Quality Health Care
Maria believes that patients and their doctors, not insurance bureaucrats, should make medical decisions. With the price of prescription drugs and insurance co-pays soaring, Maria believes that ensuring all Washingtonians have access to affordable, quality health care is one of our most important challenges. She supports programs to enable small businesses to provide affordable coverage to their employees; guarantee that all children have access to health care; and provide medications and care to the elderly, disabled, chronically ill, and those nearing the end of life. Through innovative legislation and partnerships, Maria has taken significant steps to make sure that even the most vulnerable in Washington get the care they need and deserve.
Fighting to Make Prescription Drugs Affordable
Maria believes the government should use its bulk buying power to lower prescription drug costs. She also believes that the President's Medicare prescription drug plan is inadequate and leaves too many of our seniors behind. Maria has worked hard to pass a more effective plan, and continues to call for changes to ensure that seniors can take advantage of the program at the lowest prices possible. She supports efforts to extend the deadline for seniors to enroll through the end of 2006.
Finding Solutions for Small Businesses
Maria knows that high health care costs are a particular problem for our small businesses. She has a plan to encourage small businesses and self-employed workers to pool resources to acquire coverage more easily.
Fighting for Rural Health Care
Maria has worked tirelessly to support rural and critical access hospitals, a vital part of Washington's healthcare network. She is committed to providing our rural and underserved communities with access to the most-qualified health care providers. Maria wrote and worked to pass the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Act to bring more doctors and nurses to rural and underserved communities.
Investing in Better Care and New Technology
Maria has worked to implement cutting-edge technology to improve communication between health care providers, bring down costs for patients, and reduce errors in diagnosis and treatment. Maria has fought to save lives, improve patient care and save billions of dollars through information technology. She cosponsored the bipartisan Better Healthcare Through Information Technology Act, which could save patients and hospitals up to $140 billion each year.
Standing up to Special Interests
Maria believes we should hold special interests accountable to get health care costs under control. She has stood up to big insurance and drug companies that impede progress, and is fighting for the ability to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs under Medicare.