ongressman Maurice Hinchey believes that all Americans should have access to quality health care. Today, more than 46 million Americans have no health insurance and millions more have policies inadequate to cover basic needs. Unexpected health care costs can mean financial disaster even for people who consider themselves well-insured. Hinchey has supported measures that would address this problem, whether by broad action or incremental changes in existing law.
Hinchey has continued his support for health care reform and consumer protections. He made the establishment of a prescription drug benefit for seniors a top priority. He’s been fighting for strong managed care reform, to ensure that patients and their doctors - not distant insurance companies - can make their own decisions about their health care. In the 105th Congress, he voted to stabilize Medicare's finances while providing new benefits for retirees, and supported the children's health initiative to provide coverage for up to 10 million uninsured children.
Hinchey has been an outspoken voice on the need for protections from managed care bureaucracies. He is an original sponsor of the "Patient's Bill of Rights" legislation that would return health care decisions to patients and make sure that HMOs provide the benefits that customers have paid for. He is also the author of the "Patient Safety Act," which would require hospitals to publicly disclose information about staffing levels and outcomes, so that people can be better informed about their health care options.
Congressman Hinchey believes that Medicare must be protected and the covenant made with seniors must be kept. Hinchey knows that health care coverage for seniors is not complete unless Medicare provides a comprehensive, affordable prescription drug plan for all retirees. He’s worked to create a meaningful prescription drug benefit and stop the pharmaceutical industry’s discriminatory pricing practices. Hinchey fought efforts by the Republican Congress to slash Medicare funding, push seniors into managed care programs against their will, and force hospitals to severely curtail services. Hinchey voted to keep Medicare financially sound in 1997 while providing new preventive benefits to seniors.
Hinchey supports federal funding for medical research and supports President Clinton's call for a dramatic increase in our national investment in research. Hinchey has also sponsored legislation to prevent the federal government from barring access to alternative medical treatments and has authored legislation to allow health insurance coverage for acupuncture treatments.
Hinchey has sponsored legislation to establish a single-payer health care system that would ensure no American family is left without health care coverage. This proposal would offer comprehensive coverage for virtually all necessary health care services. According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, this plan would reduce the nation's health care budget because of huge savings on overhead costs. While Hinchey supports comprehensive reform, he knows people need health care now, and has backed other plans to expand coverage and access. Most recently, he voted for legislation to provide health coverage for up to 10 million uninsured children.
