State of Indiana Archives: on Health Care
Andrew Straw:
Expand Medicare incrementally, not via ObamaCare
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?A: Oppose. I support expanding Medicare to cover everyone.
If it must be done incrementally, Medicare should first cover all veterans and their spouses, ex-spouses, and children. Anyone who is on SSDI or SSI should immediately get Medicare coverage, instead of having to wait 24 months.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Indiana Senate candidate
Feb 28, 2018
Brian Bosma:
Tort reform instead of individual mandate
Q: Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?A: No.
Q: Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support interstate
health insurance compacts?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
A: No.
Q: Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
A: Yes.
Source: Indiana Gubernatorial 2012 PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Eric Holcomb:
ObamaCare was the wrong answer to a national problem
Holcomb said, "Those of us who feel that the Affordable Care Act was the wrong answer to a national problem just can't continue talking about what we're against; we now have to present what we're for.
We need the federal government--the Congress and the president--to give states the flexibility to offer alternative solutions. That's what I will fight for in order to make America safer, stronger and freer for generations to come."
Source: Journal-Gazette on 2016 Indiana governor race
Aug 16, 2015
Eric Holcomb:
New Medicaid waiver for Structured Family Caregiving
Q: How will you help expand Indiana seniors' access to quality services provided at home in the community (HCBS)?Eric J. Holcomb: Hoosiers are entering their retirement years in record numbers, and they are expected to live longer than ever before.
As has always been the case, many will turn to family or others to provide them with care. These unpaid caregivers face emotional, financial, and physical challenges unappreciated by most of us. Under my administration, I will instruct the Indiana
Division of Aging to continue a new Medicaid waiver service called Structured Family Caregiving (SFC). The caregivers in this model, frequently family members, are paid and supported by a Medicaid certified SFC provider.
John R. Gregg: As Governor
I will protect the CHOICE program and work to increase matching funds to utilize more Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waivers so more folks can stay in their homes and independent.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
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
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
Eric Holcomb:
I beg you to speak to your doctor and get vaccinated
We know that people who are getting vaccinated and boosted overwhelmingly stay out of the hospital, stay out of the ICU, and don't die. If you haven't been vaccinated, I encourage--I plead--
I even beg you to speak to your doctor and do so. I say this, even if you've disagreed with every position I've taken. I just want us both to be around to continue to have those disagreements.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Eric Holcomb:
Expand access for mental health, reduce stigma
Our strategy includes making investments to grow our mental health workforce with more recruitment, retention, and quality efforts by:-
Expanding access to mental health services
- Rolling out the new federal 988 Suicide Hotline
- And investing more to reduce the stigma of mental health challenges
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Jim Banks:
ObamaCare is ill-conceived takeover of healthcare
Jim Banks opposes implementation of the Affordable Care Act and will do everything he can to implement policies to repeal ObamaCare. This ill-conceived takeover of the federal healthcare system has failed to deliver on its promises of improved,
affordable healthcare for Hoosiers and needs to be repealed. There are three major problems with ObamaCare. They are:-
ObamaCare fails to utilize time-tested, market-driven principles to reduce the cost of healthcare spending and has actually resulted in most Hoosiers paying more for health care coverage
-
Employers are forced to choose between their deeply-held personal beliefs and obeying the law when providing health coverage
- The changes to the healthcare system effectively inserts the government into the doctor-patient relationship
Source: 2016 Indiana House campaign website JimBanks.us
Nov 8, 2016
John Gregg:
Protect CHOICE program for seniors aging at home
Q: How will you help expand Indiana seniors' access to quality services provided at home in the community (HCBS)?John R. Gregg: We know seniors want to age in their homes. It's healthier and cheaper. As Governor I will protect the CHOICE program
and work to increase matching funds to utilize more Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waivers so more folks can stay in their homes and independent. I will also work with community organizations and hospitals to create public private partnerships which will
allow them to provide more local supportive services including home healthcare, home modifications, and ways to reduce social isolation. All of these things together reduce expensive hospital visits and institutionalized care and save taxpayers money.
