State of Alabama Archives: on Health Care
Arnold Mooney:
Free market healthcare
Mooney's website highlighted the following campaign themes:- Improving Education and Repealing Common Core
- States' Rights and Limited Government
- Free Market Health Care
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Pro-Life and Pro-Family
- Right to Bear Arms
- Increased Employment and Commerce
- Protecting Personal Property Rights
- Transportation
Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2020 Alabama Senate race
Sep 9, 2019
Arnold Mooney:
Replace ObamaCare with block grants for Medicaid
On health care and rural hospitals, Mooney said he supported repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and suggested he could support block grants for Medicaid. Health care providers in the state opposed block grants included in the American
Health Care Act of 2017, saying it could cut federal money for the program, which provides health insurance to about a fifth of the state and helps keep hospitals and pediatricians' offices open.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2020 Alabama Senate race
May 6, 2019
Brandaun Dean:
Personally intervened to save employee health insurance
Despite little cooperation from the city council, he saved employee health insurance by making a surprise appearance at a five-member insurance
board hearing where he illustrated the city's hardships but willingness to cooperate with demands in order to avoid loss of coverage.
Source: 2021 Alabama Senate campaign website BrandaunDean.com
Oct 29, 2021
Chris Countryman:
Quality affordable care available to everyone
Health care has turned into big business for insurance companies and health care providers. Unfortunately today's changing economic landscape make it difficult for many people to get the health care services that they need. Quality and essential health
care is becoming something that is only available for the wealthy, and for those who have jobs that provide health care coverage. This is completely unacceptable. Quality and affordable health care is something that should be available to everyone.
Source: 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial campaign website "testtrac2018"
Mar 15, 2017
Chris Countryman:
Expand Medicaid; health care for all
In favor of expanding Medicaid so that healthcare is easier to obtain by the lower and middle class citizens of Alabama. In favor of a health care system that focuses on the needs of working class citizens
and families instead of focusing on the profits of insurance companies and health care providers. In favor of a health care system that is accessible to all citizens regardless of their income level or their ability to pay.
Source: 2018 Alabama Gubernatorial website RethinkAlabama1
Sep 1, 2017
Chris Sununu:
Allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada
We all know that a critical issue facing our citizens, especially our senior citizens, is the cost of prescription drugs.
We know must lower our prescription drug prices, and it starts with allowing the importation of drugs from Canada, greater transparency in pricing and preventing price gouging of low-income families.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 13, 2020
Chris Sununu:
Put suicide prevention for veterans at the forefront
Another area we are making strides in is suicide prevention for our veterans. I am proud to announce that the state is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs to combine, and streamline all of our resources, to put suicide prevention for
our veterans at the forefront. The first order of business is reaching out to every single New Hampshire veteran, to let them know every federal and state resource available to them and ensure there is no wrong door to getting mental health services.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 13, 2020
Doug Jones:
Fix, don't end, ObamaCare
Congress must continue to take a critical look at healthcare reform, but anything that gets my support must pass four tests:- All Americans deserve the right to quality, affordable healthcare.
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No American should be unable to make ends meet from out-of-control medical bills.
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Pre-existing conditions should never be a reason to deny care or make care unaffordable.
- Preventative care should be a foundation of our health care system.
It is inefficient and dangerous for Americans to rely on the emergency room to treat preventable illness.
Source: 2017-2018 Alabama Senate website DougJonesForSenate.com
Aug 17, 2017
Gary Palmer:
When fully implemented, ObamaCare will be a nightmare
For the first time in our nation's history you are being forced to buy a government product--or pay a penalty. ObamaCare is a federal takeover of our health care system that will limit your choices, your freedoms, and eventually limit the care that is
available. It hasn't taken full effect yet, but it's already sending premiums skyrocketing and its crushing mandates on businesses is crippling their ability to create jobs.When fully implemented, it will be a nightmare.
When the Obama Administration begins to enforce the implementation of ObamaCare, you'll be forced to pay stiff penalties for not purchasing the government's mandated policies.
