LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), visited FirstMed Health & Wellness to encourage vaccinations at their on-site clinic, to see how FirstMed is utilizing the $1.8 million they received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and to discuss her work to improve access to care, including through her bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to quality, affordable health care for Nevadans,” said Senator Rosen. “Today, I visited FirstMed Health & Wellness to see how they are using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act – which I was proud to help pass – to provide affordable care in the Southern Nevada area, including underserved communities. I also had the opportunity to sit down with medical professionals and patients to discuss barriers to care, such as the high cost of medication, and the work I’m doing in Congress to lower the cost of prescription drugs. I will continue fighting to protect the health and wellbeing of all Nevadans.”
BACKGROUND: In March, Senator Rosen voted to pass the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law by President Biden that same month. FirstMed Health & Wellness received $1,827,750 from the American Rescue Plan to support the clinic’s COVID-19 response efforts.
In June, Senator Rosen introduced the Expanding Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices Act, legislation to help reduce the cost of prescription drugs and medical devices, decrease the frequency of drug shortages, boost domestic production, and create jobs in America through the support of nonprofit prescription drug and medical device manufacturers. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 79 percent of Americans think the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable, with nearly three in ten American adults saying that they haven’t taken medication as prescribed due to cost.
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