State of Virginia Archives: on Health Care
Justin Fairfax:
VA should have expanded Medicaid for 400,000 people
Fairfax believes Virginia should have expanded Medicaid to provide needed health care for some 400,000 state residents who lack insurance.
Other states that did so still have 90 percent of the costs covered by the federal government.
Source: Free Lance-Star on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
Oct 29, 2017
Ed Gillespie:
Ebola: Impose a flight ban from West Africa
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie hammered each other over ethics and taxes in their third and final scheduled debate.Warner and Gillespie found common ground in their criticism of the Obama administration's handling
of the Ebola outbreak. Warner said the administration should have moved more quickly in setting up Ebola screenings at major U.S. airports, while Gillespie said the U.S. should have already imposed a flight ban on planes coming from West Africa.
Source: News-Tribune on 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Oct 13, 2014
Mark Warner:
Ebola: screen passengers on flights from West Africa
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie hammered each other over ethics and taxes in their third and final scheduled debate.Warner and Gillespie found common ground in their criticism of the Obama administration's handling
of the Ebola outbreak. Warner said the administration should have moved more quickly in setting up Ebola screenings at major U.S. airports, while Gillespie said the U.S. should have already imposed a flight ban on planes coming from West Africa.
Source: News-Tribune on 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Oct 13, 2014
Don Beyer:
Support & improve ObamaCare
I feel strongly that the President needs our support for the new health care reform law. While the law isn't perfect, it is a historical achievement that will help cover all Americans & reform our health care coverage system. Instead of trying to repeal
the law, like the Tea Party Republicans are doing, we need to make it better. I oppose the proposal in the Ryan Budget that would turn Medicare into a private voucher system. Medicare works well, and we need to do all we can to improve and strengthen it.
Source: 2014 Virginia House campaign website, FriendsOfDonBeyer.com
Oct 10, 2014
Ed Gillespie:
Benefits from GOP resistance to the new health law
Gillespie begins the race as a pronounced underdog. Sen. Warner, a former governor now in his first Senate term, is the most popular politician in Virginia.
But Republicans in the state believe that, because of resistance to the new health law and President Obama's declining popularity, they have an opportunity to at least make the race competitive.
Source: New York Times on 2014 Virginia Senate race
Jan 9, 2014
Mark Warner:
AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare
Sen. Mark Warner is among 11 Democrats targeted by the Republican National Committee for their support of ObamaCare. The RNC is using robocalls and posting on Facebook to urge people to call their representatives and ask "why they supported
President Obama's lie that people could keep their healthcare plans under ObamaCare."The targets besides Mark Warner are Reps. Gary Peters (MI) and Bruce Braley (IA), Mark Begich (AK), Dick Durbin (IL), Kay Hagan (NC), Mary Landrieu (LA), Jeff
Merkley (OR), Mark Pryor (AR), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Mark Udall (CO). The robocall script reads:
"President Obama and the Democrats said you could keep your healthcare plan under ObamaCare. Now we know [SENATOR] actually VOTED to make it more
difficult. Call [SENATOR] at (XXX)-XXX-XXX & ask why [he/she] lied."
The robocalls are a response to Democrats launching the "GOP Shutdown Watch" campaign, highlighting Republican senate candidates who supported the partial federal government shutdown.
Source: MI Daily Tribune PacWatch: 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Nov 5, 2013
Robert Sarvis:
Focus on catastrophic insurance & cash subsidies
I favor a three-part approach to overhauling public health-care spending:- Focus on catastrophic, not comprehensive, insurance/care. Comprehensive insurance programs are ridiculously expensive, but the benefits in health outcomes do not
justify the cost. The most salient benefit is protection from financially ruinous catastrophic health problems, which can be provided at much lower cost by catastrophic insurance.
- Focus public spending on mental-health care.
Studies suggest high returns on public spending on mental health.
- Focus on cash subsidies. Rather than having bureaucrats decide what services should be available and at what cost, providing cash subsidies gives patients greater flexibility to
meet their individualized health-care needs and restores market incentives to keep costs down and to innovate in the provision of services.
