Congressman Sander Levin

Health Care

This Congress, I am in support of expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and improving Medicare for all beneficiaries. I voted for the CHAMP Act of 2007 which was approved in the House of Representatives on August 1st, 2007 by a vote of 225 to 204. This important legislation will enable states to reach out to over 5 million uninsured kids that are eligible for SCHIP and not yet participating and will also ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have continued access to health care providers.

As I said on the floor, "some of the issues we debate in Congress are quite complicated; this one is quite simple." This is about health care for kids and more benefits for seniors. Five million more kids will have health insurance. Benefits for seniors are improved. This important program provides health insurance to kids whose families cannot afford it so that they can access medical care and prevent future emergency room visits.

The House-passed CHAMP Act also improves the Medicare program by enhancing access to preventative and mental health services and helping seniors afford the costs of their health care and prescription drugs. Since I joined Congress, I have continuously introduced legislation to increase Medicare's coverage of preventative health services including screenings for glaucoma, osteoporosis, hypertension and colon cancer. I support legislation that increases Medicare's coverage of preventative health services and eliminates co-shares so that prevention will be more accessible for our nation's seniors and disabled adults.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary and are having problems with the program, please see my Medicare casework page for more information or contact my District Office at (586) 498 -7122 with any questions or concerns you may have.

• Children's Health Care
• Gynecologic Cancers and Johanna's Law
• Health Research
• Mental Health