Eric J. Holcomb: I will continue a new Medicaid waiver service called Structured Family Caregiving (SFC). The caregivers in this model, frequently family members, are paid and supported by a Medicaid certified SFC provider.
Source: AARP Voter Guide on 2016 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
Luke Messer:
ObamaCare bad for middle class
We need to keep our promise to repeal ObamaCare... and the number one reason we need to keep that promise is because
ObamaCare has been bad for middle class families.
Source: Facebook posting on 2018 Indiana Senate race
Oct 3, 2010
Mark Hurt:
Funding to alleviate shortage of mental health professionals
There are no Democrats, Independents or Republicans when it comes to mental health reform. The 20-year tax-free bonds and building of the new neuro diagnostic center at the Community East campus in central Indiana was much needed.Federally, Hurt is
committed to working with the Indiana delegation to expand loan repayment and loan forgiveness for doctors and counselors willing to serve tours of duty in the field of mental health to help alleviate the acute shortage of mental health professionals
serving those with mental illness in local communities.
While favoring elements of The Affordable Care Act, such as the elimination of limits for coverage for individuals with cancer, allowing for guaranteed renewability,
the elimination of pre-existing conditions, and coverage for children up to age 26 on parental health care plans, Hurt supports repealing the ObamaCare legislation.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senate race website, MarkHurt.org
Mar 3, 2017
Mark Hurt:
Support cross-state competition, not ObamaCare bureaucracy
In the area of health reform, Hurt supports expansion of competition as a way to reduce the escalating cost of health insurance premiums and co-pays. Hurt supports repealing the ObamaCare legislation. Hurt noted the billions spent on bureaucracy and
taxes have hit small business especially hard. The small business markets have seen up to 70% increases in premiums. Hurt would like individual policies similar to catastrophic coverage under health savings accounts that allow Americans to buy riders
to have added coverage for important areas such as maternity care, chiropractic coverage and many of the other items presently required through state mandates. Hurt would encourage more insurance companies to enter the markets and allowing businesses
to build on business commonality, with insurance companies serving businesses operating across state lines with larger purchasing groups and greater negotiating power.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senate race website, MarkHurt.org
Mar 3, 2017
Mark Hurt:
Market forces better than ObamaCare
While favoring elements of The Affordable Care Act, Hurt supports repealing the ObamaCare legislation. Hurt would like individual policies similar to catastrophic coverage under health savings accounts that allow Americans to buy riders to have added
coverage for important areas presently required through state mandates. Hurt would allow insurance companies serving businesses operating across state lines with larger purchasing groups and greater negotiating power.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senatorial website MarkHurt.com
Oct 15, 2017
Mike Braun:
Common sense solutions can offset ObamaCare shortfalls
ObamaCare is a disaster for Hoosier families and businesses. Despite the promises of Washington politicians, premiums went up, families lost their doctors, and insurance options disappeared. Rather than a top-down, government-run healthcare system,
Braun believes in common sense alternatives that will reduce costs and increase access to care. These include allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines and small businesses to pool together to purchase insurance at lower prices.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senate campaign website MikeBraunForIndiana.com
May 3, 2018
Mike Pence:
Medicaid is not just broke, it is broken
Most Hoosiers didn't like Washington intruding on our healthcare long before it became a reality. Now, more people than ever know why we were right to stand up to the federal government on the Affordable Care Act.There's been a lot of talk about
Medicaid. The sad truth is that traditional Medicaid is not just broke, it is broken. Research shows that the program does not lead to better health outcomes and in some cases hurts the very people it is supposed to help. One analysis found 2/3 of the
children on Medicaid who needed to see a specialist, couldn't. Traditional Medicaid is not a system we need to expand. It's a system we need to change. The Healthy Indiana Plan is the right place to start.
