Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: “The number one concern that I continue to hear from my constituents is the high cost of healthcare, especially the…”

“The number one concern that I continue to hear from my constituents is the high cost of healthcare, especially the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. From Kendall to Key West, I have heard stories of patients that are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying for lifesaving drugs. Meanwhile, Big Pharma continues to collect hundreds of billions of dollars in profits each year. This cannot continue. We must pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019, which will save Floridians thousands in drug costs each year. This bill would cut Medicare spending by over $400 billion, and reinvest these savings to combat the opioid epidemic, fund research for new groundbreaking cures; it would expand Medicare benefits, and it would also be used to strengthen community health centers. As the past Dean of the Medical School at Florida International University, I have worked directly with these centers and I have seen firsthand the impact that they have had on our community. In my district, Community Health of South Florida, or CHI, plays a crucial role in providing care to the uninsured and underinsured. In 2018 alone, CHI provided care for over 82,000 patients, including primary care services, behavioral health, OB/GYN procedures, and free HIV screenings. These health centers serve everyone in the community, regardless of their ability to pay. They expand quality, affordable healthcare for everyone. The time to act is now.…”