Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Wyden Bill Works to Make Palliative and Hospice Care Available to All Americans
Washington, D.C. - Building on more than 35 years of working to ensure seniors are getting the best possible health care, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has introduced legislation to improve the recently recognized medical specialty of palliative and hospice medicine to help seniors and those with serious or chronic illnesses better manage their pain and improve their quality of life. Palliative and hospice care focuses less on curative treatment of a specific disease and more on relieving … Continue Reading
June 28, 2012
Wyden Statement on the Supreme Court Upholding the Affordable Care Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after the United States Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act: "The Supreme Court affirmed today that health insurance is not just for the healthy and wealthy and that denying coverage to those who need it most has no place in the United States. I think it is unfortunate that instead of looking for ways to better guarantee health care for their citizens, some states have focused only on repealing a law … Continue Reading
May 03, 2012
Wyden Statement on Oregon Waiver for Medicaid Demonstration Project
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agreement to grant a waiver to the State of Oregon allowing our state to create a coordinated care program for Medicaid beneficiaries that will have the potential for billions in Medicaid savings over the next ten years: "Oregon is proving once again why it should be called 'the innovation state.' The waiver agreed to today to create community-based coordinated … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012
Fixing Medicare by Keeping Seniors Healthy
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing that raising premiums and cutting benefits aren't the only ways to deal with the growing cost of Medicare, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced legislation today that experts say could save Medicare billions by helping seniors get and stay healthy. The Medicare "Better Health Rewards" program is a 100% voluntary program designed to help Medicare beneficiaries get and stay healthy by giving participating seniors achievable … Continue Reading
March 26, 2012
Wyden and Portman to Lead Expert Panel asking: “Can Medicare Save Money by Keeping Seniors Healthy?”
Washington, D.C. - Need a break from health reform arguments? Think health care should keep people healthy? Want Democrats and Republicans to work together? Join U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rob Portman (R- Ohio) for a healthy snack and a conversation with some of the nation's leading health and wellness experts. The program will focus on the value of wellness programs and how the proposed Medicare "Better Health Rewards" program can help seniors set achievable goals to improve … Continue Reading
March 19, 2012
Preserving the Medicare Guarantee: Why I've Been Working with Paul Ryan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) posted the below piece to the Huffington Post explaining why he has been working with Paul Ryan on Medicare reform. The post: Explains why Congress needs to enact Medicare reform; Clears up the misconception that seniors aren't already getting their Medicare from private plans; Illustrates the differences between Wyden-Ryan and last year's House Republican Budget; Expresses his thoughts on Republicans using Wyden-Ryan for political … Continue Reading
December 15, 2011
Wyden & Ryan Advance Bipartisan Plan to Strengthen Medicare and Expand Health Care Choices for All
WASHINGTON - This morning, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced a new proposal that represents a major advance in the effort to build a more secure future for the millions of seniors who rely on Medicare. The new report from Sen. Wyden and Rep. Ryan, titled "Guaranteed Choices to Strengthen Medicare and Health Security for All: Bipartisan Options for the Future," outlines a bipartisan path forward on expanding health care choices for seniors while … Continue Reading
December 07, 2011
Wyden, Markey Call on CMS to Release Guidelines for Program That Experts Say Could Result in Substantial Medicare Savings by Better Coordinating Care
Washington, D.C. - A program providing home-based health care for the most chronically-ill veterans, saved the Veterans' Affairs Department more than 24 percent on the overall cost of caring for those patients, yet a similar program scheduled to be tested as part of Medicare has largely gone ignored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Independence at Home pilot program -- originally authored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Wyden Letter Prompts DoD to Change Policy Denying Injured Guard and Reserve Members Medical Assistance
Washington, D.C. - Coming on the heels of a letter sent to DoD undersecretary Dr. Clifford Stanley on Tuesday calling on the department to fix a policy severely inhibiting the access to healthcare injured National Guard and Reserve members receive after leaving the service, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) announced that Undersecretary Clifford has instituted changes to the Transitional Assistance Medical Program (TAMP) that will ensure separating servicemembers injured in combat receive the … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Wyden Calls on DoD Undersecretary to Change Policy Denying Injured Guard and Reserve Members Transitional Medical Assistance
Washington, D.C. - After admitting that the Pentagon's policy for providing transitional medical assistance to some of the most severely injured National Guard and Reserve members returning from combat and separating from active duty was flawed, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. Clifford Stanley has yet to amend the policy more than 150 days after agreeing to change it. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to Stanley calling on him to keep his promise to … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Bipartisan, House-Senate Coalition Introduces Legislation to Prevent Medicare Waste, Fraud and Abuse
