{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-center-for-seniors-in-kennebunk-king-addresses-reigning-in-high-cost-of-health-care-and-prescription-drugs", "At Center for Seniors in Kennebunk, King Addresses Reigning in High Cost of Health Care and Prescription Drugs", "2018-09-14", "2018", "2018-09", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KENNEBUNK, ME\r\n Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) visited The Center for Seniors\r\nin Kennebunk to meet with members and discuss a number of issues facing Maine\r\nseniors. Throughout the conversation, Senator King touched on topics including\r\nMedicare, the high costs of prescription drugs, and the importance of finding\r\nsolutions that help Maine people age in place.   I think all of\r\nus need to be concerned in this country about how much healthcare costs. We can\r\ntalk about policy and which approach works better, but when it comes right down\r\nto it: we have to reign in the cost of healthcare, said Senator King.\r\nThe cost of prescription drugs is one of the first places we ought to start to\r\naddress costs. If we let Medicare negotiate a volume discount on behalf of\r\nMaine seniors, can you imagine how much we'd save? Today's conversation with\r\nthe men and women who frequent The Center for Seniors was productive,\r\ninsightful and reminded me that what makes Maine great isn't just our coast or\r\nour mountains; it's our people. And the folks who've been here for decades or\r\nwho have moved to Maine to enjoy our state in their retirement are an essential\r\n maybe even the essential element  that makes our home such a great\r\nplace to live.   As Maine is the\r\nstate with the oldest median age, Senator King has made senior issues one of\r\nhis top priorities. In June, he\r\nmet with seniors and staff at Cohen Community Center in Hallowell to discuss\r\naging in place.Earlier this year, Senator\r\nKing joined Maine seniors and healthcare providers in Machias to discuss\r\nstrategies to help seniors age safely and comfortably. In March 2017,\r\nSenator King introduced theSenior\r\nHome Modification Assistance Initiative Act, bipartisan legislation\r\nthat would establish a process to better coordinate the many existing federal\r\nhome modification programs and provide more consumer-friendly information on\r\nhow those programs can benefit older Americans. He also introduced theDELIVER\r\nAct, which would promote volunteerism within meal delivery programs and\r\nhelp provide meals to more seniors across America. Senator King is also a\r\nstrong proponent of strengthening telehealth, and earlier this yearannounced\r\nhis support for theCONNECT for Health Act.   Senator King is\r\na strong supporter of Medicare and Medicaid, andin July spoke\r\non the Senate floor to honor the 53rd anniversary of these programs\r\nand commit to defending the programs from those who would seek to\r\nprivatize them. He is an original cosponsor of theMedicare\r\nPrescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, legislation that would lower\r\nprescription drug prices for seniors by allowing Medicare to negotiate the\r\nprice of prescription drugs.This legislation would help cut costs for\r\nnearly 41 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D and boost Medicare\r\nsavings. He has also supported theMedicare\r\nDrug Savings Act, legislation that would eliminate a special deal for\r\nbrand-name drug manufacturers that allows them to charge Medicare higher prices\r\nfor prescription drugs for some seniors and people with disabilities, including\r\nabout 97,000 Mainers. Senator King has\r\nalso been outspoken on a number of healthcare challenges facing Maine people.\r\nHe has strongly opposed the Administration's moves and legislative proposals\r\nthat seek to undermine the Affordable Care Act, and is a cosponsor of a\r\nresolution that would authorize\r\nthe Senate Legal Counsel to intervene in the legal case challenging the\r\nconstitutionality of the ACA's provisions protecting people with pre-existing\r\nconditions. In July, he published a post on Mediumhighlighting\r\nthe Administration's efforts to weaken the ACA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-center-for-seniors-in-kennebunk-king-addresses-reigning-in-high-cost-of-health-care-and-prescription-drugs"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8317907340824604, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}