ObamaCare must be repealed and replaced with a national health
care policy that allows people to buy the health insurance they want and need and that allows market competition between health insurance providers that will result in more choices for plans and at lower costs.
Source: 2014 AL-6 House campaign website, PalmerForAlabama.com
Sep 30, 2014
Jessica Taylor:
Would vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act
[On ObamaCare]: "We have the best health care in the world here in the United States in part due to our free market society," she said. There are a lot of things in those countries not ideal, and by and large America is still the greatest country in the
world, and that is due to our free market capitalism."Taylor said she would vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act and said she would pursue "mixed models" that she considers more effective and would also seek to promote options like telehealth.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2022 Alabama Senate race
Jan 21, 2020
John Merrill:
Concerned about rural healthcare access
I will tell you one of the major areas of concern that I would have as a Senator would giving attention to is the rural broadband access throughout Alabama.
It's also about rural healthcare treatment opportunity for our citizens who live in our rural areas to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, as opposed to just being set aside because they're not in a large metropolitan area.
Source: BamaPolitics.com blog on 2020 Alabama Senate race
Sep 6, 2019
Kay Ivey:
ObamaCare does much more harm than good
Our current health care system needs a trip to the doctor. Almost 20 cents of every dollar earned in America is spent on healthcare. Insurance choices are shrinking, the cost of family coverage has doubled since 2000, and the current recession has many
families fearing they're only a paycheck away from losing their health insurance.While providing affordable health care to every American is a noble, compassionate goal, President Obama's federally mandated plan will do much more harm than good.
If it is passed, almost 120 million Americans could lose their private coverage. In the end, government bureaucrats would make your health care choices? Not your doctor, not you.
On top of that, taxes would have to be raised on almost all
Americans to pay for these "free" services. And, if a serious budget crisis ever hit, the government could limit the amount of care and services you and your family would be able to receive.
Source: 2010 Alabama Gubernatorial campaign website KayIvey.org
Mar 31, 2010
Kay Ivey:
Each state creates its own insurance pool for high risk
To fix our health care system, we must:- Remove the tax penalty for families who choose to buy their own health insurance.
- Spend our federal health care dollars more responsibly, instead of spending $1.6 trillion on a plan financed by tax
increases and savings from Medicare and Medicaid.
- Develop health insurance plans for each state, not for the whole country. Every state faces its own health care challenges; each state should be able to create its own insurance pool for high-cost
individuals.
- We need more legal reform. We need tort-reform legislation that addresses the exorbitant cost of malpractice insurance for doctors due to the frivolous lawsuit abuse brought on by greedy trial lawyers.
- Create a new category of
one-time insurance called "patient indemnity insurance" to purchase coverage for a botched surgery or other medical complication.
- Reform malpractice law by granting immunity to medical professionals who provide emergency or charity care
Source: 2010 Alabama Gubernatorial campaign website KayIvey.org
Mar 31, 2010
Kay Ivey:
Incentivize medical professionals to build rural practices
Another sign of our commitment to improving the lives of those who live in rural Alabama is my full support for a pilot program to incentivize primary care physicians and nurse practitioners to establish services in medically underserved areas.
By encouraging medical professionals to build a practice in these areas, we can literally transform many small towns throughout the state.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 4, 2020
Kay Ivey:
Opposes vaccine mandates in spite of more than 14,000 deaths
The COVID pandemic hit the state hard and has led to more than 14,000 deaths since the first Alabama case was confirmed in March, 2020. Ivey encouraged vaccinations (though she opposed mandates) and allowed a statewide mask mandate to remain in
place through the spring, longer than some of her fellow Republican governors in the South did. But she took a much less prominent role during the summer surge in COVID-19 cases in the state that slammed the health care system.
Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Oct 6, 2021
Kay Ivey:
Accused by opponents of shaming the unvaccinated
Ivey said: "It's the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down," when asked why Alabama leads the nation in unvaccinated persons. "These folks are choosing a horrible lifestyle of self-inflicted pain. We've got to get folks to take the shot.
