Ted Strickland on Health Care

	Ted Strickland on Health Care Democratic Governor; previously Representative (OH-6)

Improve ObamaCare: repeal Cadillac Tax; negotiate Rx drugs

Q: Should the federal government ensure that every American has health coverage?

Ted Strickland: Over the last six years, hundreds of thousands of Ohioans have taken advantage of healthcare offered as a result of the Affordable Care Act. But there is still significantly more work to do and there are still serious problems within our system that need to be fixed. For instance, Americans are paying roughly double what citizens in other countries are paying for the same medicine. We should always be open to improving on the ACA. We should repeal the Cadillac Tax so that workers aren't penalized for having high quality plans and make it easier for small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees. Medicare Part D should be allowed to negotiate for better drug prices, just like the Department of Veterans Affairs does. And hospitals that are charging too much need to rein in overhead costs and pass the savings along to patients.

Source: Vote411.org League of Women Voters on 2016 Ohio Senate Race , Sep 19, 2016

Access to Health Care for Every Ohio Child

The state government's budget provides Medicaid insurance coverage for Ohio children whose parents make up to 300 percent of the federal poverty line, and the opportunity for parents above the limit to buy into coverage. We will provide access to affordable health coverage for every single child in Ohio. The budget also provides for an expansion of Medicaid eligibility for low-income parents and pregnant women, and an expansion of the PASSPORT program. Source: 2007 State of the State Address , Mar 14, 2007

Rated 89% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.

Strickland scores 89% by APHA on health issues

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. APHA is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.

The following ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization`s preferred position.

Source: APHA website 03n-APHA on Dec 31, 2003

3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health.

Strickland signed Letter from 24 Governors to leaders in Congress

NIH, as well as the indirect job benefits of laboratories needing space, supplies, services, and equipment. We are also deeply aware that NIH-funded discoveries are the basis of new companies and even new industries in our communities.

NIH research is an instrumental part of the success of the US life sciences industry and its 6 million high-wage US jobs. Moreover, follow-on life science research advances are now stimulating new jobs and new solutions in green energy, agriculture, the environment and industrial manufacturing. NIH funding enables the scientific talent and discoveries that are at the heart of this vast array of economic activity.

As you develop the Congressional Budget Resolution, we urge you to enable the 3.2% funding increase for NIH contained in the President`s budget request. We thank you for your past support for biomedical research and ask you to craft a budget resolution that accommodates the President`s $32.2 billion FY 2011 NIH budget request.

The greatest contribution NIH makes is to the health and well-being of Americans. Past federal investments in medical research, combined with those from the private sector, have led to improved health, better quality of life, and improved productivity of millions of patients and their families.

But NIH is also an important national, regional, and local economic engine. Together, our states received more than $19 billion from the NIH last year for promising research efforts. NIH funding directly supports 350,000 jobs across the US. In our states, we see firsthand the world class research institutions and scientific teams enabled by

Source: Letter from 24 Governors to leaders in Congress 100413-Gov on Apr 13, 2010

Adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year.

Strickland signed a letter from 22 Governors to Congressional leaders:

In a letter to congressional leadership, 22 governors are urging federal lawmakers to adopt national health reform legislation before the end of the year to provide families and businesses with much-needed security and stability.

`We commend you and your colleagues for provisions included in your bills that will help states,` the governors wrote. `Many of the provisions will allow states to achieve long term savings and help cover those who currently go without health coverage. We recognize that health reform is a shared responsibility and everyone, including state governments, needs to partner to reform our broken health care system.`

`Efforts at the federal level, like the recent and critical investments that support states` HIV and prevention initiatives, are beginning the work to lower health care costs. Our citizens and our states, however, will only achieve the health care security and stability they need if we succeed in working together to achieve health care reform.`

Source: Letter from CO Gov. Bill Ritter and 21 other Governors 10-GOV1 on Oct 1, 2009