Rep.

Joe Neguse Remarks on Protecting Medicaid and

Expanding Access to Health Care for Rural Communities
Lowering the cost of healthcare and lowering prescription drug costs is an urgent priority of mine, and
a priority that the new Democratic majority is very focused on. This is an issue that touches so many
individuals and families across our country. About 500,000 Coloradans each year do not fill a
prescription because of the high cost, this is simply unacceptable.

In particular in our rural communities in Colorado and in the mountains of my district far too many
people are forced to pay high premiums or deductibles. Protect Our Care’s report on healthcare in rural
Colorado highlights the unique barriers to accessing healthcare in the rural communities in my district,
including the Coloradans in my district living in Summit, Eagle, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand and Park
counties. In these communities, individuals often have to travel longer distances to visit a doctor, they
have fewer options for doctors and in many cases experience provider shortages. The Affordable Care
Act and the Medicaid expansion it provides have been crucial in supporting our rural communities,
which generally have lower rates of employer-sponsored coverage than other areas. This is why it is so
important that we fight back against the recent attacks from Republicans in Congress to reverse many of
these gains, raise premiums and threaten key components of the rural health care system, including
covering pre-existing medical conditions.

This Congress we are working hard to continue the advancements made through the Affordable Care
Act. We’ve rolled out legislation to protect against unwarranted attacks to remove protections for
individuals with pre-existing conditions, to ensure that the core principles of the ACA will be
upheld. I’m supporting legislation from some of my freshman colleagues that will lower health
insurance premiums through increased and expanded tax credits in the individual marketplace and
provide funding for reinsurance programs to help with high cost claims. Legislation like this is essential
to ensuring that our health systems support every one of us, and that every citizen can live up to their
greatest potential. All of these efforts move us towards a more fair and equitable health care system
which will support and invest in our rural communities.

As a nation, as a Congress, we can and must do better to ensure that every American is at their
healthiest – because, when each of us is able to thrive, our communities, economy, and society each
thrive too.”