2020 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Health Care
Gavin Newsom:
CalAIM: physical health & mental health inextricably linked
This year, we have proposed CalAIM, a once-in-a-generation reform of our Medi-Cal system, based on the obvious, but long-ignored principle, that physical health and brain health are inextricably linked. Health care and housing can no longer be divorced.
After all, what's more fundamental to a person's well-being than a roof over their head? Doctors should be able to write prescriptions for housing the same way they do for insulin or antibiotics.
Policy is an empty promise without creating more placements. One clear opportunity to do this is by reforming the Mental Health Services Act. Reform must focus funding on street homeless, at-risk and foster youth, and those involved in the criminal
justice system. We should compel counties to spend more by lowering the 33% reserve threshold they are allowed to hold back. My message is this: spend your mental health dollars by June 30th, or we'll make sure they get spent for you.
Source: 2020 California State of the State address
Feb 19, 2020
Chris Sununu:
Allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada
We all know that a critical issue facing our citizens, especially our senior citizens, is the cost of prescription drugs.
We know must lower our prescription drug prices, and it starts with allowing the importation of drugs from Canada, greater transparency in pricing and preventing price gouging of low-income families.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 13, 2020
Chris Sununu:
Put suicide prevention for veterans at the forefront
Another area we are making strides in is suicide prevention for our veterans. I am proud to announce that the state is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs to combine, and streamline all of our resources, to put suicide prevention for
our veterans at the forefront. The first order of business is reaching out to every single New Hampshire veteran, to let them know every federal and state resource available to them and ensure there is no wrong door to getting mental health services.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 13, 2020
Mark Gordon:
Improve mental health care; launch in-state suicide hotline
We need to improve mental health care through innovative approaches and coordinating agency policies for a more seamless delivery of services. One area of focus is on the prevention of suicide. This issue struck close to home when
I heard from classmates of my own kids who have struggled with these dark thoughts. Too many of our residents are suffering -- and sadly, far too many are acting on it. I have supported funding to launch an in-state suicide hotline.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to 65th Wyoming legislature
Feb 10, 2020
Kay Ivey:
Incentivize medical professionals to build rural practices
Another sign of our commitment to improving the lives of those who live in rural Alabama is my full support for a pilot program to incentivize primary care physicians and nurse practitioners to establish services in medically underserved areas.
By encouraging medical professionals to build a practice in these areas, we can literally transform many small towns throughout the state.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 4, 2020
Bill Lee:
Create K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund for teachers & students
We're expanding the outreach capacity of our Department of Mental Health, growing our school-based behavioral health liaison program from 36 to all 95 counties. I'm proposing the creation of a K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund of $250 million
in one-time funds to support the growth and placement of mental health support services in our most-at-risk schools. It is our expectation that Tennessee will lead the nation in bringing mental health support to our teachers and to our students.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 3, 2020
Bill Lee:
Extend postpartum coverage under TennCare to 12 months
This budget also proposes changes to our TennCare program that will benefit young families. We are launching a three-year pilot to extend postpartum coverage to 12 months for mothers covered by TennCare. We're also expanding preventive dental
services to mothers on TennCare. My proposal would provide a dental and oral health benefit to pregnant women who do not currently receive dental benefits during the time of pregnancy through 60 days post-delivery.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 3, 2020
Kevin Stitt:
SoonerCare 2.0: Medicaid modest premiums & work requirements
Oklahoma will begin the process in the coming weeks to rollout SoonerCare 2.0. Under this reformed Medicaid program, we will seek to close the gap of those uninsured in Oklahoma. We will seek to establish moderate premiums and work requirements.
We will encourage able-bodied adults to transition towards a path of maintaining private insurance and pursuing educational or employment opportunities that advances their full personal potential.
Did you know that Oklahoma has 10 different state agencies passing money through the Medicaid program in Oklahoma? And 18 state entities that license health care facilities and providers?
You cannot convince me that operating that many bureaucracies is an efficient way of doing business. And it has to change. This is why I am calling for the Legislature to begin the process of creating one central health care agency.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address
Feb 3, 2020
J.B. Pritzker:
Made health care more available & more affordable
We made healthcare more available--and more affordable. We capped out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 for a 30-day supply so that no one in Illinois has to decide between buying food and paying for the medicine they need to stay alive.
