Rep. Golden Unveils Healthcare Roadmap

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, issued the following news release:

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- Congressman's package of proposals to lower costs, expand access to care includes measures to strengthen ACA, allow Mainers 50+ to buy into Medicare, and Medicare for All

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Today, Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) released his plan to ensure all Maine people have quality, affordable healthcare. Golden's healthcare roadmap includes short-term and long-term plans to help lower healthcare costs and expand coverage to every American.

"More than any other issue, Maine people tell me how they struggle to afford the healthcare they need," said Congressman Golden. "Our families face higher and higher medical bills while insurance and drug companies post record profits. We're the wealthiest country in the world, and we can do better. I told Mainers I would work to help make good healthcare available and affordable for everyone. Today, I'm following through with my healthcare roadmap, a common-sense plan to lower costs and expand access to care in the short term and move towards a universal healthcare system in the long term."

Golden's healthcare roadmap includes seven bills, including the Medicare Buy-in and Healthcare Stabilization Act, the Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act, and Golden's own FLAT Prices Act. These are pragmatic, common-sense measures that could provide immediate relief from rising healthcare costs.

"We need to take action right now to help Maine people facing crushing healthcare costs," Golden continued. "That's why my plan focuses on strengthening the Affordable Care Act, safeguarding protections for people with pre-existing conditions, maximizing Medicaid expansion in Maine, and making prescription drugs more affordable.

"We also need to think beyond the system we have. A key part of my roadmap will allow Mainers over 50 to buy into Medicare. Our 50+ Medicare buy-in lowers costs and provides economic security for more than 145,000 people in our state, while steadily pushing the country closer to universal coverage."

Golden supports universal healthcare and has cosponsored Medicare for All legislation, keeping the promises he made as a candidate. Golden recognizes Medicare for All as the destination of his healthcare roadmap, and he will work to enact the more immediately feasible parts of his plan in the short term so that Maine people aren't forced to wait for relief from the skyrocketing cost of care.

"Our current healthcare system cannot guarantee every Mainer quality care without bold changes," concluded Golden. "That's why I believe we must one day find a way to achieve universal coverage in America. Medicare for All would transform our healthcare system to make it work for everyday people, instead of today's system that works to maximize profits for insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and the healthcare lobby. I won't mislead people about the road ahead -- it's unlikely to happen overnight. But pushing for universal health coverage is the right thing to do, and it's the right direction for America. I am committed to the long fight to ensure that all Mainer's and all Americans have affordable coverage, because an equal chance at a healthy life should be a right, not a privilege."

The legislation outlined in Golden's healthcare roadmap includes:

The Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act -- H.R. 986

The Incentivizing Medicaid Expansion Act -- H.R. 584

The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Drug Prices Act -- H.R. 1188

The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act -- H.R. 1046

The Medicare Buy-in and Healthcare Stabilization Act -- H.R. 1346

The Medicare for All Act -- introduced in 115th Congress, soon to be introduced in 116th Congress

Find more information about Congressman Golden's healthcare roadmap here (https://golden.house.gov/sites/golden.house.gov/files/documents/Healthcare%20Roadmap.pdf).