Jeff believes access to quality, affordable health care is not a privilege, but a human right. Jeff’s perspective on health care has been influenced by his wife, Mary, a registered nurse, who sees the world through the eyes of her patients: the people who should be at the heart of our health care system.
Throughout his career, Jeff has fought to expand access to quality, affordable health care coverage. As Speaker of the Oregon House, Jeff lowered prescription drug prices by expanding the state’s bulk purchasing program and fought to expand and improve children’s health care coverage. Jeff continues working to improve health care quality and coverage for all Oregonians in the U.S. Senate.
Wyden, Merkley Demand Federal Agencies Stop Sharing Medicaid Data With ICE
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded that the federal departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) immediately stop unlawfully transferring Medicaid data to DHS and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Congress has a responsibility to
Merkley, Matsui, Kiggans Champion Bipartisan Legislation to Keep America’s Nurses and Patients Safe
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA-07) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), announced the reintroduction of their Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act. To tackle staffing-related challenges, nurses are often forced to work mandatory overtime beyond their scheduled shift, which can endanger the safety
Senators Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Healthcare for Americans Who Cannot Afford Bail
Bill Text (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today reintroduced the Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act, legislation that would protect the continuity of federal health benefits under Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Reinstate Vital HIV/AIDS Prevention Program
Senators fighting $2 billion in funding cuts from the emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR). Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined colleagues in demanding the Trump administration immediately approve a U.S. Department of State transfer of $2 billion in funding to
Wyden, Merkley Announce $1.2 Million for Rural Health Clinic
Funding to renovate health clinic to benefit the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced $1,275,246 in federal funding from the Indian Health Service (IHS) to help support the renovation of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Clinic in
Wyden, Merkley Secure $488,500 for Key Veteran Health Care Program in Rural Oregon
Oregon is one of only 12 states awarded Highly Rural Transportation Grants, supporting veterans in Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that they secured $488,500 in federal funding for key veteran health