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Health Care

Congressman Smucker is committed to improving access to high-quality, affordable health care for all families in Pennsylvania's 11th district.

Introduced legislation to relieve seniors of costly Medicare late-enrollment penalties

Congressman Smucker introduced the Seniors Healthcare Choice Act (H.R. 1845) to relieve seniors of a lifetime penalty for seniors who enroll in Medicare past the age of 65. Today, a senior who chooses to maintain their employer-sponsored health care plan through COBRA coverage, instead of Medicare, faces a lifetime late-enrollment penalty on their future Medicare plan. H.R. 1845 would end this lifetime penalty, providing seniors the flexibility to enroll in Medicare at a time that best fits their needs, without the threat of a burdensome and unnecessary financial penalty. Learn more about the bill here.

Introduced legislation to help reduce our nation's doctor shortage

Congressman Smucker introduced the Strengthening our Pediatric Workforce Act to help address our nation's pediatric medical workforce shortage. The medical community is facing a severe pediatric physician shortage for numerous fields of specialty. These vacancies are negatively impacting the delivery of care, often leaving families who are caring for a sick child with no other choice but to travel to a hospital that can provide the care they need or wait weeks or months to see a specialist. This bipartisan legislation will address America's growing pediatric physician shortage by creating a new grant program for children's teaching hospitals to make additional residence positions available for pediatric specialists. Read more about this bill here.

Voted for the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628)

Congressman Smucker voted in support of the American Health Care Act to help ensure Pennsylvanians have access to the care they need at a price they can afford. The bill repeals the Affordable Care Act and returns regulatory power to the states—where it belongs—so that governors can run state-specific programs instead of a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach. H.R. 1628 also ends Obamacare's costly mandates and provides both a market-driven system that will lower premiums, and tax relief to hardworking Americans to help make health care affordable. Read more about this bill here.

Cosponsored and voted in support of the Protecting Seniors Access to Medicare Act (H.R. 849)

Congressman Smucker cosponsored and voted in support of legislation to protect all seniors' access to Medicare coverage regardless of their health conditions. The Affordable Care Act established the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) as a way to reduce Medicare spending. The board is charged with making Medicare cuts without Congressional oversight or input, giving the 15-member board unchecked power over Medicare spending which would directly impact seniors' access to the care they deserve. Read more about the bill here.

Cosponsored and voted in support of the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 1101)

Congressman Smucker cosponsored and voted in support of legislation that would make it easier for small businesses to offer more affordable and comprehensive health care coverage. The Small Business Health Fairness Act would empower small businesses to band together through association health plans to negotiate health insurance costs on behalf of their employees—providing quality care at a lower cost. H.R. 1101 passed the House of Representatives on March 22, 2017. Following passage in the House, the U.S. Department of Labor promulgated a final rule to expand access to affordable health coverage through Association Health Plans. They are expected to be offered to consumers this fall. Learn more about these plans here.

Voted in support of the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act (H.R. 6311)

Congressman Smucker voted in support of legislation to expand and modernize Health Spending Accounts (HASs). H.R. 6311 increases benefit flexibility and allowable uses to make health care more affordable. This bill passed the House of Representatives on July 26, 2018. Read more about the bill here.

Voted in support of the Tickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act (S. 204)

Congressman Smucker voted in support of the Right to Try Act to allow terminally-ill patients who have exhausted all other options to try medications that have passed basic Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety protocols but have not yet completed the full, multiyear approval process. This passed Congress with bipartisan support and was signed into law on May 30, 2018.

Health Care Information and Resources

Contact Our Office

If you are experiencing any casework issues with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid please contact Congressman Smucker's staff at (717) 393-0667 or request help with a federal agency here.

Medicare Resources

Getting started with Medicare

Medicare Coverage Information

Medicare Forms, Help, and Resources

COMBATING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Congressman Smucker is committed to prioritizing federal efforts to combat the opioid epidemic that has swept across Pennsylvania and the nation.

Voted for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act

Congressman Smucker voted for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6) to assist individuals and families struggling with substance abuse disorder. This comprehensive bipartisan legislation expands the use of telehealth services for those struggling with opioid addiction, improves care for infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, extends coverage for screenings to detect opioid use disorder, and provides support for foster youth impacted by this epidemic. H.R. 6 passed the House of Representatives on June 26, 2018. Read more about this bill here.

Cosponsored and Voted for the Stop the Importation and Trafficking of Synthetic Analogues Act (SITSA, H.R. 2851)

Congressman Smucker cosponsored and voted in support of SITSA to help stop the use of fentanyl and other synthetic analogues on our streets. Synthetic drugs are chemically produced in a laboratory, and when produced in a clandestine manner they are not typically controlled pharmaceutical substances that are intended for legitimate medical use. Many synthetic analogues contain slightly modified molecular structures of illegal or controlled substances, which allows these products to circumvent existing law and make it to market despite being harmful. H.R. 2851 amends the Controlled Substances Act to give the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) greater oversight over synthetic analogues so they can get substances like certain strains of lethal fentanyl off of our streets in an expedient manner. H.R. 2851 passed the House of Representatives on June 18, 2018. Read more about this bill here.