Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Legislation To Support Leading Rehab Facilities
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in medical research. The Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act recognizes the unique role that a leading class of rehabilitation facilities play in our health care system, by driving innovative research for the entire field, providing medical training to students, and serving the highest need patients across the … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Durbin: Pharma Fleecing Of Insulin Must End
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today on the Senate floor announced a new series of awards he will be presenting regularly to the most egregious cases of pharmaceutical greed. The first "Pharma Fleece Award" was given to Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi, the three pharmaceutical companies that manufacture insulin, which has experienced a price increase of more than 600 percent over the past two decades in the United States. The United States represents only 15 percent of the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Durbin, Portman Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Tackle Pharma Waste In Oversized Prescription Drug Packaging
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced a bipartisan bill that would reduce the egregious wasted spending on discarded medications that are the result of excessively large, single-use drug vials. The Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs (REFUND) Act would enable Medicare to recoup money from drug companies who were paid for wasted medications, and provide savings to seniors enrolled in Medicare. "Too many drug companies … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Durbin, Schakowsky, Krishnamoorthi Introduce Legislation To Expand Access To Health Care By Creating Public Option
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-08-IL) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representative Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03) to introduce the State Public Option Act to create a Medicaid-based public health care option to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and provide Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost health care choice that will move our system toward universal coverage. "In the last nine … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Medicare At 50 Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to introduce the Medicare at 50 Act to give people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old the option of buying into Medicare. Millions of Americans who are approaching retirement or are being forced to retire early due to layoffs or mandatory retirement face increasing health care needs and rising costs. This legislation would ensure that more Americans have the option of … Continue Reading
February 11, 2019
Durbin Introduces New Bill to Prevent Large Drug Price Hikes
CHICAGO - As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise for Americans, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined doctors and advocates at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital to highlight his new legislation to help prevent sudden, outrageous price hikes for prescription pharmaceuticals. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Prices Act of 2019, which Durbin introduced in the Senate last week, will reduce the government-granted monopoly period for medications if … Continue Reading
February 06, 2019
Durbin Introduces New Bill To Prevent Large Drug Price Hikes
WASHINGTON - As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise for American patients, providers, and taxpayers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced new legislation to help prevent sudden, outrageous price hikes for prescription pharmaceuticals. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Prices Act of 2019 will reduce the government-granted monopoly period … Continue Reading
February 01, 2019
Durbin Unveils New Bill To Prevent Large Drug Price Hikes
SPRINGFIELD - As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise for American patients, providers, and taxpayers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined local hospital leaders to unveil new legislation to help prevent sudden, outrageous price hikes for prescription pharmaceuticals. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Drug Prices Act of 2019, which Durbin will formally introduce in the Senate next week, will reduce the government-granted monopoly period for medications … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $31 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that nine health centers throughout Illinois have been awarded a total of $31,402,178 in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Durbin Discusses Legionnaires' Case At IVH Manteno With Governor Pritzker
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today in a phone call with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) received an update on the death of a veteran who contracted Legionnaires' disease this month at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Manteno and the Pritzker Administration's prompt response efforts. Durbin offered federal support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help protect the veterans, residents, and staff at IVH … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
Durbin, Young Bill To Support Congenital Heart Defect Research Passes Senate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) announced today that their bipartisan bill, the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, unanimously passed the Senate. This legislation will promote federal research on congenital heart defects (CHD) and raise awareness of the impact these health problems have throughout patients' lives. The Senate-passed Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act increases the funding authorization level for the Centers for Disease … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
Durbin Statement On Court Decision Striking Down Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after a federal judge in Texas issued a ruling finding the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional: After repeatedly trying and failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act in Congress, President Trump and his Republican allies have turned to right-wing activist judges to try to overturn this vital law. Instead of working to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions and ensure that all … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Senate Passes Durbin, Roberts Legislation To Support Rural EMS Agencies As Part Of Final Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) applauded Senate passage of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill, which includes their bill to reauthorize a federal grant program that directly supports rural emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting courses to satisfy certification requirements, and purchasing equipment-for everything from naloxone and first aid kits, to power stretchers … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Durbin, Murray, Markey, and Colleagues Keep Pressure On FDA To Go Further In Combatting Youth Tabacco Use
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and 18 of their colleagues, sent a letter to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging him to act quickly to implement agency plans to ban flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes and follow FDA's recent efforts to address rising youth e-cigarette use with additional steps including ending marketing of all tobacco products to youth and removing from market … Continue Reading
December 04, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $36 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded five community health centers in Illinois a total of $36,726,488 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based organizations that improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in underserved urban and rural communities by integrating primary … Continue Reading
November 30, 2018
Durbin Urges Residents To Get Covered Before ACA Enrollment Deadline On December 15th
PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged those who need health insurance for 2019 to sign up for a health plan before the December 15th deadline. Nearly 350,000 people in Illinois purchase their health insurance in the individual market and eight out of ten of them are eligible for tax credits that help keep their monthly premiums below $100 a month. People in Illinois can call (Get Covered Illinois: 866-311-1119), go online (www.Healthcare.gov), or get in-person help to sign up … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018
Durbin & Senators Call On HUD To Improve Oversight Of Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with nine of his Senate colleagues, today sent a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) urging the agency to immediately improve its oversight of lead-based paint hazards in federally-assisted housing to ensure that families and children are protected from exposure to lead. The letter comes on the heels of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recommending that HUD take immediate action to improve all … Continue Reading
November 15, 2018
Durbin, Murkowski Statement On New FDA E-Cigarette Regulations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations on e-cigarette flavorings and flavored cigars: E-cigarette use among children and teenagers is an epidemic, just ask our federal health agencies or any school teacher in America. The FDA is finally moving in the right direction by cracking down on the sale of kid-friendly flavors in e-cigarettes and cigars, … Continue Reading
October 26, 2018
Durbin Statement On Rauner And Trump Administrations' Delay On Notifying Public About Sterigenics Risk
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Chicago Tribune published a story that details how Governor Bruce Rauner's Administration, along with the Trump Administration, chose to not inform the public of serious cancer risks associated with emissions from the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook, Illinois, for at least eight months after it learned of the risks: This is a downright disgrace. Once again, the Rauner and Trump Administrations … Continue Reading
October 25, 2018
Durbin Highlights Key Provisions Included In Major Opioid Legislation Signed Into Law
CHICAGO - Following President Trump's signing of a major legislative package to confront the opioid epidemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sat down with advocates and health professionals to discuss key provisions in the bill and what more needs to be done. The legislation, named the SUPPORT for Patients and Families Act, includes several Durbin provisions to help address both causes and effects of the nation's worst-ever drug overdose epidemic. "Our nation is in the midst of the … Continue Reading