This month is a Congressional district work period, so I am home traveling throughout the state.  This is a great chance for me to get out and talk with people about the issues that affect their day to day lives.  One of the biggest problems I hear about is access to medical care for those who live in rural areas.  My team has put in a lot of work lately on legislation that makes sure people who live outside the big cities can still get the care they deserve.

Congress voted on two bills related to healthcare this summer that I strongly support.  One is the Patient Access to Durable Medical Equipment, or PADME Act.  I am an original co-sponsor of this bill that will delay cuts to providers of durable medical equipment (DME) in rural areas.  I want to make sure that people in small towns across Oklahoma can still have access to CPAP machines and oxygen tanks that they need to survive. 

The other is H.R. 2646, The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act.  This bill will help people with mental illness receive the care they need. In Oklahoma, and across the country, mental health patients receive substandard care for various reasons.  This bill would ensure that our mental health programs communicate with each other and  will consolidate overlapping programs to cut down on unnecessary spending.

This bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize Native American Youth Suicide Prevention Programs. Many Native Americans who reside on reservations or in rural areas have a high risk or disproportionate burden of suicide. This bill not only prioritizes Native Americans, but it also ensures that tribal populations are eligible for suicide prevention grants.

Both of these bills are a step in the right direction.  They ensure that those who need care get it, and that is why I supported both bills. They both passed the House back in July, and are now in the Senate.  I hope that soon we can see both of them signed into law.

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