,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ggg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ah1 #bjbj,mr4 ,perdue 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,loeffler7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,,resolution ,expressing the sense of the ,senate on the need for common sense solutions to improve health care delivery and affordability for all people of the ,united ,states4 ,whereas the public health emergency that the ,united ,states is currently facing has highlighted the need for common sense solutions to improve health care delivery and affordability2 ,whereas ,congress has acted quickly to protect health care for the people of the ,united ,states in the wake of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 including expanding access to telehealth1 providing coverage for ,,covid-#ai tests and vaccines1 and supporting health care providers2 ,whereas health insurance premiums increased by nearly #aje percent between #bjac and #bjag1 thereby making health care coverage both unaffordable and inaccessible for many people of the ,united ,states2 and ,whereas nearly #acd rural hospitals have closed their doors since #bjaj and the public health emergency has exacerbated the rural health crisis3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that it is the sense of the ,senate that all people of the ,united ,states should have access to health care coverage with-- 7#a7 protections if they have pre-existing medical conditions1 including-- 7,a7 guarantees that no citizen of the ,united ,states can be denied health insurance coverage as a result of a previous illness or health status2 7,b7 guarantees that no citizen of the ,united ,states can be charged a higher premium or cost sharing as a result of a previous illness or health status2 and 7,c7 access to health care to ensure that the people of the ,united ,states with pre-existing medical conditions can afford to receive their care2 7#b7 lower costs of prescription drugs and devices1 which can be accomplished by-- 7,a7 cutting red tape in the regulatory process to bring new drugs and devices to market more rapidly2 7,b7 lowering prices through enhanced competition by reforming outdated and archaic patent and trademark laws2 7,c7 ensuring transparency in the drug supply chain2 7,d7 incentivizing domestic manufacturing and ending drug shortages2 and 7,e7 promoting policies that ensure the people of the ,united ,states are not solely responsible for financing the biopharmaceutical innovation that the world depends on2 7#c7 lower insurance premiums through increased choice and competition1 including through-- 7,a7 the availability of transparent information related to the price of health insurance premiums and health care procedures so patients can make informed decisions about their care2 7,b7 access to association health plans1 which have led to average premium decreases of up to #bi percent for small business owners2 7,c7 ,state flexibility to do what is best for communities in that ,state1 which in some cases has lowered health insurance premiums up to #dc percent2 7,d7 the establishment of tax-free personal health management accounts to empower patients to afford and personalize their own health care arrangements2 and 7,e7 expanded access to more doctors and specialists for veterans1 those struggling with mental illness1 and those who live in rural areas2 7#d7 protections from surprise medical bills1 including holding a patient harmless from surprise medical bills and making sure patients receive bills in a timely way2 and 7#e7 safeguards from costly defensive medicine in the health care system1 that reflect medical malpractice reform that addresses the additional costs in the medical system that do not improve quality of care4