2020 AK Senatorial race: on Health Care


Al Gross: System is broken; start with Medicare and public option

Our healthcare system is broken. As a doctor, I've seen firsthand the struggles Alaskans and small businesses face with the prohibitively expensive cost of quality healthcare. In Alaska, we pay more for healthcare than any other state in the country. As your senator, I will first balance Medicare so that it works and is fair for both patients and for providers. We must allow Medicare to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical industry for competitive savings.

We must offer Medicare as a public option, on the health care exchange for people to buy at cost, which will be markedly less expensive than what people are paying for health insurance today, without compromising access. This is a public option and it can and will work. And, this will help grow the economy and invite new business opportunities into our state.

Source: 2020 Alaska Senate campaign website DrAlGrossAK.com Nov 20, 2019

Al Gross: Take on big pharma on prices & opioid epidemic

I'll take on big pharma to decrease drug prices and hold them accountable for the opioid epidemic that has destroyed the lives of too many Alaskans.
Source: 2020 Alaska Senate campaign website DrAlGrossAK.com Nov 20, 2019

Al Gross: Increase access, lower prescription prices

Increasing access to affordable care and lowering the cost of prescription drugs are two of his top priorities when it comes to fixing health care, according to Dr. Gross. He's also committed to achieving a more efficient, coordinated delivery system; supporting physician hospital ownership; and facilitating new business opportunities through economic growth and competition in the industry.
Source: 2020 Alaska Senate race endorsements by OrthoPAC Oct 1, 2019

Al Gross: Health care costs holds back economy, especially in Alaska

Gross referred to the number of people moving out of the state, the decreased state budget, shrinking higher education system. "I really think healthcare in Alaska is holding back the economy," said Gross. "We've got the most expensive healthcare system in the entire world, and in the entire country, and it's prohibitively expensive for companies or individuals to move to the state to start new businesses because healthcare is triple the national average here in Alaska."
Source: KRBD.org Ketchikan radio on 2020 Alaska Senate race Aug 20, 2019

Al Gross: Led AK ballot initiatives to expand Medicaid

Gross was an orthopedic surgeon in Juneau, but left his practice in 2013 to earn a master's degree in public health, and to champion what some might call socialized medicine for all Alaskans. He led two ballot initiatives--one to enshrine Medicaid expansion, as provided by Gov. Bill Walker's executive order, and the other to start setting prices for medical services in order to regulate insurance companies. Neither made it to the ballot.
Source: MustReadAlaska.com on 2020 Alaska Senate race May 14, 2019

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Alaska Senatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Alaska on Health Care.
  • Click here for more quotes by Dan Sullivan on Health Care.
Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Jul 26, 2020