State of Massachusetts Archives: on Health Care
Ayanna Pressley:
Obamacare should be further implemented
Ayanna believes that we must defend the gains made under Obamacare, and that we must push further to implement a
Medicare for All system that will make healthcare even more accessible.
Source: 2018 MA 7th House campaign website AyannaPressley.com
Jul 4, 2018
Bob Massie:
Healthcare "entitlement" is Constitutional "life & liberty"
We are not arguing on behalf of "entitlements", a slimy word that manages to sound like people are getting something they don't deserve.Our Constitution, a key founding document, enshrines the principle that we have an inalienable
right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". This is one of several "truths" that are "self-evident." You simply cannot have "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" without access to healthcare.
Health care is therefore not a privilege, but a right. Indeed, it is an inalienable right--one that cannot be taken away.
Let's work together to move us rapidly towards the only system that makes
both moral and economic sense for the Commonwealth today--a Single-Payer system of healthcare that covers everyone from birth to death.
Source: 2018 MA gubernatorial campaign website BobMassie2018.com
Aug 4, 2017
Elizabeth Warren:
Too many huge federal giveaways to the drug industry
Senator Elizabeth Warren railed against the 21st Century Cures, saying the bill had been "hijacked" by the pharmaceutical industry. "I cannot vote for this bill,'' Warren said. "I will fight it because I know the difference between compromise and
extortion."The current legislation includes $500 million for the FDA, well below the amount Democrats had sought. Warren and Washington Senator Patty Murray have long argued that they would only support Cures legislation that included
significant investment in basic medical research. While Warren said she supported many of the provisions, she called others "huge giveaways" to the drug industry.
Warren cited several measures she viewed as especially outrageous. One would roll back
requirements for doctors to report some "Sunshine Act" payments from drug companies. The provision would exempt companies from disclosing fees given doctors for receiving continuing medical education sessions, medical journals, or textbooks.
Source: Warren (D, MA ) on 21st Century Cures Act in StatNews.com
Nov 28, 2016
Gabriel Gomez:
Repeal medical device tax in ObamaCare
The two were asked what they could do to help improve the economy in western Massachusetts. The unemployment rate in Springfield tops 10 percent, much higher than the state as a whole.Gomez said one way to protect local jobs is to repeal the
medical device tax included in President Barack Obama's 2010 federal health care law.
Markey said he supported job-creating projects in western Massachusetts including the Union Station regional transportation project in Springfield.
Source: Boston Herald on 2013 MA Senate debates
Jun 11, 2013
Gabriel Gomez:
ObamaCare hurts the middle class & small business
The two split on President Barack Obama's 2010 health care law. Gomez said the law is hurting middle class families and small businesses, including the state's
medical device manufacturers. Markey praised the 2010 law, which he has called one of the proudest votes of his career.
Source: Boston Herald on 2013 MA Senate debate
Jun 6, 2013
Gabriel Gomez:
Universal affordable coverage, but repeal ObamaCare
On health care, Sullivan and Gomez said they would repeal Obama's health care reform law. Sullivan said the Affordable Care Act--similar to the Massachusetts reforms put in place under Republican Gov. Mitt Romney--did not address the biggest
problem with health care, which is high costs. "Massachusetts, with Dan and others, and now the national government has put in a health care plan that doesn't address the one problem we didn't like, which is cost," Sullivan said.Gomez said he believes
there should be universal, affordable health care coverage, but reform should be done at a state level, as in Massachusetts.
Winslow said he believes "Obamacare is bad for Massachusetts" because there is already a state-based plan, and
the national reform adds taxes and bureaucracy. But rather than repeal it, he would exempt any states that already meet federal standards from the Affordable Care Act.
Source: Springfield Republican on 2013 MA Senate debates
Mar 28, 2013
Ed Markey:
Supported ObamaCare but would repeal aspects of it
Markey emphasized his work on healthcare reform and criticized Lynch for voting against the Affordable Care Act. Lynch charged that Markey, who, along with a majority of Democrats backed the law, had lost "leverage" in passing a bill he sees as flawed.
Lynch said that he opposed the law because it increased taxes on health care for businesses and because it lacked a public option. Markey hit back, charging that Lynch was "wrong when you were needed most on that bill," and noting that the late Sen.
Ted Kennedy, a revered Democratic figure in Massachusetts politics, had fought for health care reform for the length of his legislative career.