The Healthy Indiana Plan is consumer-driven healthcare that moves people from emergency rooms to primary care and encourages low-income Hoosiers to take more ownership of their own healthcare decisions.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Indiana legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Mike Pence:
Healthy Indiana: expand Medicaid but with "skin in the game"
When faced with the decision of whether to embrace Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, Pence took the money. But he did it with a conservative twist: The Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 is built on a smaller coverage program. The program began last year and
extends coverage to low-income adults up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Indiana's program requires beneficiaries to pay into health savings accounts. It's based on the principle that people should have "skin in the game."
Source: Politico.com on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 26, 2014
Mitch Daniels:
Tort reform; sue HMOs; no guarantees
Indicate which principles you support regarding health. - Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
-
Allow patients to sue their HMOs.
- Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.
Source: Indiana Gubernatorial Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Mitch Daniels:
INShape plan: insure 130,000 uninsured Hoosiers
Daniels writes, "We have created a medical error reporting system for all hospitals in Indiana. We have created a health insurance plan for the uninsured that we hope to cover 130,000 Hoosiers, without raising taxes or using general fund revenue.
Our INShape plan has received national recognition for its efforts to help Hoosiers lose weight, stop smoking, and adopt other healthy lifestyles. We've invested more than $20 million in funding to encourage our citizens to be more active."
Source: Indiana Gubernatorial Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2008
Richard Mourdock:
Tax-deductible health savings accounts for those under 55
Both Lugar and Mourdock called for repealing President Obama's health care law. Mourdock said he favors turning Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor, into block grants for states and freezing its spending for 10 years.
Medicare, the health insurance plan for older Americans, should be offered to those younger than 55 as tax-deductible health savings accounts, Mourdock said, and health insurance providers should be allowed to operate across state lines.
Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on 2012 Indiana Senate debate
Apr 12, 2012
Richard Mourdock:
ObamaCare makes government bigger
To Donnelly, currently a member of Congress, Mourdock is "an unapologetic leader of the Tea party movement" who put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk when he challenged the Chrysler bankruptcy settlement.To Mourdock, currently state treasurer,
Donnelly is a supporter of President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who voted to make government bigger by supporting ObamaCare.
Mourdock defeated veteran Sen. Richard Lugar in the GOP primary by arguing that
Lugar had compromised too often on too many issues and was no longer representing the conservative values of Hoosier voters. Donnelly repeatedly made a pitch to those so-called "Lugar Republicans."
Mourdock mentioned Obama and
Reid at every opportunity. With Obama not expected to repeat his 2008 feat of being the first Democrat to carry Indiana since Lyndon Johnson did so in 1964, Mourdock is hoping Obama's unpopularity here will translate to votes for him.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2012 Indiana Senate debate
Oct 15, 2012
Richard Mourdock:
No national nor Massachusetts-style health care plan
Mourdock reminded people that Donnelly voted for "ObamaCare." As a candidate, Mourdock said, Donnelly said he would not support a national or Massachusetts-style health care plan. "He said he was against ObamaCare but in the end he decided
to vote for it," Mourdock said, calling Donnelly the "deciding vote."Donnelly fired back that it's attitudes like those of Mourdock that has led to a dysfunctional Washington.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2012 Ind. Senate debate
Oct 24, 2012
Sam Clovis:
Keep ObamaCare rule: kids can stay on parent's plan until 26
Sam Clovis said he wants to be a U.S. senator so he can stand with Utah's Mike Lee and Texas' Ted Cruz, both considered among the chamber's most hard-core conservatives.Clovis praised two senators, Lee and Cruz,
who fueled the movement to use the shutdown as leverage to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare.
Clovis said he'd keep the pieces that allow adult children to stay on a parent's policy until age 26, and the pieces related to high-risk and pre-existing conditions. But he said it's an immoral law because it adds $150 billion a year in national debt.
"I've read the bill, and I challenge anyone else in this building to say they've read the bill. And I've read every word of it," Clovis said.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2014 Iowa Senate race
Oct 24, 2013
Thomas McDermott:
Supports creation of an affordable public option
I believe in the creation of an affordable public option. Millions of people in the US that have excellent employer-provided health insurance, and they shouldn't have to give up their private insurance. But for those among us with no insurance,
or that are underinsured, a public option would not only provide them with the ability to get the care they need; but would lower costs by creating more competition with insurance companies.