We expanded insurance coverage for mammograms and reproductive health. And we protected people who need treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address
Jan 29, 2020
Tate Reeves:
Invest in health care without succumbing to big government
We need to incentivize quality health care. We must do all of this without falling into the trap that so many misguided politicians cannot avoid. This is not a call for inaction, but a call for caution. We can invest in health care.
We should invest in health care. We can protect rural hospitals. We can protect the people of Mississippi. I am eager to work with each of you to do so. We can and we should do all of this without succumbing to the siren song of big government.
Source: 2020 Mississippi State of the State address
Jan 27, 2020
John Carney:
Reduced rates has led to almost 95% with insurance
Nothing causes more fear or anxiety than when you or a loved one gets sick. We reduced rates on the ACA health insurance marketplace by almost 20 percent this year. Because of that--while ACA enrollment rates have declined nationally--we saw a more than
6 percent increase in Delawareans buying health insurance on the exchange. Today, almost 95 percent of Delawareans have health insurance. That's a big deal.
Access to quality healthcare is also about having doctors in your community. In some areas of our state, we simply don't have enough physicians. We will create a healthcare provider loan repayment program.
We want to attract some of the best and brightest young doctors to areas where they're needed the most.
Source: 2020 Delaware State of the State address
Jan 23, 2020
Charlie Baker:
Modern health issues more challenging than in the past
For years, we have neglected preventive services that keep people healthy and out of our emergency rooms, like primary care, addiction services, geriatrics and behavioral health care. For a variety of reasons, mental health, addiction and behavioral
health issues are far more challenging than they were in the past, and increasingly intertwined with physical illnesses. To put more resources into time, on primary care and behavioral health services, while limiting overall cost increases.
Source: 2020 Massachusetts State of the State address
Jan 21, 2020
Laura Kelly:
Kansas must become 37th state to expand Medicaid
This must be the year Kansas becomes the 37th state to expand Medicaid. After weeks of tough negotiations and lots of give and take, we developed a
proposal that will not only expand healthcare to 150,000 Kansans, but also has the potential to lower health insurance premiums in the marketplace.
Source: 2020 Kansas State of the State address
Jan 16, 2020
Mike Parson:
Expand rural access to emergency & mental health care
A key part of our efforts to improve Missouri's workforce and infrastructure is improving our citizen's healthcare by developing better access to providers and hospitals. Almost 40% of Missourians live in rural areas and, we are committed to making sure
they have access to both preventive and emergency care. We will be providing a substantial increase to help those facing the challenges of mental health, expand telemedicine technology, fight the opioid crisis, and better serve those in need.
Source: 2020 Missouri State of the State address
Jan 15, 2020
Andy Beshear:
Pass state law protecting people with preexisting conditions
I believe in a bigger brighter future. That requires that our Kentucky families don't have to worry about losing health care coverage because of a preexisting condition.
I hear members of both parties say those very words. So this session, let's pass a state law ensuring no one can lose coverage in this state, ever again, based on a preexisting condition.
There are far too many Kentuckians who are rationing insulin or deciding between a prescription drug expense or healthy food, rent or school supplies. In fact, a member of this chamber has talked about having to ration insulin himself. Most
bottles of insulin cost just $7 to produce & yet big pharma is charging our people upwards of $300 a vial. It is wrong. It is cruel. We must fight back. There are a number of bills in the legislature right now to curb the costs of insulin. Let's pass it.
Source: 2020 Kentucky State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Andy Beshear:
Rescinded Medicaid waiver, stopped managed care contracts
I rescinded the Medicaid waiver that would have kicked more than a hundred thousand Kentuckians off of their health care. Access to health care is a basic human right and it will be protected during my administration.
We can't expect to create the work force of the future if our people aren't healthy. My administration further stopped $8 billion in managed care contracts that were rushed through just days before I took office.
Source: 2020 Kentucky State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Gina Raimondo:
Almost 97% insurance rate through state health exchange
When I became governor, we decided to keep running our own state health exchange instead of giving it to the federal government. Because of that decision--and a lot of hard work--almost 97% of Rhode Islanders have health insurance.
That's higher than almost any other state. While premiums are increasing across the country, here in Rhode Island most premiums will decrease this year on our exchange. No one should have to choose between going to the doctor and buying groceries.
Source: 2020 Rhode Island State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Kim Reynolds:
Shift mental health funding from property tax to state
Mental health is becoming one of the biggest challenges of our time. We must provide predictable funding. To date, property taxpayers have supplied most of that support, through their county to the local mental-health regions.
