Neal Statement on Growing Medical Emergency in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON, DC – Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) today released the following statement after reports that dialysis patients in Puerto Rico are not receiving the medical care they need:

"I am deeply concerned about reports from Puerto Rico that millions of people, including thousands of dialysis patients, are not receiving the urgent medical care they depend on. In this day and age, no American should ever die of a manageable medical condition. Yet this appears to be the situation facing kidney disease patients in Puerto Rico. Those in need of dialysis are in dire condition due to Puerto Rico's lack of needed fuel and supplies to dialyze those with kidney disease. More than a week after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, needed medical supplies and fuel have not been delivered, resulting in the death of kidney patients; these deaths were preventable and the failure to get needed help to the island is inexcusable. The Administration and Congress must act immediately to get urgently needed fuel and supplies to Puerto Rico. HHS and FEMA must act with immediacy. If the needed supplies and fuel cannot be brought to the island in a timely manner, the Administration must work to evacuate patients in the most critical condition."

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