Press Releases
Warner Co-Sponsors Bill Providing Access to Life-Saving Epilepsy Treatment
Medicinal oils derived from CBD-rich hemp plants can save the lives of children with intractable epilepsy, but are currently banned under federal law
Apr 08 2016
Sen. Warner has signed on to co-sponsor the bipartisan Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2015, which would allow Virginians suffering with intractable epilepsy access to therapeutic cannabidiol (CBD) oil, a harmless, non-psychoactive hemp extract that is used to treat seizures.
Warner, Kaine Announce More Than $7.4 Million in Head Start & Health Care Funding for Virginia
Apr 05 2016
Senators Warner and Kaine announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award $7,433,425 in grants to support health care services in Portsmouth, early childhood education in Prince William and Lynchburg and biomedical research at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Sens. Warner and Tim Kaine have called on Senate appropriators to increase federal funding to address the nation’s prescription drug abuse and heroin epidemic.
Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Opioid Epidemic
Sen. Warner voted in favor of bill to combat the growing problem of prescription drug and heroin abuse in Virginia ~
Mar 10 2016
The legislation, which now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, tackles heroin and prescription drug abuse and overdose deaths, a growing epidemic in Virginia and across the country.
Warner Signs Onto Amicus Brief to Support Affordable Access to Birth Control
Next Month, U.S. Supreme Court will hear Zubik v. Burwell, yet another challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s birth control policy
Feb 19 2016
Sen. Warner, along with 32 Democratic Senators, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on the need to protect women’s access to affordable birth control.
Chronic Care Working Group Releases Comments on Options Paper
Finance Committee Moves Ahead on Effort to Improve Medicare for Seniors with Chronic Conditions
Feb 08 2016
“We are thankful for the many constructive comments as we continue to seek solutions to help the millions of seniors in Medicare dealing with multiple chronic conditions, and those who care for them,” the senators said.
Sen. Warner Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth Services
Bill would expand the use of telehealth and remote patient monitoring through Medicare, expanding access to high-quality healthcare while reducing costs
Feb 03 2016
Sen. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Wicker (R-MS), Schatz (D-HI), Cochran (R-MS), Cardin (D-MD), and Thune (R-SD) to unveil the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand telehealth services through Medicare, improve care outcomes, make it easier for patients to connect with their health care providers, and help cut costs for patients and providers.
Warner, Kaine Announce Carroll & Grayson Counties Designated as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
Jan 14 2016
"I’m pleased that Carroll and Grayson counties have been chosen to receive federal dollars to strengthen community-based efforts to prevent drug use and overdose deaths, expand access to treat those who need it, and support Virginians in recovery."
Warner, Kaine Urge VA to Reconsider Unnecessary Burdens on Blue Water Navy Veterans
Current policy presents excessive obstacles for Blue Water Navy veterans seeking care and benefits for health conditions caused by exposure to toxic chemicals while serving aboard Navy ships in Vietnam
Jan 13 2016
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a bipartisan group of 12 Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to change inconsistent and burdensome regulations placed on “Blue Water Navy” veterans seeking health care and benefits for conditions resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals during their service aboard Navy ships in Vietnam.
Senators Press Administration on Efforts to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Per capita drug spending increased by more than $100 last year, straining federal & state budgets & squeezing seniors & middle class
Dec 17 2015
Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) wrote to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andrew Slavitt, seeking more information on the agency’s efforts to inform consumers and health care providers about prescription drug costs and maximize CMS’ existing authorities to contain cost.
Sen. Warner was joined by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) Secretary Robert McDonald to thank the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) for donating their time and expertise to improve the V-A’s health care system following a nationwide crisis of veterans’ access to medical care.
Senate Passes Warner, Kaine Bill to Assist Eugenics Victims with State Compensation Payments
Warner & Kaine bill excludes eugenics compensation payments from determination of federal public benefit programs
Dec 01 2015
Sens. Warner and Kaine today announced that the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act, excluding payments from state eugenics compensation programs from consideration in determining federal benefits.
Sen. Warner Applauds CMS Final Rule to Pay for Advance Care Planning
Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalizes new rule to provide a Medicare benefit to discuss end-of-life care
Oct 30 2015
“By confirming that it will reimburse for advance care planning in accordance with the recommendation of the American Medical Association, CMS has taken an important step forward in moving the conversation around end-of-life care beyond political scare tactics."
Warner Praises Final Passage of Bill to Improve Health Care and Reduce Costs for Elderly
Oct 22 2015
The House of Representatives passed legislation, supported by U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, that will improve efforts to reduce costs and strengthen comprehensive and coordinated health and long-term services for some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.
Warner, Kaine Announce Nearly $1 Million in Funding for Behavioral Health Clinics in Virginia
Planning grants will support Virginia’s efforts to improve mental and substance abuse treatment through community-based clinics
Oct 21 2015
Sens. Warner and Kaine announced that Virginia has been awarded nearly $1 million in federal planning grants to strengthen and improve community behavioral health clinics for mental and substance use disorder treatment.
Senators Warner and Kaine joined U.S. Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and a bipartisan group of 20 other Senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to take immediate, overdue action to fully implement and enforce the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
Warner, Kaine Join Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling for Full Implementation of Mental Health Parity Law
Senators urge HHS & DOL to ensure that individuals seeking behavioral health treatment have access to benefits promised under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Oct 15 2015
Senators Warner and Kaine joined U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and a bipartisan group of 20 other Senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to take immediate, overdue action to fully implement and enforce the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today that he has signed onto bipartisan legislation to reform Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare to provide safer and more effective pain management services to our nation’s veterans.
Warner, Kaine, Manchin Introduce Sweeping Reforms to Black Lung Benefits Program
Legislation also introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Bobby Scott
Sep 29 2015
Today U.S. Sen. Warner and his colleagues proposed sweeping reforms to the federal program that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease.
"Today, the Senate voted on a proposal to restrict women’s reproductive health. While I was unable to vote today, I would have opposed this bill. Important medical decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, not politicians in Washington."
Warner, Kaine, Manchin Call for Investigation into FDA Decision on Oxycontin
In a letter to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Senators are calling for an investigation into the decision to approve OxyContin for children as young as 11-years-old
Sep 09 2015
Senators Warner, Kaine and Manchin today sent a letter to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) calling for an investigation into the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to approve OxyContin for use by children as young as 11-years-old and an examination of the rise in the opioid misuse, abuse and consequent overdose deaths.
Warner, Kirk, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Make Air Travel Safer for Passengers with Severe Allergies
Airline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (S.1972) would ensure life-saving medication available for passengers with allergies
Aug 06 2015
Sen. Warner introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to life-saving medication for airline passengers with food and other severe allergies.
Warner, Portman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Streamline ACA Reporting Requirements
Directs Treasury Dept. to implement an alternative, less burdensome reporting system for employers
Aug 05 2015
Sens. Warner and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the bipartisan Commonsense Reporting Act of 2015 to streamline the Affordable Care Act’s reporting requirements for employers.
Warner Votes Against Efforts to Defund Important Women's Health Services
Notes that continued funding is “critical to the health of women and their families
Aug 03 2015
"Continued funding for the important health services provided by Planned Parenthood is critical to the health of women and their families."
Finance Committee Welcomes Input on Chronic Care
530 Recommendations on How to Improve Care Submitted to Committee
Jul 28 2015
Today, the Senate Finance Committee released the submissions responding to the Committee’s bipartisan initiative to explore cost effective solutions to improve health outcomes for Medicare patients living with one or more chronic conditions, spearheaded by Sen. Warner and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA.)
