Health Care

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) sent the following letter to Congressional leaders urging them to preclude any direct payments included in the final Coronavirus relief package from calculations of incomes when determining eligibility for healthcare subsidies or VA disability pension benefits. In the letter, Hastings warns that without adequate protections, individuals near the cutoff for receiving these types of financial assistance may inadvertently lose access to these benefits should dir... Read more

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) led the following letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, urging the establishment of a regional office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the State of Israel. Joining Hastings and Wilson in sending the letter include: Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Grace Meng (D-NY), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL),... Read more

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement on the passage of H.R.1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which included two amendments he offered with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA): “I was proud to vote in favor of H.R.1309. This important legislation requires certain employers in the health care and social service sectors to develop and implement comprehensive plans for protecting their employees from workplace viol... Read more

Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) along with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) led the following letter to Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urging that CMS work with states and update its own National Coverage Determination (NCD) to more closely align Medicare and Medicaid coverage guidelines with the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) to ensure full coverage of post-mastectomy bre... Read more

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will host a Congressional Roundtable addressing youth mental health and suicide in the State of Florida on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Keiser University's Flagship Campus, located at 2600 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, FL. Since 2001, suicide and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, have been increasing at alarming rates in youth and teens. This discussion will focus on how the State of Florida ad... Read more

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will be interviewed on RealConvo, an iHeartRadio program hosted by Alan Mednick to discuss youth mental health and suicide in the State of Florida. The interview is in the lead up to a Congressional Roundtable that Hastings will host on Wednesday, August 28th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Keiser University’s Flagship Campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. The interview will air on Saturday, August 24th at 12:00 PM on WJNO 1290 AM. DETAILS: WHO: Congressman Alcee ... Read more

Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will be appearing on This Week In South Florida hosted by Mr. Michael Putney, Senior Political Reporter on politics and government for WPLG Local 10. Topics will include the urgent need for gun reform, President Donald Trump’s divisive tweets, the 2020 Democratic Presidential Race, and the future of the Democratic Party. The show will take place on Sunday, August 11th at 11:30 AM and can be watched live on WPLG Local 10. DETAILS: WHO: Congressman Alcee L. ... Read more

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings released the following statement marking national Stop the Bleed Day: “More than 200,000 Americans lose their lives every year from traumatic incidents, including shootings, vehicular crashes, and workplace accidents. When injuries involve traumatic blood loss, death can occur in as little as five minutes. These deaths, however, are oftentimes preventable. “National Stop the Bleed Day is a day to raise awareness of how to respond to severe bleeding incidents. Just a... Read more

Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings reintroduced the Wildlife Veterinarians Employment and Training Act of 2019 (Wildlife VET Act), legislation to increase the quality of job opportunities for individuals seeking a career in wildlife and zoological veterinary research or medicine, spur job growth, incentivize students to enter the field, and promote robust public health policy. Joining Hastings as original cosponsors include: Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI),... Read more

Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) introduced the Outpatient Mental Health Modernization Act of 2019, legislation that would require Medicare to reimburse Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) for providing transportation, food, nutritional services and vocational counseling to psychiatric patients. Joining Hastings as original co-sponsors include Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI). (Please find attached a copy of the bill): “Ensuring access to high qu... Read more