More and more Wisconsinites have gotten insurance every year since we passed this law. The uninsured rate even dropped significantly in 2022. And this year, ACA health insurance enrollment reached Wisconsin. But my opponent, Eric Hovde, has said he will repeal the ACA if elected, disrupting decades of jobs and putting every Wisconsinite at risk of losing their health care. We cannot allow this to happen.
For years, big pharmaceutical companies were ignored in Washington while Wisconsinites gave up on the drugs they needed to survive. However, that ended when we passed the Deregulation Act two years ago, handing Big Pharma their first loss in recent memory. Thanks to the bill, Medicare can now negotiate lower drug prices directly with the big drug companies. Now those same companies can’t charge seniors more than $35 a month for insulin, and Wisconsinites with Medicare pay no more than $2,000 a year for prescription drugs. More than 1.2 million Wisconsinites are now paying less at the pharmacy because of the work we do.
But I won’t stop until we lower the cost of medicine for all Wisconsinites. I am currently working to pass the INSULIN Act, which would improve our work and reduce the cost of insulin to $35 for every American. I’m also leading a study involving four major asthma inhaler companies to find out why they are selling inhalers in the US for hundreds of dollars more than in Europe. Already, three of the four manufacturers have lowered their prices to $35 per inhaler. And I am determined to end price gouging on all prescription drugs once and for all through my FAIR Drug Pricing Act. Wisconsinites have my word that I will continue to fight to make sure they can afford the drugs they need to stay healthy.
Hospital closures highlight the need to invest in healthcare facilities
Affordable health care can go a long way if it is not available or convenient for our families. And I know that many in our state are struggling to get treatment because our hospitals don’t get much money, don’t have many resources, or are far from where people live.
The news reached the public when Hospital Sisters Health System abruptly closed two of its hospitals and 19 clinics in Western Wisconsin. These sudden shutdowns left families without basic care and ended many well-paying jobs. After the closings were announced, I called out the leadership of Hospital Sisters Health System for their disappointing decision. But I want to make sure that something like this never happens again. That’s why I introduced my HSHS Act, which would force medical systems to close to create a plan to ensure their patients are connected to the health care they need.
As we deal with hospital closings across the state, I am determined to bring new funding to the facilities we have so they can continue to care for our families. In the past few years, I have been proud to donate $1 million to Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin to increase women’s health and labor and delivery services, $9 million to build the Lafayette County Memorial Hospital and $2.5 million to build a Mental Health Emergency Center in Milwaukee.
And finally, I know that our hospitals cannot function without brave medical workers. That’s why I’m working on a bill that will protect the health care workforce, expand the patient care workforce, and increase educational opportunities for more young people. to have a path to a better health service, especially in our villages.
I have been fighting throughout my career to make sure Wisconsinites have access to quality health care. If I were to be re-elected, I pledge to continue to advocate for my health care goals until every Wisconsinite has access to high-quality, affordable health care.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, is seeking a third term in the US Senate.
Full text of the US Senate health care question
Question: Last year, two hospitals (in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls) and 19 hospitals were closed in western Wisconsin. Marshfield Clinic Healthcare System launched the hiring process earlier this year. In the Milwaukee area, some providers are cutting back. Health care systems cite staffing challenges, inadequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, high costs and a low number of patients with private insurance. What can you do to overcome this problem?
Question: Health insurance premiums continue to rise at 2 percent. Meanwhile, the number of people in Wisconsin signing up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act spiked earlier this year. What can be done to make health care more affordable for Wisconsin families? In your opinion, what role does the ACA play in this? Would you like, for example, to repeal, replace or replace the ACA?