I saw firsthand what the lack of access to routine and preventative healthcare means for Americans. In 2022, I worked with Democratic leaders in Washington on legislation to help bolster the healthcare workforce, improve diversity in clinical trials, and increase accessibility to affordable healthcare. I also worked on federal legislation related to mental health reform, reproductive rights, Medicare, Medicaid, and more. 

Unfortunately, healthcare access is still out of reach for the millions of uninsured. And in Texas, our healthcare outcomes are some of the worst in the nation. In 2021, nearly 20% of Texans were uninsured, and Texas children were more than twice as likely as children in other states to be uninsured. Texas also ranks #49 for women’s healthcare.

In Congress, I will work to:

• Offer a public option for health insurance so Americans will have expanded access and more choices on the Marketplace, lowering prices for everyone through increased competition, and allow those who like their private plans to keep them. 

• Lower prescription drug costs: For those lucky enough to receive the care of a doctor, there is still the burden of prescription drug cost. We must allow reimportation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada at lower prices and cap the cost of insulin for all Americans at $35 per month. We must also hold drug companies accountable and bring generic drugs to market sooner at a fraction of the cost of high-priced brand name drugs, to make pharmaceutical companies put patients over profits. A bipartisan group of Senators is advocating for this reform, and I will support their bill as a member of Congress if given the opportunity.

• Incentivize research and development of Orphan Drugs: As a surgeon, I saw far too many parents watch their children suffer with rare conditions for which treatments were either unavailable or extraordinarily expensive. Currently, the FDA does provide grants to pharmaceutical companies who wish to develop drug treatments for rare conditions. However, there’s much more we can do to ensure that pharmaceutical companies continue to research treatments and cures for rare conditions, and that those treatments are fairly priced. I will advocate for expanded resources for orphan drug research and work to increase awareness and support of this vital program in Washington. I will also encourage the government to partner with pharmaceutical companies in efforts to keep those vital treatments on the market.

• Advocate for Medicaid expansion: I will fight for the expansion of Medicaid and support legislation that will encourage state legislators to change course in favor of helping millions of Texans’ to receive the coverage they need, instead of actively working to take it away. More than 94 million Americans, 28% of the population, were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) as of March 2023. Medicaid is not only coverage for low-income Americans, it is also the leading provider for children, mental health services, and long-term care. Unfortunately, 47 states, including Texas, have disenrolled millions from coverage– many due to procedural reasons. 5.5 million people have been disenrolled nationwide as of August 2023. Access to Medicaid and CHIP is critical for many Americans. But in addition to the disenrollment process, Texas continues to fail millions of citizens by refusing to accept federal funding for Medicaid expansion.

• Increase transparency for patients in the healthcare system: When patients need lifesaving care, they and their families should be able to instantly get clear pricing and information about their options for care and what it might cost. But insurance companies and corporate hospital systems have made it virtually impossible to get straightforward answers on what patients might pay out of pocket - so they can make more money at Texans’ expense. We must crack down on this opaque system which lets patients be taken advantage of, and pass reforms that get Texans the information they deserve when emergencies strike.