Source: 2022 Indiana Senate campaign website GoMcDermott.com
May 8, 2022
Woody Myers:
Now is the time to put a doctor in the Governor's Office
Increasing health care costs are a drag on Indiana's economy and put a strain on household budgets. It's time we fix these problems. We can address our high rate of chronic disease through less costly measures focused on prevention. We can reduce
maternal and infant mortality through better education and access to health care. We can keep the public safe and healthy during a public health crisis, with better management and planning. Now is the time to put a doctor in the Governor's Office.
Source: 2020 Indiana governor campaign website DrWoodyMyers.com
Mar 25, 2020
Woody Myers:
Would not trade our system for Canada's or England's
As far as healthcare, he vehemently expressed support for the current system in a 2008 interview with Indiana journalist Brian Howey. "My conclusion is
I would not trade our system for any system, anywhere else in the world, including Canada (and) England," he said then.
Source: Evansville Courier & Press on 2020 Indiana governor race
Mar 2, 2020
Woody Myers:
Controversial & brief tenure as NYC Health Commissioner
There's one job Myers doesn't highlight in his campaign literature: his short, tumultuous tenure as New York City Health Commissioner. According to the New York Times, then-Mayor David Dinkins appointed Myers to the job in 1990, just after he left
Indiana. Ana Dumois, executive director of the Community Family Planning Council, told the Times that Myers was "aloof" and in over his head. Citing family health problems, Myers resigned on May 28, 1991.
Source: Evansville Courier & Press on 2020 Indiana governor race
Mar 2, 2020
Woody Myers:
Make it easier to enroll in Medicaid, Obamacare
Q: Support Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare?Woody Myers: Yes. Supports ACA. Wants to expand access to Medicaid and "make it easier for Hoosiers to enroll in Indiana Medicaid and Indiana Obamacare."
Eric Holcomb: Mixed. Continue state Medicaid expansion, but backed House bill that would have cut Medicaid spending. Favors "repealing and replacing Obamacare."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Eric Holcomb:
Address mental health, addiction, suicide, & public health
What really struck me is that our life expectancy in Indiana has declined in recent years--specifically among those who are front and center to our future--working age adults between 25 and 64-years-old. That's a pattern we need to reverse, and
I will politely push and prod and poke everyone I can to adopt the commission's recommendations, including a significant increase in our state's public-health appropriation--$120 million in the first year and $227 million in the second year.
Our health and wellbeing challenges extend to addressing mental health problems, helping Hoosiers defeat addiction, maternal and infant mortality, and assisting our veterans who face double the risk of dying by suicide than other groups.
Our localized pathways to improvement must include programs to attack these issues, close to home, by building sustainable systems that prevent and respond to a crisis and investing in data-driven, evidence-based community programs.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 10, 2023
Marc Carmichael:
Lower drugs costs; push for Medicare for all
Will work to lower drug costs and bring adequate medical care to all parts of Indiana and will push for Medicare for all citizens. [OnTheIssues explanation (from HHS.gov): Current eligibility for Medicare includes all citizens over 65 years old; or
younger citizens who have disabilities or specified serious diseases. The result of "Medicare for all" would be to expand the Medicare program instead of private health insurance or other government programs].
Source: 2024 Indiana Senate campaign website MarcForIndiana.com
Sep 11, 2023
Jennifer McCormick:
It's time for accessible and affordable healthcare
[On divisiveness]: "It is time to have a champion for a high-quality education system, and that means childcare, universal pre-K, K12 and post high school training and education," McCormick said. "It's time for accessible and affordable healthcare,
including the freedom for women and families to make their own healthcare decisions. It's time for a strong economy from urban suburban to the rural areas of Indiana. We need good-paying jobs and we need well-educated, highly skilled workers."
Source: Northwest Indiana Times on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial race
May 5, 2023
Mike Braun:
Innovation, competition can address high cost of healthcare
The high cost of healthcare in Indiana is a glaring weakness when it comes to attracting new companies, new residents, and it puts a burden on hardworking Hoosiers and business owners. Solutions such as transparency, innovation, competition, and
empowering consumers are not hard to figure out, but will take bold leadership to implement in the face of the powerful healthcare lobby.
