Health Care

It’s no secret that America’s health care system is broken. You don’t need to look any further than the recent presidential debate, where both candidates sparred over health care proposals and what should be done on a federal level. Many people are saying that Republicans don’t actually have a plan, but that simply isn’t true. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and I have teamed up to introduce the Fair Care Act of 2020 (FCA), a health care bill that takes more than 75 bipartisan provisions and many other ideas and brings them together into a comprehensive bill.

With more and more people headed back to schools, universities and workplaces, we need a comprehensive plan to mitigate COVID-19 more than ever. In fact, we already have the technology for widespread, at-home testing. Why is it not more available?

Let’s look at the background. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for COVID-19 testing in three categories:

With COVID-19 taking up so much of the news cycle, it can be easy to forget about those living with debilitating illnesses like ALS. Even as scientists continue researching a coronavirus vaccine and working to make the impact as small as possible on America, I believe we need to continue providing cutting-edge treatment and medications to those with chronic illnesses. Unfortunately, the approval process for many of these prescription drugs is time-intensive and burdensome, causing those who need the medicine most to experience delays in care.

Even though Governor Hutchinson has begun the process of reopening Arkansas, that doesn’t mean things will immediately return to normal. Doctors and nurses on the front lines of COVID-19 relief still need vast amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) for their daily work, and rural health clinics performing elective procedures and other services will also have an increased need for PPE.