The vaccine is the greatest weapon we have to fight COVID. There's no question about that." Her political opponents accused her of shaming those Alabamians who have chosen not to get the vaccine.
Source: AL Political Reporter on 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Jun 30, 2021
Kay Ivey:
Commitment to expanding access to quality mental health care
I am proud that my Administration, with the support of the Legislature, is doing more to make significant improvements in mental health care than any since Governor Lurleen Wallace in the 1960s. In my commitment to expanding
access to quality mental health care, I am proposing a $12 million investment for two additional mental health crisis centers, as well as other health services.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Alabama legislature
Jan 10, 2022
Kevin Stitt:
SoonerCare 2.0: Medicaid modest premiums & work requirements
Oklahoma will begin the process in the coming weeks to rollout SoonerCare 2.0. Under this reformed Medicaid program, we will seek to close the gap of those uninsured in Oklahoma. We will seek to establish moderate premiums and work requirements.
We will encourage able-bodied adults to transition towards a path of maintaining private insurance and pursuing educational or employment opportunities that advances their full personal potential.
Did you know that Oklahoma has 10 different state agencies passing money through the Medicaid program in Oklahoma? And 18 state entities that license health care facilities and providers?
You cannot convince me that operating that many bureaucracies is an efficient way of doing business. And it has to change. This is why I am calling for the Legislature to begin the process of creating one central health care agency.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 3, 2020
Luther Strange:
Repeal the total failure of ObamaCare
ObamaCare is a total failure. Skyrocketing premiums and deductibles have made health care unaffordable and inaccessible.
Luther Strange wants to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with patient-centered reform, leading to lowered premiums and increased access.
Source: 2017-2018 Alabama Senate campaign website LutherStrange.com
Aug 31, 2017
Lynda Blanchard:
Socialistic medicine will not work in America
[On healthcare in Slovenia]: "Serving as U.S. Ambassador for President Trump, I saw firsthand the ineffectiveness of social medicine in Slovenia, a former socialist country. There were long wait times for care, some more than six months, and worse
during COVID. Mandating vaccines and taking away healthcare decisions are another form of socialistic medicine. This will not work in America. I agree with President Trump's recent statement that 'taking the vaccine is a personal decision."
Source: Yellowhammer News on 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial race
May 12, 2021
Malika Sanders-Fortier:
State should expand Medicaid under Affordable Care Act
Sanders-Fortier says education, sentencing reform and urging Medicaid expansion will be among her top priorities this year. Alabama is one of 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. "We say we're a country where if
you do an honest day's work, there should be some basic benefits that go along with that. Certainly, health care should be one of those benefits. I think ultimately that is something we should all be able to agree on," Sanders-Fortier said.
Source: Alabama Public Radio on 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial race
Feb 18, 2019
Marcus Bowman:
ObamaCare threatens status of best health care in the world
Q: Do you support or oppose the policy, "Expand ObamaCare"
A: Strongly oppose. We had the best health care in the world and ObamaCare was a major departure that threatens that long-term status. Plus, Americans should never be fined if they decide they do not want to purchase something.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Alabama Senate race with OnTheIssues
Jan 21, 2016
Mike Durant:
Opposes mask and vaccine mandates; should be free choice
Mike Durant is a successful businessman and job creator who started a home-based engineering and services company and grew it to over 500 employees. He has seen first-hand the effects of Biden's COVID mandates, which caused layoffs and hurt
Mike's ability to serve the Department of Defense. Mike opposes mask mandates and believes individuals should have the choice as to whether or not they take the vaccine after consulting with the doctor.
Source: 2022 Alabama Senate campaign website MikeDurant.com
Mar 30, 2022
Robert Bentley:
Federal takeover of our health care system will kill jobs
I will work to provide health care that is affordable. But it does not need to be forced upon us by the federal government. There is no doubt the federal takeover of our health care system will kill jobs in the U.S. and further cripple our economy.
We will fight oppressive mandates on businesses and we will fight rationing of health care. Send me legislation that will offer tax incentives to employers who provide health insurance to their employees. I will sign your bill.
