"I will take to Washington what I have advocated in Vermont - the common sense principle that everyone deserves access to health care and everyone should contribute to its costs."

Peter Welch believes every citizen in the United States should have access to affordable health care. The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world without universal health care - and this must change. Not only do other countries assure their citizens have access to doctor when they are sick, but they have also successfully controlled costs.

Rather than tackle the challenge of improving access to health services and controlling the skyrocketing costs, Republicans in Washington have both idly watched as more Americans go without the care they need and chosen to passed the burden onto the states. For too long, Congress has been a part of the problem. This Congress made it illegal for the federal government to negotiate lower prices when purchasing prescription drugs for Medicare and has cut Medicaid reimbursements to the states. Their priorities are wrong.

Peter will take to Washington his commitment to universal health care. In Vermont, Peter led in the passage of an innovative health care reform bill that addressed the two major problems we face: cost and access. The legislation gave every single Vermonter access to a doctor through Green Mountain Health. The initiative expanded access to the uninsured, and sought to contain costs by providing preventive and primary care to those who would have otherwise received more costly care with more acute problems in hospitals.

Had the legislation not been vetoed, it would have further addressed costs and improved care through chronic care initiatives, improved information technology, and healthy lifestyles discounts. Peter advocated financing this innovative universal coverage program by asking businesses and individuals who don't currently pay to contribute based on ability.

In addition to health care reform, Peter helped pass tough legislation requiring transparency and full disclosure of pricing by pharmaceutical companies, regulating pharmacy benefit managers, and establishing a prescription drug reimportation program for Vermonters to buy safe, cheaper drugs from Canada.

Peter believes we can expand access and control costs nationally by instituting the same common sense approach used by the Vermont Legislature. As he has in Vermont, Peter will support other cost savings measures, such as information technology and chronic illness initiatives - measures that will also improve the delivery of quality comprehensive care.

Vermonters and Americans should no longer need to look to Canada for reasonable priced prescription drugs. When in Congress, Peter will do what it takes to help bring down the costs of prescription drugs through assuring that the federal government can actively negotiate for fair prices. In response to the widespread problems with Medicare Part D, Peter believes the program should be simplified to reduce its complexity and lower prescription drug prices.

Statement regarding Health Care Reform:

Read a summary of the legislature's health care reform initiative.

Speaker Symington on Peter's leadership on health care reform.

Read Peter's December 2005 proposal to reform the Medicare drug benefit.