Press Releases
Cassidy-Cosponsored Bills to Help Patients Save Money on Prescriptions Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate health committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed two bipartisan bills (S. 2554 and S. 2553) he helped introduce to remove barriers that prevent patients from paying the lowest possible price for prescription drugs. These bills would prohibit health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from using "pharmacy gag clauses"-an egregious practice used to hide prices from patients at the pharmacy… Continue Reading
09.22.18
Cassidy Announces Progress on Duplication of Benefits Fix
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement after the release of an updated version of legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that includes several provisions sought by Cassidy as part of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, including a fix for the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan duplication of benefits issue hurting Louisiana residents affected by flooding in 2016. The House and Senate are both expected to vote on the legislation… Continue Reading
09.19.18
Cassidy, Smith Introduce Legislation to Lower Wasteful Health Care Spending
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation to develop innovative ways to reduce unnecessary administrative costs in the U.S. health care system. The bill directs the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take steps toward reducing unnecessary administrative costs across the health care system by at least 50 percent. It also provides support for states to tackle this challenge at the local level. It's estimated that administrative costs acc… Continue Reading
09.19.18
Cassidy, Murphy Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Suicide Prevention Month
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced a resolution recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 10 and 34. "Every life has meaning, value and potential, and suicide deprives the world of seeing that value," said Dr. Cassidy. "Senator Murphy and I are working together to ensure those struggling with mental i… Continue Reading
09.18.18
Cassidy, Bipartisan Colleagues Release Draft Legislation to End Surprise Medical Bills
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Todd Young (R-IN), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), members of the bipartisan Senate health care price transparency working group, today released draft legislation to protect patients from surprise medical bills. The draft bill is intended to jumpstart discussions in Congress about how to best stop the use of balanced billing to charge patients for emergency treatment or treatment provided by an… Continue Reading
09.17.18
Senate Passes Second Cassidy-Cosponsored Bill to Help Patients Save Money on Prescriptions
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement after the Senate passed by a vote of 98 - 2 the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act (S. 2554), bipartisan legislation he helped introduce to increase health care price transparency by removing barriers that prevent patients from paying the lowest possible price for prescription drugs. The bill prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from using "pharmacy gag clauses" to hide prices from patients at t… Continue Reading
09.17.18
Cassidy, Kennedy, Higgins Introduce Legislation to Rename Lake Charles VA Clinic After Medal of Honor Recipient Douglas Fournet
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), and U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA) introduced legislation to rename the Lake Charles Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) after Kinder, Louisiana, native Douglas Fournet, a U.S. Army first lieutenant who gave his life in the Vietnam War and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970. He is the only individual from Southwest Louisiana to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The legislation would rename the Lake Charles … Continue Reading
09.17.18
Senate Set to Pass Cassidy Legislation Targeting Opioid Crisis
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement today as the Senate prepares to pass the Opioid Crisis Response Act (H.R. 6), bipartisan legislation that includes several provisions authored by Cassidy to combat the opioid epidemic. "The opioid epidemic hits every level of our society and to combat it we need a strong, sustained, 'do-everything' response," said Dr. Cassidy. "My provisions in this legislation were informed by my conversations with Louisiana law enforceme… Continue Reading
09.13.18
Cassidy: DC Swamp Killing Drug Price Transparency Measure Means Patients Lose Again
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate health committee, released the following statement after a bipartisan measure requiring the inclusion of prices in TV commercials for pharmaceuticals-a measure already passed by the Senate-was stripped from the final version of the bill being negotiated between the House and the Senate. "Let patients know the prices. Give patients the power. Patients deserve to know the price of medications advertised on TV," said Dr. Cassidy. "The … Continue Reading
09.12.18
Cassidy Announces $7 Million Grant to Upgrade Shreveport Airport
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), today announced the Shreveport Airport Authority will receive a $6,997,075 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to extend and shift the runway to meet the operational needs of the airport. "Upgrading the Shreveport airport will improve access to the area and encourage economic growth," said Dr. Cassidy. "This money will go toward completing the improvement project and will help the airport better serve the needs of residents and local … Continue Reading