New Medicare card protects identities, takes printed Social Security number off front of the new Medicare card WASHINGTON - To combat a reported $60 billion lost to waste, fraud and abuse within the Medicare system, U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA-06), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03) and John Shimkus (R-IL-19) introduced legislation today to use existing "smart card" technology to protect seniors. Similar to the 20 … Continue Reading
August 11, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Announce Grants for Community Health Centers in Oregon
Washington, DC - Continuing efforts to improve health care access for underserved communities, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $1 million from the Affordable Care Act to three community health centers in Oregon. Wyden and Merkley have long advocated for funding of community health centers. These centers deliver quality care and services, driven by the needs of the communities … Continue Reading
August 03, 2011
FDA Announces Long-Awaited Standards for Labeling of Gluten-Free Food
Washington, D.C. - After more than four years of inaction, the Food and Drug Administration has announced that a final rule setting standards for the labeling of gluten-free food will move forward. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg two weeks ago urging the FDA to end the more than four years of silence and fulfill their statutory requirement to create standards for the growing gluten-free food industry. "As medical … Continue Reading
July 28, 2011
Sens. Casey, Toomey and Wyden Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Treatments for Rare Diseases
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Preserving Access to Orphan Drugs Act of 2011, bipartisan legislation to ensure that the development of treatments for rare diseases is not jeopardized. This legislation ensures that unnecessary regulatory hurdles are not placed in front of innovative new therapies for rare diseases and conditions. "With 30 million Americans suffering from a rare disease, it is important to ensure that the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011
Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Issue Statement on VA’s Announcement on the Future of the Roseburg VA Hospital
Washington, D.C. - In response to the Veterans Affairs Department's announcement today of its future plans for the VA Roseburg Health Care System, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio issued the following statement: "This is obviously not the decision we were hoping for. Keeping the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) closed will force veterans to travel further and, potentially, pay more for care that they should be receiving from the VA. … Continue Reading
July 21, 2011
Wyden, Leahy Letter Asks FDA For Gluten-Free Food Standards
Washington, D.C. - After more than four years of inaction by the Food and Drug Administration on their statutory requirement to finalize standards for gluten-free labeling on foods, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) have sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg seeking answers for the extreme delay and an update on when the FDA will propose a final rule. Included as part of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004, the FDA was … Continue Reading
July 14, 2011
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million for Oregon School-based Health Centers
Washington, DC - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $4 million to twelve school-based health centers across Oregon to expand access to quality health care to children while at school. Funding for these awards comes from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. "Investments in preventive health care like health screenings, health promotion, and disease prevention activities are a key to … Continue Reading
July 13, 2011
Brown, Wyden, McCain Introduce Affordable Medicines Utilization Act Of 2011
WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to increase consumer flexibility and save taxpayer dollars, U.S. Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced bipartisan legislation today that will encourage states to take advantage of cost-saving generic drugs. According to a recent study, states waste more than $300 million a year just by not taking advantage of generic drug options. The Affordable Medicines Utilization Act of 2011 offers states incentives to use generic … Continue Reading
April 13, 2011
Merkley, Wyden, DeFazio Invite Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki to Visit Roseburg Veterans Medical Center
Washington, D.C. - Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-4) sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki Wednesday requesting that he visit the Roseburg Oregon Veterans Medical Center before making any decisions about the future of medical services there. "In order to help you make a more informed decision, we invite you to visit the Roseburg hospital before deciding on VARHS's fate," wrote the Members. "We believe seeing the … Continue Reading
April 07, 2011
Wyden, Grassley Introduce Bill Making Medicare Claims Data Public
WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon today introduced legislation to make Medicare claims data public for the first time. The legislation is the product of the senators' combined efforts - each was working on a method of making the data public and combined approaches in the bipartisan legislation introduced today. "Medicare is a $500 billion program with billions of dollars going out in error each year," Grassley said. "The bad actors are getting bigger and … Continue Reading
