State of West Virginia Archives: on Health Care


Alex Mooney: Replace ObamaCare with free-market reforms

ObamaCare has to go. Already, ObamaCare has resulted in new taxes and fees, massive regulation, and an increase in the cost of health care. I am fully committed to repealing ObamaCare and will do whatever it takes to see that goal through.

I support replacing ObamaCare with commonsense, free-market health care reforms that will keep health care affordable, increases access to good health care in rural communities, and keeps government out of our most personal health care decisions.

Some of these reforms include allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines, expanding health savings accounts, passing commonsense tort reform, and removing the discrimination in our tax code that prohibits individuals from buying health insurance with pre-tax dollars.

Finally, doctors struggle to treat patients when government gets in the way. Let's repeal ObamaCare so doctors can do what they need to do to treat patients and save lives.

Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, MooneyForCongress.com Nov 4, 2014

Bill Cole: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Sen. Cole voted YES on a bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified and re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Earl Ray Tomblin: WV Connect: access for 10,000 working uninsured & spouses

Regardless of the debate over the federal health care bill, we need to continue to improve our health care system. One focal point of my administration will be to find ways to foster the creation of health insurance for our working uninsured.

WV Connect provides access to health care for 10,000 working, uninsured West Virginians and their spouses. This pilot program will reduce emergency room visits and avoidable hospitalizations, resulting in a healthier workforce.

Source: 2011 W.V. State of the State Address Jan 12, 2011

Earl Ray Tomblin: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Gov. Tomblin vetoed and signed a modified bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Evan Jenkins: ObamaCare is a boondoggle; repeal and replace

Evan knows that ObamaCare will cost trillions, raise premiums and kill jobs. As the disastrous implementation of Obama's health law has proved, this is a classic boondoggle that will greatly damage our health care system. Evan will lead efforts to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common sense health care reforms that will improve access to quality health care and preserve your doctor-patient relationship.
Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, EvanJenkins.com Nov 4, 2014

Jeff Kessler: ObamaCare gets thousands of the poor onto Medicaid

Kessler embraces the Affordable Care Act, saying that putting thousands of poor West Virginians on Medicaid is a positive. Kessler also spent considerable time during the recent legislative session speaking on behalf of labor, and that included organizing a rally of hundreds of union members at the Capitol.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial race Jun 23, 2015

Jeff Kessler: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Sen. Kessler voted YES on a bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Jim Justice: Mandates divide us, for crying out loud we're Americans

Q: As governor you mandate measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, other vaccines. Why won't you put COVID on that list?

JUSTICE: I truly believe that the mandates only divide us and only divide us more. From the standpoint of mandates, I don't believe in imposing upon our freedoms over and over and over. I truly believe that the more people that we get vaccinated, the less people will die. But at the same time, we've still got to stand up for who we are. For crying out loud, we're Americans.

Source: CBS Face the Nation 2021 interview of W.V. Governor Oct 3, 2021

Joe Manchin III: Opposes requiring individuals or businesses to buy insurance

Raese declared the health care law "unadulterated socialism" and "the worst bill to ever come out of the United States Senate and House." He referred to the "myth that is global warming." (Manchin was not asked about global warming).

Manchin said he liked certain parts of the health care legislation, such as its requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, but he opposed the law requiring individuals to buy insurance and most businesses to cover their employees.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

Joe Manchin III: Prohibit denying coverage for pre-existing conditions

They also diverged on federal health care reform, which Raese called "pure, unadulterated socialism; the worst bill that has ever come out of the United States Senate and House." Raese said he would repeal the legislation entirely, complaining that it supplants what should be doctor-patient relationships with patient-bureaucrat relationships.

Manchin acknowledged problems with the legislation but said there are elements worth keeping, including provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. "There's a lot of good in the bill that Democrats and Republicans can agree on," Manchin said.

Medicare, Social Security and the Children's Health Insurance Program cover the needs of many Americans, Manchin said but there are others who are denied."A working person today is the one most vulnerable in our society," Manchin said. "If you're getting up every day and going to work, you're probably the most vulnerable part of our society. That has to change."

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

Joe Manchin III: I'm behind reform; but a lot of ObamaCare needs repeal

The Raese campaign makes at least three claims trying to tie Manchin to Obama: He's in favor of the recently passed health care reform, he was for the government stimulus package, and he supports cap and trade legislation.

On health care, Raese has repeatedly aired a clip of Manchin saying, "I am totally behind health care reform." What Raese tries to imply, but what Manchin doesn't say, is that he's totally behind Obama's particular version of health care reform.

People of all political persuasions agree that health care reform is needed; what is contentious is what shape those reforms should take. That Manchin said he's behind health care reform does not mean he supports Obama's version of reform. What Manchin has said is that there are problems with the enacted health care legislation and that "it needs to have a lot of it repealed, (and) if you can't fix that, repeal the whole thing."

Source: Daily Athenaeum coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

Joe Manchin III: ObamaCare makes healthcare more affordable for everyone

Manchin said the goal of ObamaCare is to make healthcare more affordable for everyone which would result in a healthier population and lower healthcare costs.

But Raese deems ObamaCare as part of the problem.

Source: West Virginia MetroNews on 2012 W.V. Senate debate Oct 3, 2012

Joe Manchin III: Reform & repair ObamaCare, not repeal

On health care, Manchin and Raese clashed over the Affordable Health Care Act. Manchin says a complete upheaval of the law would be the wrong idea. "I have been for reforming, repairing, and not repealing. Pre-existing conditions is wrong," Manchin said. "You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, sometimes you just have to change the water every now and then."