I'm proposing, through the Invest in Iowa Act, that we reduce property tax levies and provide the needed funding through the State general fund.
Source: 2020 Iowa State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Kim Reynolds:
Telehealth is a reality and will help underserved Iowans
We're launching a tele-mentoring system where OBs at our best institutions can consult with physicians across the State. Using technology to bring cutting edge health care into every community is no longer a dream.
Telehealth is reality today but we've only just begun to scratch the surface. This year, my budget includes additional funding to expand the use of these services to underserved Iowans.
Source: 2020 Iowa State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Phil Murphy:
We're protecting the Affordable Care Act
In stark contrast to President Trump, we're protecting the Affordable Care Act. I remain incredibly proud of the work we have done to protect the tenets of the ACA and to establish the State-Based Health Exchange which will go online later this year.
I am establishing an Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency to work across state agencies and lead critical efforts to reduce consumer health care costs, make insurance more affordable, and improve price transparency.
Source: 2020 New Jersey State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Doug Ducey:
Insurance companies should cover mental health care
Insurance companies should be covering mental health care, just like they cover an annual physical.
And we're going to make sure they do.
Source: 2020 Arizona State of the State address
Jan 13, 2020
Jared Polis:
Proposes drug price transparency & public option
At the end of the day there is one issue that continues to reign over all when it comes to affordability: the high cost of health care. We know that health care costs won't magically go down on their own. We need to keep working at it.
Which is why this year I'm supporting legislation to require prescription drug price transparency, and a proposal to provide Coloradans a public option to increase freedom and choice in the health care marketplace.
Source: 2020 Colorado State of the State address
Jan 9, 2020
Phil Scott:
Must increase affordability of health insurance
Vermont has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the nation. But Vermonters still struggle with the high cost of insurance, especially those in our state marketplace.
That's why I'll propose health insurance reforms focused on increasing affordability for Vermonters and, specifically, young people, as we work to retain and attract more of them.
When actions in Washington put access to healthcare in jeopardy, Speaker Johnson, Senator Ashe, Republican party leaders from both houses and I stood with Senators Leahy and Sanders and Congressman Welch to protect Medicaid funding.
Where else but Vermont would you see such a politically-diverse group joining together to defend access to healthcare?
Source: 2020 Vermont State of the State address
Jan 9, 2020
Jim Justice:
We can all agree on protection for preexisting conditions
You know, our citizens of this state deserve good stuff. One of the things they surely deserve is affordable health care coverage. Which is why today I'm asking the legislature to ensure that the people with preexisting conditions in this state, even
though you may have loved ObamaCare, or maybe you didn't, surely all of us can agree on one thing, and that is just this. West Virginians should be protected against preexisting conditions.
Source: 2020 West Virginia State of the State address
Jan 8, 2020
Jim Justice:
Establish Medicaid Families First Reserve Fund
Our Medicaid fund has grown way beyond belief. We're on a pace to have an excess in the Medicaid fund of $309 million by year end. What I'm proposing tonight is something that is maybe not never done before, but is surely seldom done. I am proposing
tonight that I want to announce legislation to establish the Medicaid Families First Reserve Fund. And I want to lock away $150 million to ensure that we will always have vital services for those that are the most exposed and need the most help.
Source: 2020 West Virginia State of the State address
Jan 8, 2020
Ralph Northam:
When people are healthy, they contribute to our economy
Let's turn to health care. I ask you to pass the healthcare equity budget I sent you last month. When people are healthy, they can work and contribute to our economy. That's good for everyone. I also ask you to take three more actions to make health
care easier and more affordable. First, I am sending you legislation to create a state-run marketplace. Second, I ask you to create a "reinsurance program." Then, it's time to end the laws that restrict a woman's right to direct her own health care.
Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address
Jan 8, 2020
Brad Little:
First state to introduce "enhanced short-term plans"
We began implementing Medicaid Expansion. My budget implements a full year of Medicaid Expansion with a net-zero impact on the General Fund. Starting this year, Idaho became the first state in the nation to make "enhanced short-term plans"
available, offering more options to individuals and families priced out of the market by ObamaCare. Two insurance carriers have signed up to offer the plans, creating competition and coverage to help drive down the cost of health care for Idaho families.
Source: 2020 Idaho State of the State address
Jan 6, 2020
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021
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