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Bob Holden on Health Care
Former Democratic MO Governor
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Use tobacco settlement to pay for senior prescriptions
I want to see that our state’s portion of the national tobacco settlement is used for vital health care needs, [including] helping our senior citizens cope with skyrocketing prescription costs. As you know, Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs, and
many of our seniors certainly cannot afford to buy separate insurance. Prescription drug relief for seniors is one of my highest priorities this year. Under my plan, no eligible senior will pay more than $1,500 a person or $3,000 a family for their
prescription drugs in any one year. In addition, those seniors and those disabled Missourians on Medicare or Supplemental Security Income who do not already have insurance coverage for prescriptions will be able to buy their medicines at reduced rates-up
to 20% less than they are currently paying. Because of these actions, we will be able to phase out our present prescription drug tax credit, which has failed to help those seniors who most need our assistance because of catastrophic health care costs.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
, Jan 30, 2001
Healthy Families Initiative: health care access for all
My Healthy Families Initiative tackles our problem of providing health care access to all Missourians. Over 90% of our counties are designated as shortage areas for health care professionals. At the same time, many of our medical facilities that treat
uninsured Missourians are facing budget cuts that may force them to reduce medical services to the poor. I want to see us maintain a health care system that provides continued health care access for low-income adults, guarantees hospital care for the
uninsured, increases medical education payments to teaching hospitals, and establishes grants for rural and hospital-based clinics.We need recruitment incentives so primary care doctors and dentists will take their practices into the underserved areas
of our state. We will also establish a telehealth center at the U. Missouri School of Medicine so patients and providers can interact with health care professionals miles away and medical training is available to doctors in isolated areas of the state.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
, Jan 30, 2001
No federal pre-emption of employee health plan regulation.
Holden adopted the National Governors Association position paper:
The Issue
In 1999, 42.6 million Americans did not have health insurance. All states have been fervently working to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, to make health insurance more affordable and secure, and to provide quality health care at a reasonable cost to the uninsured. However, the federal government has also expressed an interest in this issue. Any action taken at the federal level could have serious implications for traditional state authority to regulate the health insurance industry and protect consumers. NGA’s Position
Although the Governors are extremely sensitive to the concerns of large multi-state employers, the fact remains that the complete federal preemption of state laws relating to employee health plans in the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is the greatest single barrier to many state reform and patient protection initiatives.
The Governors support efforts designed to enable small employers to join together to participate more effectively in the health insurance market. In fact, Governors have taken the lead in facilitating the development of such partnerships and alliances. However, these partnerships must be carefully structured and regulated by state agencies in order to protect consumers and small businesses from fraud and abuse and underinsurance. NGA opposes attempts to expand federal authority under ERISA. The Governors have identified the prevention of such federal legislation in the 107th Congress as a top legislative priority.
States have the primary responsibility for health insurance regulation. Across the nation, Governors are working to protect consumers and patients and to properly regulate the complicated health insurance industry.
Source: National Governors Association "Issues / Positions" 01-NGA13 on Oct 5, 2001
Page last updated: Nov 21, 2011