Raese disagrees with that. In 2010, Raese fully supported a full repeal of the bill. And he still does. "This country, right now, I call it a coalition of taking. They are taking our money, they are taking our power, and they are taking our freedom, and they are giving it government to control. That's unacceptable," Raese said.

Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting on 2012 W.V. Senate debate Oct 3, 2012

John Buckley: Repeal ObamaCare

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?

A: Oppose. I favor the complete repeal of ObamaCare and the expansion of health care choice in the private sector.

Source: Email interview on 2014 W.V. Senate race with OnTheIssues Sep 5, 2014

John Raese: ObamaCare is worst bill to ever come out of Congress

Raese declared the health care law "unadulterated socialism" and "the worst bill to ever come out of the United States Senate and House." He referred to the "myth that is global warming." (Manchin was not asked about global warming).

Manchin said he liked certain parts of the health care legislation, such as its requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, but he opposed the law requiring individuals to buy insurance and most businesses to cover their employees.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

John Raese: ObamaCare is pure, unadulterated socialism

They also diverged on federal health care reform, which Raese called "pure, unadulterated socialism; the worst bill that has ever come out of the United States Senate and House." Raese said he would repeal the legislation entirely, complaining that it supplants what should be doctor-patient relationships with patient-bureaucrat relationships.

Manchin acknowledged problems with the legislation but said there are elements worth keeping, including provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. "There's a lot of good in the bill that Democrats and Republicans can agree on," Manchin said.

Medicare, Social Security and the Children's Health Insurance Program cover the needs of many Americans, Manchin said but there are others who are denied."A working person today is the one most vulnerable in our society," Manchin said. "If you're getting up every day and going to work, you're probably the most vulnerable part of our society. That has to change."

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

John Raese: ObamaCare is the problem, not the solution

Manchin said the goal of ObamaCare is to make healthcare more affordable for everyone which would result in a healthier population and lower healthcare costs.

But Raese deems ObamaCare as part of the problem.

Source: West Virginia MetroNews on 2012 W.V. Senate debate Oct 3, 2012

Michael Folk: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Rep. Folk voted YES on a bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Patrick Morrisey: Repeal ObamaCare; oppose individual mandate

Patrick Morrisey supports repealing ObamaCare. He strongly opposes the individual mandate that will apply a civil penalty on citizens (for the first time ever) if they do not enter into commerce, purchase health insurance, and sign a contract with a private party. That is the opposite of freedom and establishes a dangerous precedent for our country. If the government gains the ability to force an individual to enter into a private contract, it will arguably be able to penalize individuals when they don't eat broccoli or go to the gym.

As a lawyer in private practice, Patrick Morrisey assisted the 26-states in their lawsuit to overturn the individual mandate and helped the U.S. House of Representatives in their efforts to replace the law. As Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey will join the multi-state lawsuit against the law and ensure that our state's interests are protected.

Source: W.V. State Attorney General website PatrickMorrisey.com Nov 1, 2012

Ron Stollings: Coronavirus: $2m to prepare a plan now

Stollings, a doctor who is also running for governor, is looking for $2 million to help West Virginia's preparation for a possible coronavirus outbreak. "Where it comes from is not important," said Stollings. "It's just that we get some money, even if it's the rainy day fund." "I think it's really important for us to allocate this $2 million so we can get ahead of this coronavirus," he said. "We need to do something now. We need a plan now."

Two million dollars is a conservative amount, Stollings said in an interview prior to the Senate floor session. "We absolutely need to be thinking and planning for this coronavirus," he said. "It's a virus that's going to get out into the public. We can't stop it. There's no treatment for it. There's no vaccination for it. So mostly what we have to do is have a statewide plan and excellent communication system between all the health departments."

Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race Feb 28, 2020

Ron Stollings: Re-examine Medicaid reimbursement rates to medical providers

The state Senate quickly considered and passed Gov. Jim Justice's proposal to take $150 million out of current Medicaid funds to create a trust fund. Stollings asked whether the bill does anything to increase the reimbursement rates to medical providers for government insurance. The bill does not. Stollings, a doctor who is running for governor, has said those reimbursement rates need re-examination as hospitals all over the state struggle financially.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race Feb 25, 2020

Stephen Noble Smith: Create public option for individuals & local small business

Cap Drug Prices on Life-Saving Prescriptions by establishing a state-based Pharmacy Benefit Manager or PBM. Expanding Medicaid to include dental coverage. Reinstate and aggressively pursue "rate review," restoring the state's power to curb price-gouging among providers. Create a public option for locally owned small-businesses and individuals.
Source: 2020 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website WVCantWait.com.com Jan 24, 2020

JB McCuskey: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

JB McCuskey voted YES on a bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative Outcome:Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislature voting records: for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Tom Willis: Would allow over-the-counter sale of ivermectin

In committee, a conceptual amendment from Sen. Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, would have made it so the ivermectin would only be available "behind the counter," but still without a prescription. That way, he said, the pharmacist could "have conversation with the patient" and look for "possible conflicts" that could arise from other prescribed medications.
Source: W.V. Watch, "ivermectin", on 2026 West Virginia Senate race Mar 11, 2025

  • The above quotations are from State of West Virginia Politicians: Archives.
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2024 Presidential contenders on Health Care:
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V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
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N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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