Recently, I introduced the Access to Affordable Health Care Act, a bipartisan, comprehensive, seven-point plan that builds on the strengths of our current public programs and private health care system to make quality, affordable health care available to millions more Americans. The legislation's seven goals are: to expand access to affordable health care for small businesses; to make health insurance more affordable for individuals and families purchasing coverage on their own; to strengthen the health care safety net for those without coverage; to expand access to care in rural and underserved areas; to increase access to affordable long-term care; to promote healthier lifestyles, and; to provide more equitable Medicare payments to Maine providers...
Expand access to affordable health care for all Americans, including small businesses, individuals and families, rural and underserved areas, long-term care, and more equitable Medicare payments to Maine providers.
Occurrences
Evidence
unverified · Source version 29890 · locator unknown
The Health Care issue page says Collins works with colleagues from both parties to address soaring medical and prescription drug costs, provider shortages, mental health care, drug treatment, caregivers, and rural access.
unverified · Source version 27467 · locator unknown
The June 8, 2026 press-release listing shows Collins praising growing Senate support for the INSULIN Act, a move aimed at lowering diabetes-related prescription costs.
unverified · Source version 27467 · locator unknown
The June 1, 2026 press-release listing shows Collins and Shaheen reintroduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen early detection of Type 1 diabetes.
unverified · Source version 27467 · locator unknown
The May 22, 2026 press-release listing shows Collins and Welch introduced a bipartisan bill to protect seniors from high costs of post-hospitalization care.
unverified · Source version 74109 · locator unknown
“I'd love to see a bill that Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and I have been working on for a long time that would place a cap on the price of insulin”
unverified · Source version 74134 · locator unknown
“During their exchange, Dr. Saphier committed to working with Senator Collins and her staff on identifying and addressing health care deserts in Maine.”
unverified · Source version 74134 · locator unknown
“In 2022, she secured more than $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to establish a mobile mammography unit in Piscataquis and Somerset counties. To date, the unit has screened more than 1,000 women for breast cancer.”
unverified · Source version 74135 · locator unknown
“Last Action Date Listed August 7, 2026 Actions Reported by Mr. Cassidy, with an amendment, Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Ms. Collins”
unverified · Source version 74137 · locator unknown
“SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 Ms. DEGETTE (for herself, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, Ms. SCHRIER, Mr. BRESNAHAN, and Ms. CRAIG) introduced the following bill; which was referred”
unverified · Source version 74139 · locator unknown
“Maine Goals & Key Themes • Empower rural Mainers to achieve their own healthy living goals through expanded population health solutions. • Expand the supply of care by growing a rural workforce and spreading technologies that connect every community to advanced care.”
unverified · Source version 62119 · locator unknown
“two emergency medical services (EMS) departments in Maine will receive a total of $600,000 through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) grant program.”
unverified · Source version 86663 · locator unknown
“U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, which she introduced with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), with Senator Angus King joining them as an original cosponsor, has been signed into law.”
unverified · Source version 74135 · locator unknown
“Last Action Date Listed August 7, 2026”
unverified · Source version 86681 · locator unknown
“Vote Result: Conference Report Agreed to”
unverified · Source version 86683 · locator unknown
“These provisions will increase Medicare payments to physicians in Maine by an estimated $7 million a year and payments to Maine's rural hospitals by more than $125 million in the next 10 years.”
Assessments
The pledge promised a broad expansion of affordable health-care access across multiple areas, including rural access, long-term care, and equitable Medicare payments for Maine providers. The supplied evidence shows Collins continuing to advocate and introduce bipartisan health-care bills years later, which indicates sustained and serious effort on parts of the promise. But the evidence does not show that the promised overall expansion was enacted during her 2003-2009 Senate term or later through legislation she materially advanced to passage. Because there is clear effort but no demonstrated delivery of the promised outcome, the best judgment is never rather than delivered or partial.