Health Care
Before serving in Congress, I earned my master’s degree in public health and spent more than 26 years working for the Virginia Department of Health. That experience taught me that health policy works best when it puts patients, providers, and local communities first.
Too many Virginians are paying more for health care while options for that care continue to shrink. Insurance companies delay or deny treatment, prescription drug middlemen contribute to higher costs, and patients often do not know what a procedure or medication will cost until the bill arrives. Health care should provide peace of mind—not surprise denials, hidden costs, or endless paperwork.
I am working to build a health care system that protects individuals with pre-existing conditions, preserves access for vulnerable Americans, and gives families greater control over their health care options and dollars. Medical decisions should be made by patients and their doctors—not insurance company executives.
Lowering health care costs requires greater transparency and competition. Patients should be able to understand their coverage, compare prices, and know what they will pay before receiving care. I support holding hospitals and insurers accountable for transparent pricing, making lower-cost generic and biosimilar medicines more readily available, and modernizing Health Savings Accounts so families have greater flexibility in managing their health care expenses.
I am also working to hold insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers accountable. Patients deserve to know how frequently insurers deny claims, how long appeals take, and how many denials are ultimately overturned. Prescription drug discounts and rebates should benefit patients—not be absorbed by middlemen operating behind the scenes. I supported significant federal PBM reforms enacted in 2026 to increase transparency, reform hidden compensation practices, and protect access to independent pharmacies.
Access is especially important in rural communities, where workforce shortages, long travel distances, aging facilities, and limited specialty care place additional burdens on patients and providers. I supported the creation of the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is investing $50 billion nationwide to strengthen rural hospitals and health systems. Virginia has been awarded nearly $190 million for 2026 to modernize facilities, recruit, and retain health care professionals, expand technology and telehealth, and bring dependable care closer to home.
As co-chair of the Congressional Public Health Caucus, I will continue raising awareness of prevention, maternal and child health, addiction, mental health, long-term care, and other public health challenges affecting our communities. My goal is a health care system that lowers costs, expands access, supports innovation, and puts patients—not special interests—first.
Legislative Work
- Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148): Enacted significant PBM reforms to increase transparency, reform hidden compensation practices, protect pharmacy access, and extend Medicare telehealth flexibilities.
- Prior Authorization Accountability Act (H.R. 9396): Would require insurers to disclose claim denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and other information about their prior authorization practices.
- Premium Transparency Act (H.R. 9397): Would require insurers to provide clearer information about how premium dollars are divided among patient care, administrative expenses, and profits.
- Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514): Would modernize prior authorization in Medicare Advantage and reduce unnecessary delays and paperwork for seniors and providers.
- Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere Act (H.R. 2533): Would connect rural patients with specialists through a virtual provider network using telehealth.
- Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (H.R. 3164): Would expand access to care by allowing Medicare reimbursement for certain testing and treatment services provided by pharmacists.