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Alabama legislature
Mar 1, 2011
Robert Bentley:
Don't expand Medicaid, even if paid for by federal dollars
The Affordable Care Act--or ObamaCare--and Medicaid expansion is taking our nation deeper into the abyss of debt, and threatens to dismantle what I believe is one of the most trusted relationships, that of doctors and their patient.Essential to
ObamaCare is Medicaid expansion--a federal government dependency program for the uninsured. Since 1980, Medicaid spending has increased nationally by over 1500%. Here in Alabama, Medicaid takes up 35% of our General Fund.
Under ObamaCare, Medicaid
would grow even larger--bringing millions more people to a state of dependency on government, and saddling our state and our nation--the taxpayers--with the enormous expense.
Now they are telling us we'll get free money to expand Medicaid. Those are
your hard-earned tax dollars. Our great nation is $17.2 trillion in debt and it increases by $2 billion every single day. That is why I cannot expand Medicaid in Alabama. We will not bring hundreds of thousands into a system that is broken and buckling.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Alabama legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Robert Bentley:
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is not Affordable
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is everything but Affordable. There are 18 new taxes embedded in ObamaCare and Medicaid expansion, which will cost you an estimated $800 billion in the next 8 years. It is draining our state budgets, and
will siphon millions of dollars from our education budget by 2016--that's money that could have been spent on teachers, students and support personnel.And the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act does not protect patients. 22% of primary care
doctors account for 90% of primary care billing. If we were to add 300,000 to Medicaid--where would they receive care?
Already in Alabama, because of ObamaCare, over 87,000 people have seen a change in their coverage, and you or someone you know has
likely seen your premiums double. Business and job growth is being stifled. Employers are leaving positions unfilled, or laying off workers so they can fall under the employee threshold that would require them to participate in ObamaCare.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Alabama legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Ron Crumpton:
Move to a single-payer/ Medicare for all system
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?
A: Strongly agree. Move to a single-payer/ Medicare for all system.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Alabama Senate race with OnTheIssues
Nov 26, 2015
Ron Crumpton:
ObamaCare is a success, but it is just the first step
11-Point Plan for Social Justice--Health Care: "The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) has been an undeniable success,
and an important step in improving the health care of the American people, but it is just a step and not the final solution."
Source: 2016 Ala. Senate campaign website CrumptonForAlabama.com
Apr 25, 2016
Roy Moore:
Repeal Obamacare; allow competition
We do not need socialized medicine which will ultimately lead to loss of quality and affordability of heath care, as well as a loss of access to the latest medical technology. Obamacare should be completely repealed as soon as possible.
Businesses should receive tax credits for employee health care coverage, and health insurance should be available between the states for competition and quality care.
Source: 2017-2018 Alabama Senate campaign website RoyMoore.org
Aug 31, 2017
Stacy Lee George:
Local control of Medicaid; no single payer
Medicaid needs an overhaul. Allowing Alabama to be creative dealing with the uninsured gives us the perfect chance to bring in the communities and healthcare experts to develop innovative reform that actually works.
Alabama must reach into the bag of capitalism and spark competition with at least two competitors for BCBS of AL with the goal of increasing the number of individuals being covered while decreasing cost for Alabama individuals and families.
Source: 2018 Alabama Governor website StacyLeeGeorge.com
Aug 17, 2017
Tim James:
Stand against federal tyranny of vaccine mandates
We can never tolerate unconstitutional federal mandates, such as the attempt by the Biden Administration to force Alabama workers to take vaccines against their will, under the threat of losing their jobs and potentially being forced into poverty.
Freedom and liberty must be preserved at all costs, and unfortunately, at times there is a price to pay if we stand against federal tyranny. Alabama must never tolerate any attempt by the federal government to become Alabama's puppet master.
Source: 2022 Alabama Governor campaign website TimJamesGovernor.com
Feb 24, 2022
Tommy Battle:
Hands tied on Medicaid abuse as it's a federally run program
YH: Then we've got another story coming out of Florida, which is just one state over, of millions and millions of dollars being paid out in Medicaid fraud to people who had fraud allegations against them.