Both said they'd be willing to vote to repeal aspects of the bill, but Markey said he'd work to prevent
Republicans from repealing the bill in its entirety. "The Republicans are going to try to repeal it. And I want to go to the Senate to make sure they do not repeal that historic piece of legislation based upon Massachusetts law," he said.
Source: The Hill coverage of 2013 MA Senate debates
Mar 27, 2013
Steve Lynch:
Opposed ObamaCare and would repeal aspects of it
Markey criticized Lynch for voting against the Affordable Care Act. Lynch charged that Markey, who, along with a majority of Democrats backed the law, had lost "leverage" in passing a bill he sees as flawed.
Lynch voted against reform in a move that drew the ire of a number of labor unions in 2010. He said that he opposed the law because it increased taxes on health care for businesses and because it lacked a public option.
Markey hit back, charging that Lynch was "wrong when you were needed most on that bill." Both said they'd be willing to vote to repeal aspects of the bill, but Markey said he'd work to prevent Republicans from repealing the bill in its entirety. "The
Republicans are going to try to repeal it. And I want to go to the Senate to make sure they do not repeal that historic piece of legislation based upon Massachusetts law," he said.
Source: The Hill coverage of 2013 MA Senate debates
Mar 27, 2013
Brian Herr:
ObamaCare gives too much federal authority
Herr said he would have voted against the health care overhaul Congress approved in March because it gives too much authority
to the federal government rather than to the states, and because it doesn't address the cost problem.
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette on 2014 MA Senate race
Aug 16, 2010
Martha Coakley:
System is broken and needs to be fixed now
Promises to be the 60th "yea" vote, assuring passage of the health-care bill. She says the system is broken and needs to be fixed now."We do not have transparency, competition,"
Coakley said at the debate. "We do not have, for the money we spend now, the type of health care we can and should have."
Source: Nancy Reardon, Quincy Patriot-Ledger: 2010 MA Senate debate
Jan 14, 2010
Scott Brown:
41st vote against Obama's healthcare plan
Vows to be the 41st vote against health-care legislation, effectively killing the effort. He says Congress should start over, believing because that the current plan costs too much and will lead to
means higher taxes. "You're talking about a trillion-dollar health-care plan and a half-trillion in Medicare cuts," he said in Monday night's debate.
Source: Nancy Reardon, Quincy Patriot-Ledger: 2010 MA Senate debate
Jan 14, 2010
Alan Khazei:
Close the Medicare Part D coverage gap
Q: What policies would you support to make health care more affordable--particularly for the 50-64 age population? - SUPPORTS Affordable coverage for individuals age 50-64.
- SUPPORTS Guarantee that Medicare benefits will be protected in any healt
care reform legislation.
- SUPPORTS Closing the Part D coverage gap.
A: Access to quality care is both a moral issue and an economic issue, and we must enact comprehensive health care reform that guarantees affordable coverage. I strongly support a
public option. We must close the Medicare Part D coverage gap, increase federal funding for home and community based services, reduce prescription drug costs for those with Medicare by negotiating lower prices, and create systems that help individuals
transition home after hospital stays. I will work to overhaul our medical malpractice system in a way that promotes cooperation, and gives malpractice victims compensation through a choice of options in addition to the court system.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Jack Robinson:
Universal coverage; no Medicare cuts; no tax increase
Q: What policies would you support to make health care more affordable--particularly for the 50-64 age population? - SUPPORTS Affordable coverage for individuals age 50-64.
- SUPPORTS Guarantee that Medicare benefits will be protected in any healt
care reform legislation.
- SUPPORTS Closing the Part D coverage gap.
A: While I have been a long-time supporter of AARP, and will be eligible for membership myself next year, AARP's recent endorsement of the House health care reform bill, which will
include over $500 billion in Medicare cuts and over $300 billion in new taxes, is misguided. If elected as your next United States Senator, I will only vote for a health care bill that: (1) provides universal coverage; (2) minimizes costs; (3) does not
include a single dime of cuts to Medicare; (4) does not raise taxes; and (5) does not saddle our grandchildren with multiple trillions of dollars of debt. For more information on my unique 12-Point Plan for Health Care Reform, please visit my web site.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Jack Robinson:
Increase consumer choice and control for longterm care
Q: How would you shift long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate?- SUPPORT Increasing consumer choice and control for people needing longterm care.
-
SUPPORT Improving standards and incentives for quality care.
- SUPPORT Providing family caregiving initiatives, such as respite care.
