08.04.20

Murkowski on Rural Health and Telehealth Executive Order

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access: "Improving access to quality, affordable health care has always been a priority of mine. For a rural state like Alaska, telehealth has been a crucial technology utilized in helping fill that gap and deliver care. I thank the Trump administration for taking these steps aimed at expanding telehealth and finding new ways of covering the co… Continue Reading

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07.31.20

ICYMI: Murkowski Joins Heinrich, Daines Legislation To Extend Deadline For Tribes To Spend CARES Act Funding

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing legislation that extends the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020, to December 30, 2022. The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocated $8 billion for tribal governments under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. However, Indian Country did not… Continue Reading

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07.29.20

King, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Enhance Testing, Tracing Protocols

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced legislation to establish a grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help enhance coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and supported isolation efforts. The COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act's grants could be used to support programs that use mobile health units or work through community-based organizations, provide coronavirus testing, conduct contac… Continue Reading

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07.24.20

Kaine, Murkowski, Sewell Introduce Legislation To Reduce Maternal And Infant Mortality, Address Racial Inequities In Maternal Health

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act, legislation to help reduce the egregious racial inequities in maternal and infant mortality. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the maternal mortality rate for Black women in 2018 was more th… Continue Reading

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07.01.20

Alaska Congressional Delegation Introduce Bill to Make Cost-Of-Living Adjustment For Alaska, Hawaii Nursing Facilities

The Alaska Congressional Delegation introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will provide for fair Medicare payments for nursing facilities in Alaska and Hawaii. The bill will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment at skilled nursing facilities in those states to take into account the higher costs of delivering care. The Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2020 is led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in the U.… Continue Reading

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06.30.20

White House COVID-19 Task Force On Progress Toward Safely Getting Back to Work, School

As communities across the nation continue to work on plans to safely re-open amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on how to safely return to work and back to school. The hearing featured Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, Admiral Brett Giroir of HHS, FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, and CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield. How the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has used appropri… Continue Reading

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06.25.20

Murkowski Calls to Advance Alaska Specific Legislation During Senate Indian Affairs Hearing

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs legislative hearing which included two Alaska specific bills of which Senator Murkowski is the sponsor: S. 3099, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2019 and S. 3100, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2019. The hearing also addressed a bill of which Senator Murkowski is a lead cosponsor, S. 2165, the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act o… Continue Reading

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06.24.20

Murkowski Joins Hearing on COVID-19: Lessons Learned

As we continue to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and work to create a safer future for all Americans, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) participated in a Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on lessons learned from the COVID-19 response thus far and the actions Congress should take to improve U.S. pandemic preparedness and response capabilities. The hearing included testimony from witnesses who spoke to their experiences as state and federal officials during past pandemics as we… Continue Reading

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06.18.20

Expanding Telehealth Services in Remote and Rural Regions

While we continue to learn about the health impacts of COVID-19 and evolve an appropriate response to the pandemic, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) participated in a Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on telehealth services and the lessons learned from the pandemic regarding this form of health care delivery. The hearing delved into significant changes made to telehealth policy by Congress, the administration, and states during the pandemic. The hearing included testimony from expert witne… Continue Reading

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06.17.20

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Keeping Women and Girls Safe from the Start Authorization Act of 2020

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) were joined today by four of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Keeping Women and Girls Safe from the Start Authorization Act of 2020. Against the backdrop of the largest refugee crisis in recorded history, the new bipartisan legislation seeks to bolster current United States' and international efforts to address gender-based violence during humani… Continue Reading

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06.15.20

Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call For Permanent Expansion Of Telehealth Following COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently joined a bipartisan letter led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from the Schatz-authored CONNECT for Health Act that have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services, as well as more types of health care providers to provide teleheal… Continue Reading

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06.10.20

Senators Introduce Legislation to Help Families, Youth, and Children Faced with Homelessness Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Senators Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced S.3923, the Emergency Family Stabilization Act. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this legislation creates a new emergency funding stream overseen by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide flexible funding for community-based organizations to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Spe… Continue Reading

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06.05.20

Murkowski Addresses Need for Student Relief During Senate HELP Committee Hearing

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing titled COVID-19: Going Back to College Safely. The hearing focused on how institutions of higher education are preparing for students, faculty, and staff to return to campus this fall. Those efforts include implementing testing and contact tracing, restructuring classroom and dormitory spaces, providing appropriate personal protection equipment, and protecting those with increased medical risk. The hearing included… Continue Reading

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05.22.20

Schatz, Murkowski, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Expand Telehealth, Help More People Receive Health Care

U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Angus King (I-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Health Care Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act. The new bipartisan bill directs $2 billion to help health care providers increase their broadband capacity and expand telehealth services during the current public health crisis. "During this pandemic, telehealth services ar… Continue Reading

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05.21.20

Senators Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Secure Funding For Rural Health Providers During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Save Our Rural Health Providers Act which creates a new formula to ensure the Provider Relief Fund has a dedicated set-aside amount directed towards rural areas of America. Representatives Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-02) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01) will introduce the House of Representatives companion bill tomorrow. Formula Guidelines: A 20 percent Rural Benchmark in the Provide… Continue Reading

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05.18.20

Casey, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Aid Domestic Violence Prevention and Support Programs During COVID-19 Pandemic

At a time when organizations supporting survivors of family, domestic and dating violence are seeing an increase in need for services, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Protect Our Women and Waive Emergency Requirements (POWER) Act. The POWER Act would temporarily waive the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) requirement that organizations must match federal funding amounts through cash or in-kind donations. This bill is especially important … Continue Reading

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05.12.20

Murkowski Questions Experts on COVID-19 Response Efforts During Senate HELP Committee Hearing

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing entitled COVID-19: Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School. The hearing focused on how U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies are working to help states and communities prepare to reopen in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to increase testing, accelerate research, develop treatments and vaccines, and provide public health and safety guidance. The hearing included testimon… Continue Reading

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05.11.20

Murkowski Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Call For $2 Billion In New Federal Funding To Help Health Care Providers Expand Telehealth Services During Pandemic

Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)to urge the leadership of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to include $2 billion in the next coronavirus relief package to help health care providers expand telehealth services by improving their access to broadband. "The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically increased the need to expand telehealth," the senators wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc… Continue Reading

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05.07.20

Senators Introduce Legislation to Extend Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today introduced legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional 5 years, ensuring these essential hospitals do not face further budget instability during such challenging times. Companion legislation to the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2020 was introduced today by Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) and Representative Don Young (R-AK) in the … Continue Reading

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05.07.20

Senators Aim to Give States, Cities Greater Flexibility with COVID-19 Relief Funds

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) yesterday introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act, legislation that would allow the federal relief funds provided to local governments in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be used to replace revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic. The legislation would apply retroactive… Continue Reading