Dr. Bill Cassidy is channeling his medical career this month as an advocate for immunization in the face of an anti-vaccine movement and writing legislation he plans to file this spring to stem surprise medical bills for patients, USA Today reports.
Cassidy, R-La., says Americans shouldn’t be forced to be vaccinated but defended the rights of schools to shield students who have been immunized from those who have not during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee hearing last week.
“If you’re such believer in liberty that you do not wish to be vaccinated then there should be a consequence and that is that you can’t infect other people,” Cassidy said during the hearing, which was sparked in part by a measles outbreak. “I’m a big believer in immunization.”
Cassidy also said he hopes to have a bipartisan bill ready this month to limit patients’ liability from surprise billing that can happen even when they stay within their insurance’s network. Read the full story.
