The Health Care Priorities Of Newly Elected Democratic U.S. Senators

Roll Call has posted a summary of the health care priorities of incoming Senate Democrats, including Michigan's Elissa Slotkin.  While Democrats will be in the minority in the Senate, the filibuster gives them considerable power over U.S. Senate votes:

https://rollcall.com/2024/11/07/a-look-at-the-health-priorities-of-incoming-senate-democrats/

A look at the health priorities of incoming Senate Democrats
Group united in defense of abortion rights, protection of 2010 health care law
By Jessie Hellmann - November 7, 2024

Republicans took control of the Senate with Tuesday’s elections, but a handful of new Democrats will also be going to the Senate in January.

The tight races between Republican Kari Lake and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego in Arizona and between Democrat Jacky Rosen and Republican Sam Brown in Nevada had not yet been called by Thursday evening.

Here’s a look at the health care portfolios of incoming Democratic senators so far.

Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.
Blunt Rochester won her race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Thomas R. Carper, defeating Republican Eric Hansen and receiving more than 56 percent of the vote.

Currently Delaware’s lone House member, Blunt Rochester is perhaps best known in health policy circles for her work to address maternal mortality, especially among Black women, who are more likely to experience pregnancy complications.

A member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she sits on the Health subcommittee, where last year, she co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, R-Ga., that would bar pharmacy benefit managers that participate in Medicare Part D from linking service fees to a drug’s list price. She and Carter argued that current practice incentivizes PBMs to select the most expensive drugs for insurance coverage.

She has prior health policy experience on her resume as well; she served as deputy secretary of Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services from 1993 to 1998.

She has also advocated for expanding access to telehealth and addressing the shortage of behavioral health providers. She supports abortion rights and said she would protect the 2010 health care law.

Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif.
Schiff, a congressman from California, won his race to fill Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat. Feinstein died in September 2023.

Though he’s introduced measures aimed at increasing access to HIV preexposure prophylaxis and on drug labeling during this Congress, he’s more well known as the leader of impeachment efforts against President-elect Donald Trump during Trump’s first term. He has also served as the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee and founded the Democratic Study Group on National Security.

Schiff has advocated for creating a federal long-term care benefit to pay for nursing care for all Americans and allowing the “reimportation” of cheaper drugs from other countries that were produced in the U.S.

He has sponsored legislation that would create a universal health care system through Medicare and to codify Roe v. Wade into law.

Andy Kim, D-N.J.
Kim will fill the seat vacated by former Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat who resigned after being convicted of bribery.

A member of the House Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs committees, Kim’s portfolio has been more national security related than health care related. Still, he’s introduced measures related to health care for troops and a bill which would expand the authority of the Health and Human Services secretary to order the recall of controlled substances to cover all drugs.

Kim has advocated for universal health care, but has not supported a specific proposal, like “Medicare for All.”

Kim has supported expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing and codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.

Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md.
Alsobrooks, county executive in Prince George’s County, Md., won a closely watched race against Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin.

Alsobrooks has said that on her first day in office, she would co-sponsor a bill that would prohibit restrictions on abortion before fetal viability. She supports a Medicare buy-in, expanding Medicaid in the 10 nonexpansion states and expanding the Medicare drug price negotiation law.

She said she would support access to fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization and the right to contraception.

As county executive, Alsobrooks spearheaded several mental health projects, including the establishment of an addiction care facility in Lanham.

Her administration also led the creation this past July of a crisis stabilization center in southern Prince George’s County to provide services for mental, behavioral and substance abuse health care practices.

Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
Elissa Slotkin, a Democratic congresswoman, won her bid to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Slotkin has said her personal experience with health care prompted her to seek office. Before the 2010 health care law was passed, her mother, Judith, a cancer survivor, could only get a health care plan with $1,000 per month premiums and a $10,000 deductible. She let her coverage lapse and a few months later was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She died in 2011.

Slotkin has vowed to protect the 2010 health care law and access to abortion. She has supported a “public option” health insurance model to compete with private health plans.