09.12.18
Cassidy Announces Grants for Louisiana Firefighters, New Ladder Truck for Ville Platte
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), today announced a total of $892,096 in federal grants for three Louisiana fire departments. These grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and will assist in improving operations and safety at the Opelousas and Springhill fire departments, and to aid in the purchase of a ladder truck for the Ville Platte Fire Department. Cassidy sent letters to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security advocating for Louisiana fire departments a… Continue Reading
09.12.18
Cassidy: U.S. Becoming #1 Oil Producer is a Win for American Workers, National Security
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Energy Information Administration announced the U.S. has surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world's largest crude oil producer: "Republicans fought for years to unshackle American energy innovation and American workers, and we finally succeeded. Now our country has surpassed Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world's largest produce… Continue Reading
09.11.18
Cassidy Welcomes $7.2 Million Federal Grant for New Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, released the following statement today welcoming the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration's announcement of a $7,282,460 federal grant for the establishment of the new Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Jennings, Louisiana. "Southwest Louisiana will finally see the construction of a veterans cemetery thanks to this grant," said Dr. Cassidy. "Right now, the only … Continue Reading
09.10.18
Cassidy, Kennedy Condemn Anti-Semitic Attack on Northshore Jewish Congregation
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) released the following joint statement condemning the anti-Semitic attack on the Northshore Jewish Congregation: "The anti-Semitic symbols painted onto the Northshore Jewish Congregation synagogue are hateful and unacceptable," said the senators. "There can be no tolerance for religious bigotry in our state or the country. We are encouraged by the community's unified condemnation of the vandalism, especially as our Jewish friends … Continue Reading
09.07.18
Cassidy Praises House’s Passage of Small-Scale LNG Legislation
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Ensuring Small Scale LNG Certainty and Access Act (H.R. 4606) by a vote of 260-146. The legislation would allow the expedited approval of small-scale shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG). "With my bill to streamline approval of small-scale LNG exports passing the Senate Energy Committee in March, and the Trum… Continue Reading
09.07.18
Cassidy Announces Grants for Louisiana Firefighters
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), today announced a total of $621,922 in federal grants for eight Louisiana fire departments. These grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and will assist in improving operations and safety. Cassidy sent letters to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security advocating for Louisiana fire departments applying for these grants. "Firefighters work long hours and often risk their lives to save others," said Dr. Cassidy. "Because of t… Continue Reading
09.06.18
PHOTO: Cassidy Discusses Work to Reduce Illegal Immigration with Bossier Parish Sheriff
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement after meeting with Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington and other law enforcement officials in his Washington, D.C., office. "I thank Sheriff Whittington for his office's hard work to keep our communities safe," said Dr. Cassidy. "We had a good discussion about our country's need for better border security, and our work here in Congress to enact President Trump's proposals to modernize our immigration system and remov… Continue Reading
09.06.18
Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing 9/11 as National Day of Service
Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Chris Coons (D-DE), and U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and David Price (D-NC) introduced a resolution recognizing September 11 as a national day of service and encouraging the American public to engage in a charitable service of their choosing on or around 9/11. In 2009, Congress established September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in tribute to the 9/11 victims, first responders, recovery workers, volunteers, and me… Continue Reading
09.06.18
Cassidy, Kennedy Congratulate Judge Summerhays on His Confirmation to the Western District of Louisiana
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and John Kennedy (R-LA), released the following statements after the Senate unanimously confirmed Judge Robert Summerhays to be a U.S. district judge for the Western District of Louisiana by a voice vote. "Judge Summerhays will be an excellent federal judge for the people of southwest Louisiana. He has the experience and expertise needed to excel in this position and help clear the backlog of cases in the Lafayette court that has gone without a judge for… Continue Reading
09.05.18
Senate Unanimously Passes Cassidy-Cosponsored Legislation to Help Patients Save Money on Prescriptions
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the Know the Lowest Price Act (S. 2553), bipartisan legislation he helped introduce to increase health care price transparency by removing barriers that prevent patients from paying the lowest possible price for prescription drugs. The bill prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from using "pharmacy gag clauses" to hide prices from patients at the pharmacy counter.… Continue Reading
