Solving Colorado’s Healthcare Problems

IN WASHINGTON DC | Representative Yadira Caraveo alongside the members of the board of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (Photo/Congressional Office District 8 of Colorado)

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As a doctor, I make a diagnosis based on my patient’s symptoms. But even with an accurate and timely diagnosis, patients aren’t always able to get the medication they need because of high prescription drug costs. That’s why two of my top priorities in Congress are making healthcare more accessible and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

As your Congresswoman, I am actively working with both Democrats and Republicans to find solutions to the problems faced by working families living in our communities. I am excited to share with you my latest efforts to make sure that you and your loved ones get the reliable healthcare you deserve and need.

The Problem: High Prescription Drug Costs

Recent studies show that almost 10% of Coloradans were not able to fill a prescription due to high costs. American prescription drug spending totaled $378 billion in 2021, accounting for nearly 9% of health care spending and more than 1.6% of the United States’ gross domestic product. Simply put: Americans are spending more on prescription drugs than any other developed nation.

The Solution: Transparency in our Drug Supply Chain

Despite the chaos and disruption in Washington led by some of my Republican colleagues, I continue to work with both parties to push for healthcare accessibility.

I introduced the bipartisan Prescription Drug Supply Chain Transparency Act. This bill will tackle high prescription drug costs by pushing for a more transparent supply chain that will help us identify and tackle the factors that contribute to the high costs that stand between patients and the medications they need.

My bipartisan bill will require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study and submit a report to Congress outlining how the current pharmaceutical drug supply chain structure incentivizes drug manufacturers, PBMs, insurance companies, and other actors to price drugs higher. This effort will make the entire drug supply chain more transparent as we identify implications for taxpayer spending, patient out-of-pocket costs, and potential conflicts of interest.

Additionally, I voted in favor of the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. This bill would lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive medication at a hospital-owned outpatient facility or doctor’s office, expand access to more affordable generic drugs, and equip employers with the drug price information necessary to get the best deals for their employees.

Solving Colorado’s Healthcare Problems

The Problem: Skyrocketing Colon Cancer Diagnoses Among Young Coloradans

In 2020, an alarming 452 Coloradans under the age of 55 were diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer.

The Solution: Early Screenings and Diagnosis

Early diagnosis and accessible screening can make an enormous difference — if detected early, colon cancer is treatable, and a physician can remove a tumor during an exam. But without additional screening, we may see this concerning trend continue. That’s why I introduced the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act.

My bill would provide grants to promote colorectal cancer prevention and early detection efforts to people under age 45. Specifically, these grants would strengthen our healthcare system when it comes to preventing and treating colon cancer, including training for healthcare providers and additional screenings for high risk individuals.

Nationwide, more young people than ever are being diagnosed with Colon Cancer. It is my priority to make sure that healthcare providers have the resources, information, and equipment they need to best serve their patients.

This is an issue that I first addressed in a bipartisan fashion as a state legislator, shortly after my uncle sadly passed away due to this type of cancer. I am proud to receive the support of Fight Colorectal Cancer, the American Gastroenterological Association, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) for my legislation.

Solving Colorado’s Healthcare Problems

The Problem: Extremist Judges Are Rolling Back Women’s Rights

The recent Alabama Supreme Court decision reminded us that extremist judges can undo decades of progress in an instant.

The Solution: Protecting IVF and Defending Reproductive Freedom

I recently teamed up with Congresswoman Susan Wild to ensure that parents have options when it comes to family planning.

The Access to Family Building Act would establish the right for individuals to access assisted reproductive technology such as IVF. As Coloradans make decisions about starting or expanding their family, I believe the government should be working to support them rather than working against them.

This legislation would protect not only IVF, but also other assisted reproductive technologies such as frozen embryo transfer (FET), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). This bill will also defend health care providers and insurers to maintain the right to provide and cover these services.

I am eager to continue working on commonsense solutions to make healthcare more affordable and accessible for working families in Colorado. I am looking forward to the work ahead.