National Public Radio: on Health Care


Troy Carter: Medicare for All but can choose employer insurance

Both Carter and Peterson said they support the idea of "Medicare for All." But while Peterson fully embraced shifting to a government-run, single-payer plan, Carter said he'd like people to have the option of retaining employer-financed coverage.
Source: National Public Radio on 2020 LA-2 House race Apr 24, 2021

Pope Francis: Coronavirus vaccine morally ok even if from fetal research

Italy is set to deliver the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine [this week. As in other countries, health care workers and nursing home residents will be first to receive it. Seniors and others at high risk of exposure would be next.

The Vatican earlier this month said the use of coronavirus vaccines is "morally acceptable," even if some vaccines are manufactured using "cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process."

Francis, who turned 84 earlier this month, urged that everyone who needs a vaccine have access to it. "I cannot place myself ahead of others, letting the law of the marketplace and patents take precedence over the law of love and the health of humanity," Francis said. "I ask everyone-- government leaders, businesses, international organizations--to foster cooperation and not competition, and to seek a solution for everyone: vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet."

Source: National Public Radio on "Urbi et Orbi" Dec 25, 2020

Corky Messner: COVID: Supports wearing a mask, against mandatory mask order

You know, it's interesting about masks. In my reading about the H1N1 pandemic in 2010, I found part of a paper that was talking about masks, and it was the same debate that's going on now. And so, yes, I support wearing a mask. No, I don't support a mandatory mask order.
Source: National Public Radio on 2020 New Hampshire Senate race Jul 9, 2020

Corky Messner: We need tort reform, allow market forces to work

We need tort reform in health care. Frivolous lawsuits add a tremendous amount of money to our health care system, and that will help bring down the costs, if we have tort reform. I think the thing we ought to keep in place is allowing people, children to stay on their health insurance until the age of 26. I think that's a good thing. But it's very important to get the cost of health care down, that we allow more market forces to work here, including transparency.
Source: National Public Radio on 2020 New Hampshire Senate race Jul 9, 2020

Mary Fallin: Impose work requirements to receive Medicaid

Legislative Summary: HB2932: The measure directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services to eliminate Medicaid eligibility for non-pregnant able-bodied adults under the age of 65.

NPR analysis: For the first time in the program's history, states can require people to work a certain number of hours to be eligible for the government health program for low-income Americans. In December 2018, Oklahoma became the 11th state to ask the federal government to sign off on Medicaid work requirements.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 53-23-24 on May/2/18; Passed Senate 35-8-4 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: National Public Radio on Oklahoma HB2932 voting records May 7, 2018

Ervin Yen: Don't impose work requirements to receive Medicaid

Legislative Summary: HB2932: The measure directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services to eliminate Medicaid eligibility for non-pregnant able-bodied adults under the age of 65.

NPR analysis: For the first time in the program's history, states can require people to work a certain number of hours to be eligible for the government health program for low-income Americans. In December 2018, Oklahoma became the 11th state to ask the federal government to sign off on Medicaid work requirements.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 53-23-24 on May/2/18; Passed Senate 35-8-4 on May/3/18; State Sen. Ervin Yen voted NO; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: National Public Radio on Oklahoma HB2932 voting records May 3, 2018

Nathan Dahm: Impose work requirements to receive Medicaid

Legislative Summary:ÿHB2932: The measure directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services to eliminate Medicaid eligibility for non-pregnant able-bodied adults under the age of 65.

NPR analysis: ÿFor the first time in the program's history, states can require people to work a certain number of hours to be eligible for the government health program for low-income Americans. In December 2018, Oklahoma became the 11th state to ask the federal government to sign off on Medicaid work requirements.

Legislative Outcome:ÿ Passed House 53-23-24 on May/2/18; Passed Senate 35-8-4 on May/3/18; State Sen. Nathan Dahm voted YES; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: National Public Radio on Oklahoma HB2932 voting records May 3, 2018

Stephanie Bice: Impose work requirements to receive Medicaid

Legislative Summary: HB2932: The measure directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services to eliminate Medicaid eligibility for non-pregnant able-bodied adults under the age of 65.

NPR analysis: For the first time in the program's history, states can require people to work a certain number of hours to be eligible for the government health program for low-income Americans. In December 2018, Oklahoma became the 11th state to ask the federal government to sign off on Medicaid work requirements.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 53-23-24 on May/2/18; Passed Senate 35-8-4 on May/3/18; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: National Public Radio on Oklahoma HB2932 voting records May 3, 2018

Scott Inman: Don't impose work requirements to receive Medicaid

Legislative Summary: HB2932: The measure directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services to eliminate Medicaid eligibility for non-pregnant able-bodied adults under the age of 65.

NPR analysis: For the first time in the program's history, states can require people to work a certain number of hours to be eligible for the government health program for low-income Americans. In December 2018, Oklahoma became the 11th state to ask the federal government to sign off on Medicaid work requirements.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 53-23-24 on May/2/18; State Rep. Scott Inman voted NO; Passed Senate 35-8-4 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: National Public Radio on Oklahoma HB2932 voting records May 2, 2018

Ralph Nader: Cradle-to-grave health care better than Clinton’s plan

Q: What did you think of Clinton’s health care proposal?

A: It’s a jury-rigged health care proposal that makes the health care industry half happy and everyone else half happy. Why can’t the richest country have cradle-to-grave health care like Europe and Asia? We need universal health care which is accessible, affordable, with quality care, and relying on preventive health. We have waited long enough -- we don’t need a plan like Bush’s or itty-bitty steps like Gore’s.

Source: National Public Radio, “The Connection” Jul 11, 2000

John Hagelin: Cost-effective meditation bargain for taxpayer

Smoking cessation, prenatal care, stress management, diet & exercise, the National Institutes of Health in a major study published by the American Heart Association just declared that Transcendental Meditation, a stress reduction program, was the most effective and cost-effective treatment for high blood pressure. This program should be reimbursable under Medicare, because being cost-effective, it gives the taxpayers who support that program the most value for their dollar.
Source: National Public Radio report Oct 10, 1996

  • The above quotations are from National Public Radio political coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Health Care:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: May 03, 2022