Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the Expanding Nationwide Access to Test Strips Act, legislation that would expand access to and decriminalize drug test strips nationwide in order to prevent drug overdoses and deaths. The legislation is cosponsored…

WASHINGTON—Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today introduced the End Price Gouging for Medications Act, legislation to lower drug costs for all Americans and end pharmaceutical price gouging. A 2021 study reported that Americans pay 2.4 times what people in other countries pay…

WASHINGTON—Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to Amazon President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy following reporting that patients seeking to enroll in Amazon Clinic, the company’s “virtual healthcare storefront,” are asked to provide Amazon with expansive access to…

WASHINGTON—Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tom Carper (D-Del.) to support the Stop Fentanyl Overdoses Act last month, legislation to advance a public health-oriented approach to the substance use crisis by expanding testing for fentanyl…

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and 23 of their Senate colleagues introduced legislation to boost Medicare negotiation of drug prices to lower prescription drug costs for consumers. The Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act would give the Department…