2018 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Health Care
Mark Dayton:
MinnesotaCare Buy-In: affordable choices for consumers
For 26 years, MinnesotaCare has given lower-income working families quality, affordable choices when purchasing their health insurance. I believe we should give all Minnesotans that option.
After its startup, the operating costs of this new "MinnesotaCare Buy-In" would be paid entirely by its members' premiums, so there's no ongoing expense to other taxpayers.
For some families, the MinnesotaCare Buy-In may offer better health care coverage at lower costs. That is exactly what competition is supposed to do for consumers.
Legislators have a very clear choice. They can side with big insurance companies, who don't want this competition; or they can side with Minnesotans, who do.
Source: 2018 Minnesota State of the State address
Mar 14, 2018
John Bel Edwards:
Medicaid expansion addresses opioid crisis
Medicaid expansion continues to change lives. Most importantly, Medicaid expansion is saving lives. Additionally, expansion is helping us address Louisiana's opioid crisis by giving more people access to the treatment they need. Through expansion,
nearly 16,000 people have received inpatient or outpatient treatment for substance abuse. That's 16,000 more people who have a second chance at life and 16,000 fewer families who will have to suffer the heartbreak of losing a loved one to addiction.
Source: 2018 Louisiana State of the State address
Mar 12, 2018
Chris Sununu:
State must invest in mental healthcare system
We have tasked Health and Human Services with developing a comprehensive 10 year plan for the mental health system. We provided funding to establish 60 new beds for community based transitional housing and created a fourth rapid
response mobile crisis unit to divert hospitalizations for mental health issues. It is unacceptable for citizens in mental health crises to be waiting for treatment for weeks on end.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire State of the State address
Feb 15, 2018
Paul LePage:
Budgetary limits on Medicaid expansion
We must fund Medicaid expansion in a way that is sustainable and ongoing. Therefore, my principles are as follows:- No tax increases on Maine families or businesses.
- No use of the Budget Stabilization Fund (which we call the "Rainy Day Fund").
- No use of other one-time funding mechanisms--known as budget gimmicks.
- Full funding for vulnerable Mainers who are still waiting for services, and no reduction of services or funding for our nursing homes or people with disabilities.
Source: 2018 Maine State of the State address
Feb 13, 2018
Asa Hutchinson:
Work requirement for Medicaid
I expect approval from Washington before the legislative session ends on our request to implement a work requirement for the Arkansas Works program. If you are able-bodied and of working age--with no dependents--you should be working or in training.
The only long-lasting solution to lowering the cost of Medicaid is to help more people earn their way off.
Source: 2018 Arkansas State of the State address
Feb 12, 2018
Dan Malloy:
Healthcare a fundamental right
Connecticut Fairness should mean keeping health insurance affordable for everyone. We must take action to ensure stability in our insurance marketplace and to contain premium costs for consumers.
Together, let's pass a bill that preserves the most vital elements of the Affordable Care Act--including the individual mandate. Let's make it clear that in Connecticut, healthcare is a fundamental right.
Source: 2018 Connecticut State of the State address
Feb 7, 2018
Scott Walker:
State control of health insurance program, not federal
For our senior citizens, most receive their health care through Medicare. While that is a federal and not a state program, we can provide certainty and stability for those who depend on SeniorCare. I am officially seeking a permanent waiver for the
State of Wisconsin to provide SeniorCare. Since it was first approved in 2002, the state has asked for an extension of SeniorCare four times. It is time to make this a permanent and stable program.
Source: 2018 Wisconsin State of the State address
Jan 24, 2018
Charlie Baker:
Health Connector: replace mess with hope
We began with a Health Connector that was, by all accounts, a mess. Today it just finished its third consecutive positive open enrollment. Providing more than 240,000 working families with affordable health care coverage.We began with a state
hospital in Bridgewater that for decades was beset by a series of terrible tragedies--yet nothing was done. Today, Bridgewater State Hospital is a completely different place. And families who never expected anything to get better finally have hope.
Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Massachusetts legislature
Jan 23, 2018
John Hickenlooper:
ObamaCare not perfect; it has helped but needs improvement
We need our friends in Washington to finally move past the tired fight over the Affordable Care Act. It's not perfect, and we need to strengthen it in lots of ways--but it has helped reduce our uninsured rate by half. 600,000 Coloradans--many from
rural parts of the state--now have coverage who didn't before. It has helped save lives. When we're secure in our health care, we're more likely to take a chance and start a business.
Source: 2018 State of the State address to the Colorado legislature
Jan 11, 2018
Dennis Daugaard:
Add work requirements to Medicaid
I have asked our state Department of Social Services to pursue a waiver so our state can require people who receive Medicaid to work, if they are able. I propose to pilot the new requirement in Minnehaha and Pennington counties, where
there is the greatest availability of employment and of training resources. We will use the same services that we already require for those on unemployment, to help participants find jobs.
Source: 2018 South Dakota State of the State address
Jan 9, 2018
Eric Holcomb:
Must reduce infant mortality rate
Indiana regularly ranks among the worst states in the nation for infant mortality, lagging behind the national average and that of our Midwestern neighbors. Six hundred twenty-three babies didn't live past the age of one in Indiana in 2016: 623.
We'll take an important step this year by working with you to implement a Levels of Care program to assure that the highest-risk babies are delivered at hospitals with the facilities to meet the needs of the mother and the baby.
Source: 2018 Indiana State of the State address
Jan 9, 2018
Kim Reynolds:
Individualized, patient-centered managed care for Medicaid
Before the Affordable Care Act, Iowa had an individual insurance market with relatively low cost and high participation. Now, our healthcare market is collapsing. It's unaffordable. It's unsustainable. And it's unacceptable.I continue to call on
Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. But we can't wait for Congress to fix it.
Almost two years ago, we modernized our Medicaid system to an individualized, patient-centered approach that was already in place in 39 other states.
It was a change that needed to be made.
I still believe managed care is the right decision for Iowa, but it has become very clear that mistakes were made in how it was done. With our new team in place, we are continuing to work with our
Managed Care-Organizations to ensure Iowans are getting the best possible outcomes. And we are reaching patients in new and innovative ways to individualize their care.
Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Iowa legislature
Jan 9, 2018
Kim Reynolds:
Train all doctors to recognize mental health challenges
We must continue to provide compassionate mental health care. In 2013, we redesigned Iowa's mental health system with bipartisan input and support. We moved from a county-by-county system to a regional network, ensuring the same core services for all
Iowans, regardless of where they live.150,000 more Iowans have mental health coverage today and have access to more local and modern services. We've invested $2 billion in mental health services.
And in 2016 we invested $4 million in a new psychiatric medical residency program to recruit and retain more psychiatrists.
But we must do more, and I know we can. I look forward to an exciting new initiative, where every new doctor
will receive the training and skills to identify and treat a patient with a mental health challenge. I have included money in my budget for this innovative program. It will be the first-of-its-kind.
Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Iowa legislature
Jan 9, 2018
Phil Bryant:
Medicaid patients are responsible for bad choices
Poor health choices have resulted in higher mortality rates and treatment of even more disabling illnesses. Consequently, Medicaid costs have continued to increase, straining our state and federal budgets. Frankly, we have spent far too many years
believing that funding for Medicaid is unlimited and should be unquestioned. We must change that way of thinking. We must also insist that positive health care outcomes be the first responsibility of the Medicaid recipients.
As you know, I have requested a workforce requirement for able-bodied adults from the Center of Medicaid and Medicare Services. This is not, as some would have you believe, a punitive action aimed at recipients.
It will actually help this population reap the rewards of a good job, and one day receive health care coverage from their employer, not the state or federal government.
Source: 2018 Mississippi State of the State address
Jan 9, 2018
Doug Ducey:
KidsCare: Protect low-income kids' healthcare
There are so many issues we can find common ground on. Like protecting the lives of children in our state. That's why we acted to prevent 24,530 low-income children from getting health insurance cancelation notices days before Christmas, as
Washington continues to dither on this issue. And while Members of Congress give meaningless floor speeches and drag their feet, we've got a plan to fund KidsCare through the spring. But in the meantime, I've got a message for congress. Do. Your. Job.
Source: 2018 Arizona State of the State address
Jan 8, 2018
Page last updated: Apr 07, 2019