2021 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Health Care
John Bel Edwards:
COVID: Relying on doctors and scientists and epidemiologists
I know some of you have questions about the vaccines. That's ok. Most of us, myself included, didn't go to medical school. That's why I have Dr. Joe Kanter with me at every COVID press conference. That's why you see doctors and nurses on the
news reaching out to the public. So when you hear me say the shots are safe and effective, that's not coming from me. That's coming from doctors and scientists and epidemiologists.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
John Bel Edwards:
Medicaid expansion saved lives
It's why 5 years ago I expanded Medicaid to the working poor in Louisiana. Because of that decision, many more people have had access to a primary care physician and the ability to afford prescription medication in order to treat or control
underlying conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID. I know that we still have a lot of work to do in order to improve health outcomes, but I can't imagine how many more people would have died this past year if not for Medicaid expansion.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
Gavin Newsom:
COVID: Science--not politics--drove our decisions
We made the incredibly difficult decision to issue a stay home order to slow the spread. We agonized about the sacrifices it would require. But we made sure that science--not politics--drove our decisions. And as experts like Dr. Fauci said, it
was the right thing to do.People are alive today because of the public health decisions we made--lives saved because of your sacrifice. Even so, I acknowledge it's made life hard and unpredictable, and you're exhausted with all of it.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to California legislature
Mar 9, 2021
Ron DeSantis:
COVID: We will not close schools, jobs, businesses
Friends, legislators, Floridians, lend me your ears: We will not let anybody close your schools, we will not let anybody take your jobs and we will not let anybody close your businesses!Our efforts saved lives. In fact, 40 states have suffered higher
COVID mortality for seniors aged 65+ on a per capita basis than Florida. The cases and hospitalizations for seniors in Florida have plummeted as vaccinations have increased. Florida was right to prioritize the elderly. Seniors First works.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature
Mar 2, 2021
Jared Polis:
Telehealth is literally a lifesaver for many in rural areas
This pandemic has also forced us to be creative as we've reimagined our health care system. Think, for example, of telehealth--including behavioral telehealth--which isn't just a useful innovation in a time of social distancing.
It's a convenient tool for folks who want to receive care from the comfort of their own homes, and it's literally a lifesaver for many Coloradans in rural areas who may live far away from doctors and clinics and hospitals.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Colorado legislature
Feb 17, 2021
Chris Sununu:
Our 10-Year Mental-Health Plan continues to be fully funded
When I became Governor, I often said the mental-health crisis was New Hampshire's unspoken crisis. It had been neglected for years. But we changed that. This budget continues levels of funding for our mental-health programs, because, frankly,
we all know that too much is at stake to let up. Our 10-Year Mental-Health Plan continues to be fully funded, with funding for additional designated receiving facility beds to solve the ER boarding crisis, to more local Mobile Crisis Teams, and more.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: New Hampshire legislature
Feb 11, 2021
Bill Lee:
Tennessee first state to get Medicaid block grant waiver
Tennessee became the first state in history to receive a Medicaid block grant waiver from the federal government. This waiver will allow those in our Medicaid population to reap the benefit from our state's strong fiscal management of the
TennCare program. Let me be clear: if partisan attacks that call for this block grant to be rescinded prevail, the state will not get these shared savings dollars that we plan to use to improve healthcare for vulnerable Tennesseans.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 8, 2021
Greg Abbott:
We must focus on mental health challenges
If we are going to fully address COVID related health issues, we must also focus on the mental health challenges that Texans are facing. During the pandemic, we created a 24/7 mental health support line, provided crisis counseling, and established
virtual access for behavioral services. They were funded by the almost $8 billion that the Legislature devoted to mental health last session. I will work with the Legislature this session to ensure that Texas continues to address these challenges.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Texas legislature
Feb 2, 2021
Greg Abbott:
Ensure coverage without being forced into the ObamaCare
Looking beyond just COVID, there is more we can do this session to ensure that Texans have better access to healthcare.
