Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers serves as Ranking Member on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. Energy and Commerce has the broadest jurisdiction in Congress and is especially relevant to health legislation.

Wire publisher DJ Wilson recently interviewed McMorris Rodgers to hear about her committee work and how the issues impacting her Eastern Washington district.

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They spoke about the bipartisan potential for legislation on reducing the price of prescription drugs, her views on the American Rescue Plan Act, expanding medical residencies in rural areas, and retaining pandemic-era innovations in health care.

We have 25% of the population living in rural areas but only 10% of the doctors practicing. In general, we’re anticipating a pretty large doctor in shortage. We need more primary care and other doctors in general. Continuing to work on residencies is an area where there is a lot of common ground … also telemental health is an area where I think there is huge potential.”

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