TB: You know, fraud abuse is something that we all need to jump on but it's very tough to address situations where most of the work that they're doing and they're talking about doing is federal programs being administered federally.
Source: Yellow Hammer Radio on 2018 Alabama Senate race
May 3, 2017
Tommy Tuberville:
ObamaCare must go; return to free-market
ObamaCare must go. This failed experiment has led to higher costs, less quality care, and a system that hurts patients and doctors more than it helps.
I believe that we need a return to the free-market where companies compete for your business, while ensuring that pre-existing conditions are not a deterrent to obtaining quality insurance and care.
Source: 2020 Alabama Senate campaign website, TommyForSenate.com
Jan 12, 2020
Tommy Tuberville:
ObamaCare a failure; supports Health Savings Accounts
Q: Opinion of ObamaCare?Tommy Tuberville: Calls ObamaCare "a failed experiment." Advocates a "return to the free market." Supports Health Savings Accounts and companies competing across state lines.
Doug Jones: Fix, not end, ObamaCare. Asked Trump to reverse Justice Dept. support for lawsuit seeking to repeal ACA.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Alabama Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Tommy Tuberville:
COVID: against lockdowns; we don't believe in socialism
Q: Opinion of climate change?Tommy Tuberville: Yes. Called Trump "the right guy at the helm" "because he's a business guy." State lockdowns are "government telling you what to do . we don't believe in socialism."
Doug Jones: No. Criticized the administration for failing to ensure adequate nationwide virus testing. Criticized Trump COVID relief executive orders as "more for show than actual help."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Alabama Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Walt Maddox:
Expand Medicaid so all citizens receive care
Alabama's health ranking is 47th in the nation. In the past seven years, seven rural hospitals have closed or are scheduled to be closed. Pediatricians, dentists, nursing home providers and mental health professionals are leaving smaller communities
jeopardizing the continuum of care for tens of thousands. Montgomery has refused to expand Medicaid which would have provided a $1.8B infusion into Alabama's health care system by providing medical coverage for 331K.
Source: 2018 Alabama gubernatorial campaign website WaltMaddox.com
Jul 4, 2018
Will Boyd:
Support a health care program affordable to all
- Support expansion of Medicaid in Alabama
- Support and introduce legislation that helps fill the healthcare/Medicaid coverage gap that exists for women in Alabama
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Support a health care program affordable to all
- Work to lower prescription drug costs in the United States
- Improve and protect Medicare and Medicaid
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Work with the Offices of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use the bargaining power of 40 million Medicare beneficiaries to negotiate better drug prices while also providing
beneficiaries with an option to obtain drug coverage directly from Medicare rather than a private plan
Source: 2022 Alabama Senate campaign website DrWillBoyd.com
May 25, 2022
William Barnes:
Affordable health care for everyone
I would not support repeal of health care legislation. Let me just back up a moment.... The initial efforts to effect national health legislation goes way back to 1946--President Truman--and it's never been passed and has come up time after time over the
years. President Obama campaigned on health reform and the idea of affordable health care for all individuals and he was elected to the presidency based on that being a major part of his platform. The people spoke.
I think it would be an injustice to the American people to repeal what was passed.
We should have affordable health care for everyone!
I've done bankruptcies in my practice for people and one of the things that I've found is that a majority of them--
about 60%--have to declare bankruptcy because of the lack of health insurance. The Republicans will say that "all they had to do was go to the emergency room" and that is nonsense. And that's not the way American should be. We take care of one another.
Source: Left In Alabama (progressive blog) interview of Bill Barnes
Sep 2, 2010
Yolanda Flowers:
Healthcare is a right, we must create a comprehensive plan
Healthcare is a right. We must create a comprehensive plan with top medical professionals and economists to determine a cost efficient healthcare plan that works for our most vulnerable population.
Alabama also has one of the highest mortality rates in the country. Access to high-quality medical care for low-income families will help to combat the mortality rate.
Source: 2022 Alabama Gubernatorial website YolandaForGovernor.org
Jul 19, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023