ABC for AIDS: Abstinence, Be faithful, Change behavior
We support the emphasis on prevention in the President's Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS relief and endorse its embrace of the successful Ugandan model promoting the "ABC" approach to prevention that encourages abstinence and being faithful to
one lifetime partner, along with other behavioral changes intended to eliminate or reduce exposure risk. [The Ugandan model describes "ABC" as: Abstinence, Be faithful, otherwise use a Condom - Ed.]
We support the President's Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative that emphasizes routine testing, early diagnosis, ongoing monitoring, and elimination of HIV/AIDS in newborn babies and infants.
We also support the President's efforts to double the amount spent on abstinence-only education and to promote healthy relationships.
Republicans have supported, and will continue to support, important scientific research without undermining the fundamental ethical principles that have guided medical research in this country for decades.
We especially welcome and encourage a stronger emphasis on adult stem cell and cord blood stem cell research, which has already provided benefits to hundreds of patients and provides real promise for treatments to help millions of Americans.
We recognize that President Bush made a carefully considered decision to allow federal funding for stem cell research for the first time, and did not affect stem cell research in the private sector. We strongly support the President's policy that
prevents taxpayer dollars from being used to encourage the future destruction of human embryos. In addition, we applaud the President's call for a comprehensive ban on human cloning and on the creation of human embryos solely for experimentation.
We oppose the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment because of disability, age, or infirmity, just as we oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide, which especially endanger the poor and those on the margins of society. We support President Bush's
decision to restore the Drug Enforcement Administration's policy that controlled substances shall not be used for assisted suicide. We applaud focusing research and treatment resources on the alleviation of pain and the care of terminally ill patients.
Source: 2004 Republican Party Platform, p. 86
Sep 1, 2004
Government-run universal health care leads to inefficiencies
We reject any notion of government-run universal health care because we have seen evidence from around the world that government-run health care leads to inefficiencies, long waiting periods, and often substandard health care. We applaud efforts by
President Bush and the Republican Congress to reform the broken medical liability system that is raising health care costs and limiting patients' access to doctors-doctors who are being driven out of their practices by excessive medical liability costs.
Source: 2004 Republican Party Platform, p. 64
Sep 1, 2004
A reformed Medicare will give seniors choice, flexibility
Give older Americans access to the insurance plan Congress has, including medical savings accounts. Build on the strengths of the free market system, offer seniors real choices, and make sure there are incentives for the private sector to develop drugs.
No more one-size-fits-all. Medicare also needs new measures of solvency. We must reduce the administrative complexities. A reformed Medicare program will provide reimbursement at levels that will permit providers to continue to care for patients.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
Aug 12, 2000
Give individuals tools to manage their own health needs
Individuals should be free to manage their own health needs through Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) and Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs). These initiatives make a government takeover of health care as anachronistic as surgery without anesthesia.
Individuals should be able to roll over excess FSA dollars from one year to the next, instead of losing their unspent money at the end of each year. MSAs should be a permanent part of tax law, offered to all workers without restriction.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
Aug 12, 2000
Allow customization of insurance, support health centers
A major reason why health insurance is so expensive is that many state legislatures require policies to provide benefits that many families do not want. These mandates increase costs for everyone. One area of health care that is sadly ignored is the role
of primary and preventive care. We will boost funding for community health centers and establish stronger public-private partnerships for safety net providers and hospitals in underserved communities.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
Aug 12, 2000
Lawyers should not hold physicians hostage
A key step will be reform of malpractice law. In its current form, it encourages health care providers to conceal even innocent mistakes, lest they be subject to vilifying publicity through the trial lawyers.
We must open up the flow of information concerning medical errors.
Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention
Aug 12, 2000
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