A: The candidate chose not to make additional comments.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Individual mandate with public insurance option
Q: What policies would you support to make health care more affordable--particularly for the 50-64 age population? - SUPPORTS Affordable coverage for individuals age 50-64.
- SUPPORTS Guarantee that Medicare benefits will be protected in any healt
care reform legislation.
- SUPPORTS Closing the Part D coverage gap.
A: I will work to expand access to those without insurance coverage by supporting: an individual mandate and a public insurance option that will complement the existing employer-
sponsored insurance framework by providing coverage to those that lack it, a change in payment incentives so that we no longer reward volume and complexity, and greater transparency of health care cost and quality information. I believe that doctors and
patients--not insurance companies--should be in charge of health care decisions. Any health care reform package [should] preserve and strengthen Medicare, give seniors improved quality and access to care, and provide prescription drugs at lower prices.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Martha Coakley:
Target enforcement against corrupt long term care facilities
Q: How would you shift long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate?- SUPPORT Increasing consumer choice and control for people needing longterm care.
- SUPPORT
Improving standards and incentives for quality care.
- SUPPORT Providing family caregiving initiatives, such as respite care.
A: I support shifting long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and
communities as long as they are able. I believe in programs that encourage the growth of quality care for seniors, and incentives that promote the growth of home caregiving services, such as respite care, to ease the burden on families caring for loved
ones in their home. Finally, as Attorney General, I targeted enforcement actions against corrupt long term care facilities, and as Senator, I will support legislation to strengthen oversight of the long term care workforce.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Michael Capuano:
Preserve all the Medicare benefits for seniors
Q: What policies would you support to make health care more affordable--particularly for the 50-64 age population? - SUPPORTS Affordable coverage for individuals age 50-64.
- SUPPORTS Guarantee that Medicare benefits will be protected in any healt
care reform legislation.
- SUPPORTS Closing the Part D coverage gap.
A: I will fight to make sure that comprehensive health reform preserves all the benefits Medicare provides for senior citizens. I will work to insure affordable health care for all
by offering a public plan. I voted against Medicare Part D because I thought it would not help seniors sufficiently. Its faults, like the doughnut hole, must be remedied. More fundamentally, I anticipated that adding a multi-billion dollar benefit
without adding a penny of revenue would place the entire Medicare system in jeopardy. Medicare must be kept solvent. I will insist that drug prices be negotiated for Medicare beneficiaries and for all drugs purchased through publicly funded health plans.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Stephen Pagliuca:
Close the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" coverage gap
Q: What policies would you support to make health care more affordable--particularly for the 50-64 age population? - SUPPORTS Affordable coverage for individuals age 50-64.
- SUPPORTS Guarantee that Medicare benefits will be protected in any healt
care reform legislation.
- SUPPORTS Closing the Part D coverage gap.
A: A growing number of adults age 50-64 are without coverage. Without coverage, these people finally enter Medicare coverage in poorer health than those who were insured. The healt
care reform bill that finally emerges from Congress should recognize the unique set of problems facing this age group, especially for those without coverage through their employers, or who cannot afford private coverage. The Baucus bill also goes at leas
part way in reducing the costs of the so-called doughnut hole for prescription drugs; however, I will fight to eliminate this gap in coverage completely. I am opposed to any reductions in the coverage Medicare now provides.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Stephen Pagliuca:
Expand home and community-based long term care services
Q: How would you shift long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate?- SUPPORT Increasing consumer choice and control for people needing longterm care.
- SUPPORT
Improving standards and incentives for quality care.
- SUPPORT Providing family caregiving initiatives, such as respite care.
A: I support AARP's goal of expanding the use of home and community-based long term care services
(HCBS), which has the twin benefits of expanding consumer choice while lowering long-term growth in costs. At a time of tight budgets and the continuing growth of the over 65 population, we should embrace the expansion of HCBS.
In Massachusetts, only 24% of Medicaid funding for long-term care goes to HCBS programs.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Scott Brown:
MA already has health bill; don't impose new federal bill
Q: On health care reform: the Senate bill has got a public option. Would you vote for it?A: I'm shocked at the four people that are running on the other side and the twelve people that are representing us [as the Massachusetts delegation in Congress]
are pushing this so hard--in Massachusetts we have a law already that's working. It's not perfect, but the same bill at the federal level is going to be in direct competition in Massachusetts and it's not going to be good for Massachusetts businesses.
