Scott Brown on Health Care Ninth Norfolk Republican (MA State Rep)

Voted NO on Constitutional call for universal health care

Vote on a Constitutional Amendment: It shall be the obligation and duty of the Legislature and executive officials to enact such laws... as will ensure that no Massachusetts resident lacks comprehensive, affordable and equitably financed health insurance coverage for all medically necessary preventive, acute and chronic health care and mental health care services, prescription drugs and devices.

Relevant platform section: Health Care: Our Party supports the creation of a single-payer health care system both in Massachusetts and in the nation in order to achieve the goal of universal health care. We understand that other methods are less satisfactory to us, but we remain committed to ensuring that every man, woman, and child in our state should have access to high quality health care.

Source citation: Constitutional Amendment ; vote number 721

Voted YES on tax credits for all smoking regulation costs

Corporations shall be allowed a tax credit equal to 100 per cent of the costs incurred, for the purchase and installation of ventilation systems and any other materials used in the construction of a designated smoking area designed to reduce the presence of smoke in non-smoking areas, pursuant to any board of health regulation, city ordinance, town bylaw, or any other municipal variance or exemption. [The effect of this legislation would be to make legislating restrictions on smoking fmore difficult].

Relevant platform section: Part III: Health Care: Tobacco: "We support legislation to regulate smoking in the workplace and all public settings."

Source citation: Bill H.4249 ; vote number 430

Supported $10M cut in the uncompensated care pool

Override Gov. Romney's veto of a Budget Line Item which eliminated $9,670,807 in funding for the uncompensated care pool. This care pool provides health care for people who would otherwise not be covered for hospital visits.

Relevant platform section: PART III: HEALTH CARE, ACCESS & CHOICE: Access and Costs: "We remain committed to extending proper coverage to each of the hundreds of thousands of residents still uninsured, and to aiding the even greater number who are underinsured, or at risk of being so."

Source citation: Veto Override ; vote number 170

Ensure access to basic health care, including state funding

Rep. Brown indicated he supports the following principles regarding health issues.
• Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
• Support patients' right to su their HMOs.
• Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
• Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.