On Healthcare

"What could be more important to the families of Silicon Valley than the health and well-being of their loved ones? As a husband and a father of two, I know what it means to want the best possible care for your family. Everyone should have access to quality healthcare at affordable rates, no matter where they live, how old they are, or what background they come from."

- Congressman Mike Honda
PROVEN RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ON HEALTHCARE.
PASSING A REAL PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
Today, 71 million Americans rely on a health maintenance organization for their health care needs. Mike Honda wants to ensure that the HMOs' efforts to keep costs down don't interfere with their ability to provide quality healthcare by passing a meaningful and comprehensive patients' bill of rights. Among the protections he supports for patients are: the ability to see a specialist without a referral, the ability to receive emergency room care without getting a provider's approval, right for women to chose their OB/GYN as their primary care physician, and the right to sue a provider if their decision results in some medical harm.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR SENIORS
When Medicare was first established in 1965, prescription drug coverage was not included in the plan, nor was it included in most private coverage plans. However, over time the private plans have added prescription drug coverage while Medicare has not. Seniors are finding it more difficult and increasingly expensive to get access to the life-saving prescription drugs they need. Mike Honda supports allowing seniors to use their Medicare for prescription drug coverage and requiring pharmaceutical companies to offer prescription drugs to seniors at the same discount rates they offer larger insurance companies.
COMMITTED TO MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Congress must act quickly to ensure the long-term viability and solvency of Medicare. Mike Honda feels that the Social Security Trust Fund must be protected, especially in the face of increased government spending. As a member of the Budget Committee, Mike has resisted these attempts to raid the fund. Mike feels that our seniors deserve the highest standard of care possible, and that Medicare must be maintained in order to accomplish this.

Mike is also committed to fixing the inequity of the Social Security "notch" problem that gives lower benefits to individuals born between 1917 and 1926 than workers born before 1917. Mike does not support privatization of Social Security and opposes raising the eligibility age for Social Security or for MediCare.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
Over time, many private coverage plans have added prescription drug coverage, while Medicare has not. Mike Honda believes one of the most important steps in bolstering the Medicare program is to include a prescription drug benefit for all senior citizens, not just a few.

Mike supports enacting a real, meaningful, and affordable Medicare prescription drug benefit. In Congress he supported the Democratic plan for prescription drug coverage. This plan would have allowed seniors and individuals with disabilities to keep making the choices that matter. Seniors will not be forced to join an HMO, nor would they be forced to join a private insurance plan that will restrict their access to needed drugs, deny coverage for the medicine their doctors prescribes, or force them to change pharmacies. Honda supports requiring pharmaceutical companies to offer prescription drugs to seniors at the same discount rates they offer the big insurance companies and recognizes that patent laws that encourage innovation in the pharmaceutical industry often impede the speedy introduction of lower-cost generic drugs.