There is no question that our nation’s health care system requires substantial reform. The status quo of soaring health care costs, struggling families, and health care provider shortages across Maine and the nation is unacceptable. Senator Collins frequently works with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address these and other important issues facing our nation such as improved mental health care, drug treatment programs, supporting America’s caregivers, and nutrition programs.
As a native to northern Maine, Senator Collins understands the specific challenges that rural communities face for medical care. Throughout her time in the Senate, Senator Collins has consistently supported programs to expand access to and improve the health care system, particularly for citizens living in rural areas.
As a freshman legislator, Senator Collins founded the Senate Diabetes Caucus and has since led the effort to more than triple federal funding for diabetes research.
A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing the Opioid Crisis
Drug overdoses claimed the lives of 418 Mainers last year, more than one per day. In addition to that staggering death toll, nearly 1,000 babies in our state were born addicted to opioids and other drugs. And Maine is not alone in grappling with this crisis. Across the country, tens of thousands of Americans are killed each year by opioids.
Senators Collins, King Announce $566,690 to Strengthen Rural Maine’s Response to Opioid Abuse
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $566,690 to two rural health care organizations in Maine as part of USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program. The funding will help the organizations purchase network, video-conferencing, and other telecommunications equipment for rural health care facilities that specialize in addressing opioid abuse, treatment, and recovery.
Senators Collins, King Announce Maine Tribes Receive $440,011 in Opioid and Healthcare Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that four Maine Native communities will receive a total of $440,011 in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to respond to substance abuse and jumpstart community health projects. These four grants will primarily address the impact of the opioid epidemic on Maine’s Native communities.
Bipartisan Legislation Authored by Senators Collins, McCaskill to Prohibit Pharmacy “Gag Clauses” Signed into Law
Washington, D.C. – Today, bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to ban the use of pharmacy “gag clauses” was signed into law. The Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act prohibits an egregious practice that concealed lower prescription drug prices from patients at the pharmacy and caused consumers to needlessly overpay. This legislation is a continuation of Senators Collins and McCaskill’s bipartisan efforts to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
Senator Collins Votes to Protect Individuals with Pre-Existing Conditions
Legislation Senators Collins and Alexander introduced earlier this year would have lowered insurance premiums and expanded coverage while protecting those with pre-existing conditions
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee and a member of the Health Committee, voted to block a rule that expands the duration of short-term health insurance plans, which could deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $5 Million for Maine Organizations Those with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that 17 community health centers in Maine will receive a total of $4,980,138 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Expanding Access to Quality Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services (SUD-MH) awards. This funding will better equip health centers to help individuals and families overcome substance use disorders and improve mental health.
Bipartisan Bills to Prohibit “Gag Clauses” That Cause Consumers to Overpay for Prescription Drugs Head to President’s Desk
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two bills authored by U.S.
Senate Passes Sweeping Opioids Package with Two Provisions Authored by Senator Collins
Senator Collins’ provisions would reduce diversion of prescription drugs and support long-term recovery
Since the beginning of this year, Congress has approved approximately $8.4 billion to combat the opioid crisis
Bipartisan Bill to Prohibit “Gag Clauses” That Can Cause Consumers to Overpay for Prescriptions Passes Senate
A recent study of 9.5 million prescriptions found that one in four consumers overpaid
More than forty organizations support Senators Collins and McCaskill’s bill
Collins, Casey Urge HHS to Swiftly Implement New Law to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Special Committee on Aging, along with U.S.
Collins, McCaskill Demand Answers Following Report that Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Increased Price of 65-Year-Old Drug by More than 400 Percent
Washington, D.C. – Continuing their longstanding work to combat skyrocketing prescription drug prices, U.S.
Collins, Cardin Introduce Resolution to Recognize Direct Support Professionals in Health Care
Washington, D.C. – U.S.
$181 Million to Support Family Caregivers Clears Senate Following Senator Collins’ Advocacy
Washington, D.C.—More than 40 million Americans—including 178,000 Mainers—provide more than $470 billion in uncompensated long-term care each year for parents, spouses, children, and other relatives with disabilities or illness.
Senators Collins, Shaheen Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S.
Senators Collins, King Announce $840,000 in Funding to Support Seniors Managing Chronic Diseases
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Community Living (ACL) has awarded $840,000 to Healthy Living for ME, a partnership between three Area Agencies on Aging – Spectrum Generations, SeniorsPlus, and Aroostook Agency on Aging – to support chronic disease self-management education programs.
Eliminating “Gag Clauses” That Keep Patients from Paying the Lowest Price for Prescription Drugs
Collins, McCaskill, Stabenow, Barrasso, Cassidy Bill to Prohibit “Gag Clauses” That Cause Consumers to Overpay for Prescriptions Clears Key Senate Hurdle
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Health Committee unanimously passed legislation authored by U.S.
Senator Collins’ Statement on Administration Examining Drug Importation to Lower Prescription Drug Prices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued this statement following today’s announcement by the Administration that it is exploring how to safely import prescription drugs from other countries in the event of a dramatic price increase for a drug produced by one manufacturer and not protected by a patent. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar asked Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb to establish a working group on this topic.
Senator Collins Questions Health Care Leaders on Reducing Costs and Improving Quality
Senator Collins Questions Health Care Leaders on Reducing Costs and Improving Quality
Senators Collins, King Announce Jackson Laboratory to Receive $4.1 Million Over Five Years to Research Alzheimer’s Disease
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease, and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor has been awarded $873,647 for the year to study the progression and genetic causes of Alzheimer’s. The award is a part of a five-year allocation that will ultimately amount to $4,191,258 by 2023. The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) National Institute on Aging.
FDA Approves New Options for Managing Diabetes Following Strong Push from Senator Collins
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee and the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, applauded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of two advances in diabetes technologies that will help millions of Americans suffering from diabetes better manage the disease.
Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $1 Million in Funding for Maine Primary Care Association
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,021,441 to the Maine Primary Care Association (MPCA). This funding was allocated through the Department’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Senators Collins, King Announce $100,000 in Funding for Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County (HCC) a grant of $100,000. The Department’s Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) will provide the funding through its Rural Health Network Planning Grant Program, which promotes the planning and development of health care networks in order to increase efficiency, improve care and strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.
Senate Committee Passes Collins-backed Legislation to Counter Rising Prescription Drug Prices
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, to address the rising costs of prescription drugs. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking lower-cost generic alternatives from entering the marketplace.
Secretary Azar Pledges to Work with Senator Collins on Legislation to Prohibit Gag Clauses That Cause Consumers to Overpay for Medications
Medicare Will Allow Beneficiaries to Use Smartphone Apps to Unlock Full Potential of Continuous Glucose Monitors Following Bipartisan Advocacy by Senators Collins, Shaheen
Washington, D.C. — U.S.
Collins, King Applaud FCC Proposal to Increase Funding for Rural Health Care Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) applauded a draft proposal from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai that would significantly increase funding for the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Health Care (RHC) Program.
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