Tim Kaine on Health Care

Democratic Senate Challenger; previously Governor

Let Medicare negotiate rates for prescription drug prices

Kaine noted both Medicare and Social Security are critically important. He said the Medicare budget is growing partially for the good reason that people are living longer. However, Kaine added that the government needs to get costs under control. Kaine proposed allowing the government to negotiate rates for prescription drug prices. He argues this will save about $250 billion over ten years. Kaine argued that Congress failed to include that provision while Allen was in the Senate for Medicare Part D. Kaine also promoted examining pilot projects for healthy outcomes, instead of just medical procedures.

Allen on Medicare, said Part D has helped seniors pay for their medications. Allen claims the $700 billion that "ObamaCare" takes out would hurt seniors. Kaine countered that money would be moved to programs that help seniors live healthier and prevent some medical procedures.

Source: WSLS-TV-10 on 2012 Virginia Senate debate , Oct 18, 2012

Inaction was not a solution for healthcare

Their differences kicked in as they reacted to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the individual mandate at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care reform law. Allen watched news reports about the decision. "I'm disappointed that they had to use all this judicial creativity to call the mandate a tax," Allen said of the majority justices. "Unlike Tim Kaine, who thinks this is a great achievement, I want to be the deciding vote to repeal it."

Kaine said in a statement that insurance premiums and the number of uninsured both rose dramatically during Allen's term in the Senate. "Clearly, inaction was not a solution, and neither are continued calls for repeal. Instead, we must work together to strengthen this existing program and improve cost controls," Kaine said.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2012 Virginia Senate Debates , Jun 28, 2012

Bush fights states getting cheap Rx for seniors

Many states, following the lead of Illinois, have set up simple ways to help seniors purchase safe, American-made prescription drugs from other countries at a fraction of the price they would pay here. The administration actually fought against that Democratic effort. In Virginia, we’ve worked to provide health insurance coverage for nearly 140,000 more children. Republicans & Democrats alike have come together to fight the administration’s efforts to slash Medicaid & push more costs onto the states Source: Democratic Response to 2006 State of the Union address , Jan 31, 2006

Our seniors were promised medications but got poor planning

Skyrocketing health care costs are hurting small businesses and pushing millions of working Americans into the ranks of the uninsured. The White House has made efforts to cut Medicaid funds for our most vulnerable citizens. Our seniors were promised that the new federal Medicare drug plan would make it easier and cheaper to obtain their medication. Instead, many have fallen victim to the program’s poor planning. They find getting their medicine to be more complex, more expensive and less reliable. Source: Democratic Response to 2006 State of the Union address , Jan 31, 2006

One out of 7 Virginians lack health insurance

In Virginia, one out of every seven people lacks health insurance. You probably talked to an uninsured person today. It may have been the person who handed you your clothes at the dry cleaners, or the server who brought you lunch, or the technician who changed the oil in your car. Source: 2005 Gubernatorial campaign website kaine2005.org, “Issues” , Nov 8, 2005

Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year.

Kaine signed a letter from 22 Governors to Congressional leaders:

In a letter to congressional leadership, 22 governors are urging federal lawmakers to adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year to provide families and businesses with much-needed security and stability.

"We commend you and your colleagues for provisions included in your bills that will help states," the governors wrote. "Many of the provisions will allow states to achieve long term savings and help cover those who currently go without health coverage. We recognize that health reform is a shared responsibility and everyone, including state governments, needs to partner to reform our broken health care system."

"Efforts at the federal level, like the recent and critical investments that support states' HIV and prevention initiatives, are beginning the work to lower health care costs. Our citizens and our states, however, will only achieve the health care security and stability they need if we succeed in working together to achieve health care reform."

Source: Letter from CO Gov. Bill Ritter and 21 other Governors 10-GOV1 on Oct 1, 2009

Opposes repealing ObamaCare.

Kaine opposes the CC Voters Guide question on ObamaCare

Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Repealing "Obamacare" that forces citizens to buy insurance or pay a tax"

Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q5a on Oct 31, 2012

Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care. Click here for a profile of Tim Kaine. Click here for SenateMatch quiz answers by Tim Kaine. Click here for AmericansElect quiz answers by Tim Kaine. Click here for a summary of Tim Kaine's positions on all issues. Click here for issue positions of other VA politicians.
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Page last updated: Apr 23, 2013