CEO of Karyophaem Therapeutics, delivered the masks that will help ensure the safety and well being of those who live and work there. Neal said in a statement that the Soldiers’ Home is a special place. “The residents there have served their country with honor and distinction, and their health and safety, along with that of the staff, has always been top priority,” Neal said.”
22 News (WWLP)
“U.S. Representative Richard Neal is scheduled to tour the Excel Dryer manufacturing facility in East Longmeadow Wednesday morning. According to a news release sent to 22News, at 11:00 a.m., Neal will be guided through a factory tour that displays the Excel Dryer’s XLERATOR Hand Dryer which includes a HEPA Filtration System proven to remove 99.999 percent of viruses from the air stream.”
WWLP
“Congressman Richard Neal is urging the Department of Health and Human Services to disburse additional CARES Act funds to Massachusetts hospitals. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, includes $100 billion to address the increased costs faced by healthcare providers and lost revenue.”
MassLive
“U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said Tuesday he expects to go back to Washington later this week and vote on a new $484 billion coronavirus relief bill, legislation he said he spent the weekend hashing out with the Trump administration while working in concert with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others.”
Boston Globe
“Artenstein got in touch with US Representative Richard Neal, a Democrat whose district includes Springfield, and Neal said he was able to get the equipment released through a call to the US Department of Health and Human Services. ‘It was a tense period there for a few hours there,’ Neal, who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, told the Globe. He said he relayed to federal officials that ‘there are a lot of lives that could be on the line because of this, and I wanted that equipment moved now.’”
MassLive
“Neal, D-Springfield, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said in a news release that he recognized the urgency of the situation and contacted the state to provide the test kits. ‘Phase One of the Coronavirus Relief Act was about testing, testing, testing,’ Neal said. ‘While it is imperative that the tests get into the hands of health care providers who need them most, we must not forget our most vulnerable populations as well.’”
MassLive
“‘Hospitals and other health care providers in Massachusetts are experiencing tremendous strain as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis and care for an influx of extremely sick patients,” said Congressman Neal. “This infusion of federal funds will help providers stay afloat during the unprecedented coronavirus emergency and get the resources they need to keep frontline health care workers safe. I’m proud to have been an author of the CARES Act, and I will continue to support our state’s health care providers as Congress crafts additional COVID-19 response legislation.’”
MassLive
“Community health centers in Massachusetts will receive more than $36.5 million to assist in combating the COVID-19 outbreak... Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield was one of the drafters of the legislation."With major stress on our healthcare system, our community health centers are more indispensable than ever,” said Neal, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman. “As an author of the CARES Act, I was able to work with my colleagues to ensure that the funding would be there to keep health centers running while hospitals are managing the worst COVID-19 cases."
Boston.com
“Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation are expressing their concern about the spread of the novel coronavirus at veterans’ homes. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren and representatives Richard Neal and Ayanna Pressley sent a letter to Ryan Lilly, network director at the VA New England Healthcare System, expressing their concerns about the COVID-19 outbreaks at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, asking that more resources be obtained and deployed to mitigate the spread of the virus.”
MassLive
“U.S. Rep Richard Neal on Tuesday called for accountability after revelation about a dozen deaths at the Soldier's Home in Holyoke with several linked to the coronavirus pandemic. During a telephone town hall, meanwhile, Neal reassured a woman whose husband lives in the state run facility that public officials are working to understand what happened there and what can be done to halt the outbreak.”
MassLive
“Baystate Health announced Monday that it has received federal approval to use its Holyoke laboratory for testing of the coronavirus, putting the health system a step closer to being able to produce same-day results for the disease… State and federal officials including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal are assisting the hospital to expand its access to needed supplies from manufacturers.