Andy Beshear on Health Care

	Andy Beshear on Health Care

Continue to expand access to quality health care for all

Tonight, let's commit to moving forward together on our people's mental and physical health. To do that, we need to fully fund Medicaid to make sure we're continuing to care for more than 1.5 million Kentuckians. Because we're seeing more opportunity for our people than at any time during my life. We need all of our people healthy enough to be a part of this future and the prosperity it will bring. So, let's continue to expand access to quality health care for all of our people. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature , Jan 3, 2024

We've provided more than $2 billion to Kentucky hospitals

The health care industry is one of our leading employers, and it created 1,550 new jobs just in 2022. During the height of the pandemic, our hospitals and our health care heroes proved just how important they are, and together we saved tens of thousands of lives. In recognition, we passed legislation that has provided more than $2 billion to Kentucky hospitals. This helped facilities across the state keep their doors open and helped lay the groundwork for some amazing new opportunities. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature , Jan 4, 2023

Expanded Medicaid to including dental, hearing, vision

We are also called to improve the health of our people. A person has to be healthy enough to work. That's why in October, I announced expanded Medicaid coverage that includes dental, hearing and vision. Again, it's simple: If we want you to go to work, you have to be able to see to drive to work. If you want to be safe on a job-site, you have to be able to hear the instructions. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature , Jan 4, 2023

COVID: reaching unvaccinated will have to become personal

GOV. BESHEAR: When it comes to misinformation, I really don't think this is a red or a blue issue. It is a fact versus fiction, or a sometimes sane versus insane issue. We are well past the populations that are going to listen to a government official and take the vaccine. People are going to have to break that Thanksgiving dinner rule. They're going to have to call or go see that person they love and care about that is unvaccinated, and they're going to have to put their relationship on the line.

GOV. LARRY HOGAN (R-MD): Right now in America, there are certainly people on both ends of the extremes, on the left and the right, who get all of the attention. The ones that are making the most noise. But about 70% of the people are somewhere in the middle. They're moderate. They really want their elected officials to try to figure out a way to do something about this toxic politics. And they want us to work together to come up with real bipartisan common sense solutions.

Source: Meet the Press 2021 interview of KY and MD Governors , Sep 5, 2021

COVID: Troubling that a public health crisis was politicized

We must move past any remaining denial or rationalizations. That a public health crisis has been politicized, even as thousands died, is troubling for both our state and our nation. Failure to take this virus seriously at this late date disrespects the memory of those we have lost, disrespects the pain of those who are grieving and disrespects the deep sacrifices so many have made in this war. It also threatens to create much more pain, more death and more disruption, all of which can be avoided. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature , Jan 7, 2021

Pass state law protecting people with preexisting conditions

I believe in a bigger brighter future. That requires that our Kentucky families don't have to worry about losing health care coverage because of a preexisting condition. I hear members of both parties say those very words. So this session, let's pass a state law ensuring no one can lose coverage in this state, ever again, based on a preexisting condition.

There are far too many Kentuckians who are rationing insulin or deciding between a prescription drug expense or healthy food, rent or school supplies. In fact, a member of this chamber has talked about having to ration insulin himself. Most bottles of insulin cost just $7 to produce & yet big pharma is charging our people upwards of $300 a vial. It is wrong. It is cruel. We must fight back. There are a number of bills in the legislature right now to curb the costs of insulin. Let's pass it.

Source: 2020 Kentucky State of the State address , Jan 14, 2020

Rescinded Medicaid waiver, stopped managed care contracts

I rescinded the Medicaid waiver that would have kicked more than a hundred thousand Kentuckians off of their health care. Access to health care is a basic human right and it will be protected during my administration. We can't expect to create the work force of the future if our people aren't healthy. My administration further stopped $8 billion in managed care contracts that were rushed through just days before I took office. Source: 2020 Kentucky State of the State address , Jan 14, 2020

Protections for pre-existing conditions; stop lifetime caps

[As Attorney General], all of the work we do is built on helping people. That's why I've defended health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions and fought to stop lifetime caps for people with conditions like diabetes or Crohn's disease. I also released a comprehensive health care plan that ensures every Kentuckian can access quality health care and drives down the cost of prescription drugs. Source: Louisville Courier-Journal on 2019 Kentucky governor's race , May 10, 2019

Protect ObamaCare: lives hang in the balance

Attorney General Beshear is taking legal action on behalf of 1.3 million Kentuckians who may lose health care after a federal judge determined ObamaCare to be unconstitutional last week. Beshear announced that he would join 15 other attorneys general across the country to oppose a Texas judge's ruling last week against the Affordable Care Act, the health care law passed by former President Barack Obama.

"With Kentuckians facing so many needs, we cannot allow a Texas court to strip coverage away from our Kentucky families," Beshear said in a statement. Beshear said "lives hang in the balance" and that he plans to file a legal challenge. "For so many families it is a matter of life and death," Beshear said. "If Kentuckians understand what is at stake, then they'll be supportive of us overturning this ruling."

Beshear listed the loss of mandatory coverage for pre-existing conditions, expanded Medicaid, and children being able to stay on a parent's insurance until age 26 among his top concerns.

Source: Louisville Courier-Journal on 2019 Kentucky governor race , Dec 17, 2018

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*Other governors on Health Care:*			*Andy Beshear on other issues:*
[Title7]	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. Matt Meyer (D) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. Bill Eigel (R) vs. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Tanner Smith (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); Dale Folwell (R) vs. Michael Morgan (D) vs. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Josh Stein (D) vs. Andy Wells (R) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Joyce Craig (D) vs. Chuck Morse (R) vs. Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) unopposed WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); Hilary Franz (D, withdrew) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. WA Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited); vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]