Gretchen Whitmer on Health Care

	Gretchen Whitmer on Health Care

Expand coverage for insulin; and coverage for mental health

For years, drug companies have been jacking up insulin prices. The average price tripled from 2009 to 2019. They reap billions on life-saving medicine because without serious competition, they name their own price. That is unconscionable. We all agree that insulin costs too much, and I know we can work together to hold drug companies accountable, lower costs, and save lives. Let's get that done too.

We will expand Michigan's Loan Repayment Program for mental health professionals and make a historic investment to retain and recruit hundreds more mental health workers. I will propose another bold investment in mental health in next year's school aid budget too, building on work we did last year to help schools hire more than 560 nurses, counselors, and social workers. Together, we can grow our mental health workforce and expand access to mental health services.

Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature , Jan 26, 2022

Be nimble, follow the science, be smart on reopening

We've got to be really smart about taking a step forward, measuring, understanding what it's meant, before we take another step forward, or sometimes might have to take a step backward.

We've got to be nimble, and we have to follow the science and

Source: NBC Meet the Press interview for 2020 Veepstakes , Apr 26, 2020

Fund Planned Parenthood, improve rural access to care

Restoring funding to Planned Parenthood so that women and men in low income and rural areas have access to preventative care like screenings and checkups, contraception, and maternity care.

Access to care in rural Michigan by enlisting technology, bringing people together, and harnessing the incredible talent of our state to find solutions to the challenges faced by rural hospitals and care providers.

Source: 2022 Michigan Gubernatorial website GretchenWhitmer.com , Mar 24, 2020

Dems plan to expand health care, GOP wants to take it away

Every Democrat running for president has a plan to expand health care for all Americans. Every one of them has supported the Affordable Care Act with coverage for people with preexisting conditions. They may have different plans, but the goal is the same. President Trump sadly has a different plan. He's asking the courts to rip those life-saving protections away. It's pretty simple. Democrats are trying to make your health care better, Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away. Source: CNN on Democratic response to 2020 State of the Union , Feb 4, 2020

No work requirements for Medicaid; expand it instead

Q: Support or Repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Accept Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants? Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Bill Schuette (R): Repeal ACA. Replace with private insurance. Calls work requirements "the welfare reform of the 21st century."

Gretchen Whitmer (D): Supports ACA. Held "Save Healthcare" rallies and led state Senate negotiations for Medicaid expansion. Opposes work requirements, which remove coverage "when we should be expanding."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Michigan Governor race , Oct 9, 2018

Support Medicaid expansion

I led negotiations to expand access to healthcare to more than 630,000 Michiganders through the state's Medicaid expansion. We must keep fighting to address the cost of health care and lower the cost of prescription drugs until everyone has access to an affordable health plan and can afford their treatment. Source: 2018 Michigan Gubernatorial website GretchenWhitmer.com , Nov 1, 2017

Require insurers to treat autism like other conditions

Legislative Summary:Insurers and HMOs shall provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Insurers and HMOs shall not do any of the following:

terminate coverage or refuse to deliver coverage solely because an individual is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
limit the number of visits an insured person may use for treatment of autism spectrum disorders
deny or limit coverage on the basis that treatment is educational or habilitative in nature.
subject coverage under this section to dollar limits, copays, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that do not apply to physical illness.

Legislative Outcome:Sen. Whitmer voted YEA; passed Senate 29-9-0, March 13; passed House 91-19-0, March 29; became law without governor's signature, April 19.

Source: Michigan Legislative voting records on SB415 , Apr 13, 2012

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