Medicare Programs Serving Mentally Ill and Elderly.
Congresswoman Johnson circulated a letter to the Medicare Administrator opposing cuts to Medicare Part B Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) considered a rule change that would cut PHP payments. Out of concern for this change to detrimentally affect the severely mentally ill and elderly patients in hospitals and community health centers around the nation, the letter asks that the PHP rate cut not occur and that, these programs are very important for chronically mentally ill patients and the elderly. Other Members of Congress signed the letter, and the CMS cut was ameliorated.
Medicare Prescription Drugs.
Congresswoman Johnson voted in favor of a bill directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare Part D program. The Congresswoman supports proposals to improve access to care, bring down the cost of medicines, and streamline the health care system. As a former nurse, the Congresswoman feels that effective, affordable health care is a top priority.
Supporting the Nursing Workforce.
Last year, the Congresswoman introduced a Congressional Resolution honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first professionally-trained African American nurse. The bill passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in the fall of 2006. As former chief psychiatric nurse of the Veterans Administration Hospital of Dallas, the Congresswoman understands the importance of role models in challenging careers such as nursing. The bill honored a woman who was the first African American woman to earn a nursing degree, thus breaking down racial barriers that barred her acceptance, as a woman of color, to the nursing profession. Also this year, the Congresswoman introduced a resolution honoring National Nurses’ Week. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill, which had 60 cosponsors.
Fighting to Protect Medicaid.
Last year, Congresswoman Johnson spearheaded a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt to protect Medicaid from going bankrupt. The letter pointed out outstanding care providers, such as Parkland Hospital in her district, that provide critical care to the poor and uninsured. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation. As Medicaid is a federal-state funded health care program for the poor, disable and children, the Congresswoman has been proactive to protect the program.
The Congresswoman also circulated a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services not to institute a proposed rule that will damage local hospitals that treat uninsured patients. As a result of the harmful rule, Medicaid funds could no longer be used for uninsured and would hurt trauma care, burn units, and neonatal care centers. In addition, the rule would restrict state-share funding sources. The Congresswoman worked with other members of the Texas Congressional delegation to attempt to stop this harmful rule change.
Vocal Spokeswoman for Dallas.
Congresswoman Johnson speaks on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives regularly because she feels it is important for Dallas concerns to be heard. This past year alone, the Congresswoman has delivered statements (or submitted them for the Record) on a range of topics: Townview High School’s education excellence, opposing drilling in the Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; opposing cuts to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program; congratulating Dallas hospitals for excellence in patient care; on Cover the Uninsured Week; honoring Dr. Pepe, a local scientist; on high gas prices; commending Bill Gates for his financial backing to develop an HIV vaccine; supporting Stem Cell Cord Blood center development; supporting more research for ovarian cancer; commemorating National Chemistry W
