Health Care
Brian has long said that health care needs a start, not a finish. With the passage of the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, our nation took a critical first step by giving millions of Americans access to health insurance, including those who had never had access before, like individuals with pre-existing conditions, and making sure that the high cost of medical treatments do not force families into bankruptcy. Brian supports efforts in Congress to come together across the aisle and improve the law, bringing down the cost curve and making the quality of care better for all Americans.
More on Health Care
This week Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) attended a White House Business Council roundtable discussion on Innovation in healthcare. The event featured a discussion with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Bill Corr as well as WNY healthcare industry leaders and was hosted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute in conjunction with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
Today, U.S. Representatives Michael G. Grimm (R-S.I./Brooklyn) and Brian Higgins (D-Buffalo) led New York’s Congressional delegation in sending a letter of support for New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s proposed legislation, the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act (I-STOP). This state-led initiative would establish a program connecting doctors and pharmacists to a real-time, online database to track the prescribing and dispensing of frequently abused drugs.
Reps. Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and Brian Higgins (NY-27) today joined with dozens of employees from CUBRC to celebrate the research institution’s largest federal contract to date. This new arrangement will help create a dozen jobs at one of the Medical Campus’ most promising companies.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and N.Y. State Senator Timothy M. Kennedy (58th District) announced actions they are taking to address the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse. This announcement comes just days after U.S. Attorney William Hochul and N.Y. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman hosted a summit calling for action to fight the prescription painkiller problem and as the nation kicks off Red Ribbon week (October 23-31) an annual anti-drug awareness campaign.
With the first public meeting of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction set for Thursday, September 8, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) is asking the Committee co-chairs for serious consideration of an effort to negotiate lower drug prices through the Medicare program, a change that could save the nation as much as $200 billion over the next 10 years.
In a letter to President Obama, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) outlined steps central to growing jobs in Western New York and across America. This comes in advance of the President’s economic address before Thursday’s joint session of Congress.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that D’Youville College is set to receive a federal grant totaling $741,818 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), a member of the Congressional Cancer Caucus, applauded the New York State Legislature’s actions to approve A6233B, a bill providing parity on coverage of orally administered chemotherapy treatments. Just last week Congressman Higgins sent a letter to the primary sponsors Assemblyman Lopez and Senator Lanza encouraging passage. The Congressman introduced a similar bill in the House of Representatives in 2009 and is encouraging similar policies nationwide this year.
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced the award of $92,821 toward expansion of the nursing laboratory at Jamestown Community College (JCC).
“On a recent visit to JCC we had the opportunity to see the cutting edge lab settings which are so advanced you feel like you are actually in a modern hospital emergency room,” said Higgins. “The hands-on training made possible at JCC gives nursing students the skills and confidence to handle diverse medical situations and a competitive edge as they head into today’s technologically advanced workforce.”
Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) voted against Repealing the Prevention and Public Health Fund, H.R. 1217, legislation which would repeal $34.59 million in grants to New York State aimed at assisting community efforts to prevent disease, detect it early, and manage conditions before they become severe.