Thomas Kean Jr. on Health Care Republican challenger

Ok for state to sue to prevent ObamaCare implementation

• Whereas, a number of states have undertaken legal action to [stop implementation of ObamaCare]
• Whereas, ObamaCare will make health care coverage more affordable for businesses and families, enable millions of the uninsured to gain coverage, and help to control the relentless rise in health care costs
• Whereas, from 2000 through 2009, the increase in the cost of family health care coverage premiums for New Jersey workers outpaced the increase in their median earnings by 4-to-1; however, under the new health reforms, New Jerseyans with moderate incomes will receive sliding-scale subsidies to help them purchase high-quality health care coverage
• Be It Resolved: The Governor is respectfully urged not to join any [anti-ObamaCare] lawsuit

Include prescription drug coverage in Medicare

A: Including prescription drug coverage (Part D) to Medicare has added an important new benefit. However, the addition of Part D has created confusion. My legislation (S1581) known as the “State Medicare Part D Assistance and Information Act” establishes a toll-free hotline to respond to problems, and designates a Medicare Part D ombudsman inside the Department of Health and Senior Services.

No additional taxes for medical coverage

KEAN: No. Unlike my opponent, I support Health Savings Accounts, Association Health Plans and medical malpractice reform to make healthcare affordable and accessible.

MENENDEZ: We must expand access to affordable healthcare for everyone. Unlike my opponent, I support limiting tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% to pay for it.

Address Medicaid by cost containment & reducing fraud

KEAN: Given the tremendous fiscal burden that Medicaid places on the federal government, clear guidelines and fiscal rules, combined with state flexibility, could allow all parties to work toward the equal challenge of containing ever-increasing Medicaid expenses. New Jersey must pursue non-traditional avenues of cost containment, including employing today’s technological advancements to streamline paperwork, rooting out waste and fraud and utilizing disease management programs to improve outcomes.

MENENDEZ: Tom Kean Jr. and his friends in the Bush administration have chosen to create bigger and bigger federal deficits by granting tax breaks to giant corporations and the super-rich, rather than address the vital health care needs of America’s families. No one should ever have to choose between filling their prescriptions and their refrigerator. Everyone deserves quality health care & access to vital medicine at an affordable price.

Medicare needs bipartisan independent reforms

MENENDEZ: I’m working hard to move our nation from a disease-based health care system to a prevention-based system. Ultimately, we save both lives and money if we focus on prevention & early diagnosis, as opposed to spending more to treat diseases once they’ve progressed. Last year, I wrote the Patient Navigator, Outreach & Chronic Disease Prevention Act. This bipartisan legislation guides patients through the healthcare maze, thus reducing costs and improving efficiency.

KEAN: How is it that a tenured Congressman can speak so little about how he’s worked to build bipartisan coalitions? Bob Menendez has voted at least twice against providing a prescription drug benefit for Medicare, voted at least 3 times to cut $115 billion from the Medicare program and voted against creating tax-free Medical Savings Accounts for our seniors, families & working professionals. This is exactly why we need an independent reformer in Congress

Supports individual Health Savings Accounts