Source: Virginia Governor 2013 campaign website, robertsarvis.com
Sep 21, 2013
Ken Cuccinelli:
Opposes ObamaCare and opposes delaying its implementation
Cuccinelli reiterated his opposition to President Obama's health-care plan, but he also criticized Obama for not following his own law by postponing the legislation's employer mandate for one year.
McAuliffe, meanwhile, made clear that he still supports the law and stressed that he thinks Virginia should accept the measure's invitation to expand the state's Medicaid program, which Cuccinelli opposes.
Source: Washington Post on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Jul 21, 2013
Terry McAuliffe:
Supports ObamaCare's expanding the state's Medicaid program
Cuccinelli reiterated his opposition to President Obama's health-care plan, but he also criticized Obama for not following his own law by postponing the legislation's employer mandate for one year.
McAuliffe, meanwhile, made clear that he still supports the law and stressed that he thinks Virginia should accept the measure's invitation to expand the state's Medicaid program, which Cuccinelli opposes.
Source: Washington Post on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Jul 21, 2013
Bob McDonnell:
ObamaCare is expensive, bureaucratic, and inflexible
When he presented his budget amendments last month, Gov. Bob McDonnell highlighted the stress of Medicaid on finances, calling it "the second largest program in our general fund budget," one that has "grown exponentially" over the past 30 years.
In a December speech, McDonnell said the health care overhaul was an "expensive, bureaucratic, tax-raising and inflexible" program with many questions still unanswered more than two years after its passage. The governor didn't include money
in his budget for expansion.Yet legislators in the Virginia House and Senate have offered legislation to broaden Medicaid. The case for expansion goes something like this: In addition to being the humane thing to do, it benefits the state
financially. One study estimated an annual benefit of roughly $4 billion for the next six years.
Democrats have clamored for expansion, and some say Republican resistance is more about political spite than actual policy differences.
Source: Virginian-Pilot on 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race
Jan 31, 2013
Frank Wagner:
Expand Medicaid as long as federal share stays overs 90%
The governor didn't include money in his budget for Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare. Yet Virginia legislators have offered legislation to broaden Medicaid. One study estimated an annual benefit of roughly $4 billion for the next six years.
Democrats have clamored for expansion, but some Republicans in the majority have offered a way forward on expansion [despite resistance within their party].
Among them is GOP Sen. Frank Wagner, who has offered legislation to expand the program with
a caveat: The state could cancel its participation if the federal share of expansion costs fall below 90%. Noting Virginians will pay new taxes under the health care act, Wagner reasons the state "ought to get some benefit" and return on investment.
That money will go to other states if Virginia doesn't join up, he adds. The ultimate goal of the health care act is to spread costs among more payers and lessen the strain of uncompensated care, on providers and on the insured through their premiums.
Source: Virginian-Pilot on 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race
Jan 31, 2013
George Allen:
ObamaCare hurts seniors by taking $700B from Medicare
Kaine noted both Medicare and Social Security are critically important. He said the Medicare budget is growing partially for the good reason that people are living longer. However, Kaine added that the government needs to get costs under control.
Kaine proposed allowing the government to negotiate rates for prescription drug prices. He argues this will save about $250 billion over ten years. Kaine argued that Congress failed to include that provision while Allen was in the Senate for Medicare
Part D. Kaine also promoted examining pilot projects for healthy outcomes, instead of just medical procedures. Allen on Medicare, said Part D has helped seniors pay for their medications.
Allen claims the $700 billion that "ObamaCare" takes out would hurt seniors. Kaine countered that money would be moved to programs that help seniors live healthier and prevent some medical procedures.
Source: WSLS-TV-10 on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Oct 18, 2012
Tim Kaine:
Let Medicare negotiate rates for prescription drug prices
Kaine noted both Medicare and Social Security are critically important. He said the Medicare budget is growing partially for the good reason that people are living longer. However, Kaine added that the government needs to get costs under control.
Kaine proposed allowing the government to negotiate rates for prescription drug prices. He argues this will save about $250 billion over ten years. Kaine argued that Congress failed to include that provision while Allen was in the Senate for Medicare
Part D. Kaine also promoted examining pilot projects for healthy outcomes, instead of just medical procedures. Allen on Medicare, said Part D has helped seniors pay for their medications.