Source: 2024 Indiana Governor campaign website MikeBraunForIndiana
Oct 24, 2023
Mike Braun:
Will never lockdown state or mandate masks for kids
The lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic were a disaster for our state and led to business closures, job losses, mental health issues, learning loss, and still failed to protect the most vulnerable. As Governor, Mike Braun will never
lockdown our state, mandate masks for our kids, or tell someone their job or business is not essential, and he will always protect Hoosiers' right to medical freedom.
Source: 2024 Indiana Governor campaign website MikeBraunForIndiana
Oct 24, 2023
Suzanne Crouch:
Have a responsibility to expand rural mental health access
Leaders at the Rural Justice and Public Health Professionals Summit identified how limited resources present a unique challenge to rural communities trying to improve mental health services. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said rural professionals and leaders
have an important role in addressing barriers to mental health services. "It's not the hand you're dealt," Crouch said. "It's how you play it that's important. But we have a responsibility to give people good cards to play."
Source: WFYI News on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Oct 16, 2023
Eric Doden:
Ensure hospitals provide full transparency in pricing
The state of Indiana spends billions of dollars each year on health care while providing special tax breaks to health care institutions. As Governor, we will implement a plan to ensure hospitals provide full transparency in pricing and their use of
taxpayer funding. We will also incentivize non-profit hospitals to invest a portion of their billions in profits -- which are currently on Wall Street -- back into the Main Streets of the communities they serve.
Source: 2024 Indiana Governor campaign website DodenForIndiana.com
Dec 15, 2023
Eric Doden:
Opposes gender affirming treatments or therapies for minors
I do not support life-altering,
irreversible "gender affirming" surgeries, treatments, or therapies for minors under any circumstances.
Source: 2024 Indiana Governor campaign website DodenForIndiana.com
Dec 15, 2023
Curtis Hill:
Joined suit to end support for ObamaCare Medicaid expansion
Indiana's Attorney General Curtis Hill is one of 20 state officials lobbing a new attack at the Affordable Care Act ["ObamaCare"]. If successful, the lawsuit could mean the end of federal support for Indiana's Medicaid expansion, which is funded
through the Affordable Care Act. A multi-state lawsuit, filed [this week] in a Texas district court, argues the individual mandate--and thus the entire law--is unconstitutional, thanks to new tax laws.
Source: TK on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Jul 19, 2023
Jennifer McCormick:
We will make it a priority to fully fund Medicaid
We will work with local officials to sustain their local healthcare facilities and health care providers, directing attention to our underserved communities by promoting projects that support the creation and expansion of health centers and
recruiting healthcare providers to areas in need of services.We will make it a priority to fully fund Medicaid and the Health First Indiana Program to ensure our public health system is positioned to serve Hoosiers today and tomorrow.
Source: 2024 Indiana Governor campaign website McCormickForGov.com
Jun 10, 2024
Valerie McCray:
We have to make mental health a priority
I am running for Senate because after 25 years as a psychologist, working with our military, working in prisons, working with our youth that are being traumatized by violence, I came to the hard realization that we can not fix these problems one
mental health crisis at a time. We need a Psychologist in Congress that understands how U.S. policy profoundly effects the mental well-being of our people. We have to make mental health a priority
Source: Candidate Connection on 2024 Indiana Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
Suzanne Crouch:
Increase healthcare funding; Indiana ranks 48th in spending
Healthcare funding is one aspect of quality of life Crouch pointed to as an area of improvement in Indiana and a focus for the upcoming state legislative session. "Indiana unfortunately ranks 48th in the country in terms of what we spend on public
health," Crouch shared. "That is why this upcoming session that issue will be taken up by the General Assembly, because the Public Health Commission did a study on what steps we need to take to improve the health of Hoosiers."
Source: WTWO-2-ABC News on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Dec 14, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026