That includes ensuring that Texans with pre-existing conditions have access to healthcare coverage without being forced into the Affordable Care Act.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Texas legislature
Feb 2, 2021
Kevin Stitt:
Use managed care to operate Medicaid expansion
With Medicaid Expansion now in our Constitution, this is the perfect opportunity to reimagine health care delivery. It's time to focus on outcomes and not just paying invoices. 40 states have found managed care is the best way forward: Texas, Kansas,
Iowa, Tennessee, Florida. Even California and Illinois. It's not a red state or blue state thing. It's the smart thing to do. In fact, almost every other state with Medicaid expansion also uses managed care. Oklahoma, this is the right path forward.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 1, 2021
Mike Parson:
Will expand Medicaid but be vigilant against fraud and waste
Like I have said many times, I will always uphold the will of the voters, and we will move forward with expanding Medicaid coverage to approximately 275,000 Missourians. However, it is important to remember that the costs of this expansion will be
significant--hundreds of millions of dollars, in fact. This will have a major impact on other areas of our budget, and we must plan accordingly which means staying vigilant in maintaining the program's integrity by protecting against fraud and waste.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature
Jan 27, 2021
Charlie Baker:
Emergency telehealth order worked, now it's permanent
Telehealth visits--online or over the phone--were made possible by an emergency order we issued. Patients and clinicians took full advantage. People who used to put off that clinician visit because they were busy flocked to service. Over a million
visits in less than nine months. It was convenient and safe--and it kept people healthy and out of the emergency room. But it wasn't permanent. Now it is, and we will all benefit from the flexibility and availability of this critical service.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Massachusetts legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Mental health care is health care, we must meet those needs
The pandemic has underscored that our behavioral health system demands robust reform. CYFD this year created the nation's first text-only abuse and neglect hotline for children, providing them an outlet that research has shown they may be more
comfortable using. My budget calls for a 800% increase in funding for suicide prevention services and programs, for both youth and adults. Mental health care is health care, and New Mexico must and will meet those needs, no matter the circumstances.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Tate Reeves:
Ensure everyone has access to affordable health care
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that everyone--every Oregonian--deserves access to affordable health care. I have proposed investments in my budget to expand this access, but, I also expect the Biden-Harris administration to help us
financially. Together we must ensure that every single Oregonian has access to this human right. At the same time we need to continue the pioneering work that Oregon has done to reduce the cost of health care.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature
Jan 21, 2021
Eric Holcomb:
Now is the time to implement a managed care system
Now is the time to put this effort in place, including a managed care system similar to the ones 25 other states are using to integrate care across the entire spectrum to make it easier for families to navigate and drive outcomes in a transparent and
accountable way. And for our eligible Hoosiers, we're fortunate that our Healthy Indiana Plan recently received a 10-year federal waiver to cover the 600,000 Hoosiers who are active participants in improving their health outcomes.
[OnTheIssues editor's note: a "managed care system" means partial privatization via MCOs; definition from Medicaid.gov]: "Managed Care is a health care delivery system organized to manage cost, utilization, and quality. Medicaid managed care provides
for the delivery of Medicaid health benefits and additional services through contracted arrangements between state Medicaid agencies and managed care organizations (MCOs) that accept a set per member per month (capitation) payment for these services."
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 19, 2021
Tony Evers:
Fund state alternatives to ObamaCare
Georgia has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country, and many who are insured are struggling to pay for care. My budget proposal includes $76 million to implement Georgia Pathways and Access to make health care accessible for the first time to
thousands and affordable for millions more by scaling back dependence on the failed promises of healthcare.gov, giving low-income Georgians a hand up, and increasing competition in the private sector to drive down costs.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Georgia legislature
Jan 14, 2021
Kim Reynolds:
$30 million over two years to fund mental health reform
In the last three years, we have reformed our mental health system and we're continuing to make it better. I'm proposing to increase mental health funding by $15 million this year, and another $15 million next year, to fully fund those reform efforts.
And I know that our mental health regions are working on innovative solutions to address the unique needs of children who have been affected by the pandemic.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Kristi Noem:
Make pandemic rules for telehealth permanent
Another tool we greatly expanded access to is telehealth. People have used tech services like these more than 70,000 times in South Dakota's Medicaid program alone. This year, I'm going to ask that you support legislation to make these
flexibilities permanent. In 2021, we should build on telehealth advancements and continue to find ways to remove government red tape in health care.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Andrew Cuomo:
Telehealth invaluable, but must ensure accessibility to all
COVID showed us the limits of our health system, but it also fostered innovation. Telemedicine was invaluable in keeping people remote, while providing care. Public access was uneven and inequitable.
At the recommendation of the Reimagine New York Commission, I'm introducing the most comprehensive telehealth bill in the nation to ensure accessibility to all New Yorkers.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the New York legislature
Jan 11, 2021
Brad Little:
Expanded telehealth access, let's make changes permanent
We lifted regulations to expand telehealth access. It worked. The use of telehealth rose by 4,000%, and Idahoans in all parts of the state could continue to access care from the safety of their homes.
The pandemic opened the door to great advances in telehealth access. Let's work together to make those red tape cuts permanent!
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 11, 2021
Doug Ducey:
Once we're all vaccinated we can get on with life
If last year was the year of the virus, this year will be the year of the vaccine. And while local public health officials are working hard, we need to work faster. So now, even more resources will be brought to the fore. At my direction, the state has
launched a 24/7 vaccination site at a large and notable location: State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. Everyone needs this vaccine. And the sooner we all receive it, the more quickly we can get on with life as it should be.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 11, 2021
Andy Beshear:
COVID: Troubling that a public health crisis was politicized
We must move past any remaining denial or rationalizations. That a public health crisis has been politicized, even as thousands died, is troubling for both our state and our nation. Failure to take this virus seriously at this late date disrespects the
memory of those we have lost, disrespects the pain of those who are grieving and disrespects the deep sacrifices so many have made in this war. It also threatens to create much more pain, more death and more disruption, all of which can be avoided.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature
Jan 7, 2021
Phil Scott:
Time to cap annual increases, prioritize prevention
We also need to contain healthcare costs in the long run. With that in mind, I believe it's time to set a cap on annual increases and continue moving to a system where we pay for quality, not just quantity--and do so in a way that prioritizes prevention
on the part of the patient as well as the provider. These are the goals of the All-Payer Model, which you might have heard about over the last three years.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 7, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2022
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