Allen claims the $700 billion that "ObamaCare" takes out would hurt seniors. Kaine countered that money would be moved to programs that help seniors live healthier and prevent some medical procedures.
Source: WSLS-TV-10 on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Oct 18, 2012
George Allen:
I want to be the deciding vote to repeal ObamaCare
Their differences kicked in as they reacted to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the individual mandate at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care reform law. Allen watched news reports about the decision. "I'm disappointed that they had
to use all this judicial creativity to call the mandate a tax," Allen said of the majority justices. "Unlike Tim Kaine, who thinks this is a great achievement, I want to be the deciding vote to repeal it."
Kaine said in a statement that insurance premiums and the number of uninsured both rose dramatically during Allen's term in the
Senate. "Clearly, inaction was not a solution, and neither are continued calls for repeal. Instead, we must work together to strengthen this existing program and improve cost controls," Kaine said.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2012 Virginia Senate Debates
Jun 28, 2012
Tim Kaine:
Inaction was not a solution for healthcare
Their differences kicked in as they reacted to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the individual mandate at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care reform law. Allen watched news reports about the decision. "I'm disappointed that they had
to use all this judicial creativity to call the mandate a tax," Allen said of the majority justices. "Unlike Tim Kaine, who thinks this is a great achievement, I want to be the deciding vote to repeal it."
Kaine said in a statement that insurance premiums and the number of uninsured both rose dramatically during Allen's term in the
Senate. "Clearly, inaction was not a solution, and neither are continued calls for repeal. Instead, we must work together to strengthen this existing program and improve cost controls," Kaine said.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2012 Virginia Senate Debates
Jun 28, 2012
Jamie Radtke:
Repeal Obama's health care overhaul
All four candidates pledged to work to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But Radtke went further, blaming
Allen's "undisciplined campaign" in 2006 for handing control of the Senate to the Democrats, enabling passage of the health care law.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 12, 2012
Ken Cuccinelli:
Challenged & won on Constitutionality of ObamaCare's mandate
No one has fought President Barack Obama's health care reform law more effectively than Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. The Republican is spearheading the legal challenges against the bill, especially the "individual mandate" provision that
would require most Americans to buy health insurance. Cuccinelli won a major victory in Dec. 2010 when a federal judge found that provision of the law to be unconstitutional, and the case is expected to wind up before the US Supreme Court. Asked about
Obama's recent statement that he would support legislation that would allow states to opt out of the mandate if they can find another way to expand coverage without driving up health care costs, Cuccinelli said he doesn't expect much to come from the
president's comments. "They put four enormous conditions on what they call the opting out, and one of them that I would point to first is that it has to be deficit-neutral. You think he's going to let the states do that?" Cuccinelli asked. "I doubt it."
Source: PolitiFact.com on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Mar 7, 2011
Ken Cuccinelli:
ObamaCare has 6 years of costs vs. 10 years of tax revenue
Ken Cuccinelli said on March 1st, 2011 in an appearance on Fox News that the health care bill has "six years of costs against 10 years of tax revenue." The claim that the health care bill charges 10 years of taxes and for only six years of services is
widely used by Republicans.Two of the highest-profile elements of the bill start in 2014, roughly four years after the law took effect. The virtual marketplaces known as health care exchanges would start that year, enabling those who are uninsured to
buy insurance. In addition, that's the year for a major expansion in eligibility for Medicaid. And a 10-year phase out of the "doughnut hole"--the gap in Medicare drug coverage--began last year. The Republican argument that benefits don't kick in until
2014 is true if you're looking at those big provisions. But many smaller provisions have already taken effect. And many of the major tax changes will be delayed by a few years. We rate this claim Half True.
Source: PolitiFact.com on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Mar 7, 2011
Mark Warner:
Answer seniors’ questions with “Senior Navigator”
Virginia’s senior citizens face plenty of challenges in taking care of their health. Sometimes the toughest challenge is simply getting answers to basic questions, like: How will my medications interact? “Senior Navigator” will help senior citizens.
Senior Navigator is an interactive health-care information web site for seniors on the Internet. But it also creates a network of community-based volunteers who will help seniors navigate the health-care maze.
Source: MarkWarner2001.org, “Bringing Virginia Together”
Jan 8, 2001
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021