Massachusetts citizens are taxpayers: it's going to cost upwards of three trillion dollars. Why don't we take a little bit of federal money and fix the approach to the problems that we may have here: mandates and a lot of the managed care issues we've go
--let the other states do it [as Massachusetts did]. I think it's inappropriate for the federal government to come down and put their will on our people. I'm not saying that I think everybody should have some form of coverage. But we already have it.
Source: NECN Good Morning Live interviews on 2009 MA Senate race
Nov 30, 2009
Scott Brown:
Public option is really a government option
Q: Where are you in the public option in national health care reform?A: It's really a government option and for us in Massachusetts, we have almost 94% of our people insured here in Massachusetts. And we have a fantastic health care system, teaching
hospitals, insurance companies that provide great benefits for our state. Why would we want to--I feel--dumb down the medical services and medical insurance in Massachusetts to provide for that type of plan? So I'm not in favor of it.
Source: WBUR interview on 2009 MA Senate primary debate
Sep 14, 2009
Kerry Healey:
Save $160M by consolidating city & town insurance purchases
Q: There’s talk of a $160 million shortfall in the health care program you and the governor helped create. How are you going to pay for that?HEALEY: [I would] consolidate all of our health care purchases for our cities and towns and have them bought
through the state group insurance commission. That will take literally hundreds of millions of dollars that is wasted right now and put it back onto the plate of our cities and towns and that will relieve the pressure on local taxes.
Source: 2006 MA Gubernatorial debate on Fox News with Chris Wallace
Sep 25, 2006
Chris Gabrieli:
Raise employer uninsured healthcare assessment above $295
Gabrieli has been a supporter, with reservations, of the state’s new universal healthcare plan. He has said he likes the concept of cost-sharing among individuals, businesses, and government. But of these three groups, he says, businesses that provide
no insurance are getting off too lightly. Their fee of $295 per employee per year is far less than the $325 or $350 a month that “decent” health insurance costs, he says, and “most businesses, especially large businesses, can afford to do more.”
Source: Boston Globe Issue Outlines: on 2006 MA Governor race
Jun 3, 2006
Deval Patrick:
Supports employer uninsured healthcare assessment, plus more
Patrick was an early supporter of a bill proposed by Affordable Healthcare Today (ACT) that served as the basis for the recently approved universal healthcare law. The ACT bill would have spent more public money, taxed businesses more, and extended
subsidized coverage further up the income ladder then the bill eventually approved by the Legislature. He supports the controversial $295 per worker, per year charge on larger employers who don’t offer health benefits, but says there is no need to raise
additional revenue “until we see how this works and what costs we can take out.” “I see health care as a common good -- like clean air, safe streets, and effective education -- and so
I believe that government has a role to play in assuring that the conditions exist for the health care system we all want,” Patrick says.
Source: Boston Globe Issue Outlines: on 2006 MA Governor race
Jun 3, 2006
Tom Reilly:
Opposes $295/yr employer fee for uninsured employees
Although Reilly supports the new universal healthcare law in principle, he opposes one of its most controversial provisions: a $295 per employee, per year fee for businesses that don’t provide their workers with health insurance.
Source: Boston Globe Issue Outlines: on 2006 MA Governor race
Jun 3, 2006
Scott Brown:
Ensure access to basic health care, including state funding
Rep. Brown indicated he supports the following principles regarding health issues.- Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms or state-funded care where necessary.
- Support patients' right to su
their HMOs.
- Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied by their HMO.
- Increase state funding for training health workers to recognize and respond to the release of biological agents.
Source: 2002 MA Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Steve Grossman:
Advocates bulk purchasing of medication to reduce prices
Grossman has taken to the airwaves to talk about prescription drugs, touting a plan he says will save the state between $100 million and $150 million a year and will reduce drug costs for poor residents.
The cornerstone of the plan calls for bulk purchasing of medication, a concept that is growing in popularity throughout the nation despite fierce opposition from pharmaceutical companies.
Source: Rick Klein, Boston Globe on 2002 MA Gov. race
Jun 21, 2002
Steve Grossman:
Commit to public school teaching in exchange for scholarship
Grossman would begin a program that offers students a four-year scholarship, the equivalent of room, board, and tuition at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, to be used anywhere in the country
in return for a commitment to work as a Massachusetts public school teacher for at least five years. Grossman said that would cost 1 percent of the $5.3 billion education budget and recruit 10,000 teachers over the next decade.
Source: Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe on MA 2002 Gov. race
Apr 9, 2002
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021