health

Page history last edited by myclob 2 yrs ago

Governor Mitt Romney and "Health"

"The health of our nation can be improved by extending health insurance to all Americans, not through a government program or new taxes, but through market reforms."
- Governor Mitt Romney

Beliefs about Governor Mitt Romney and “Health”

Governor Mitt Romney is in excellent health, unlike John McCain

Governor Mitt Romney runs a couple of miles every day.
John McCain would be the oldest president ever. He is 70 now. He would be 74 at the end of his first term. We want a presidential candidate who can keep Democrats out of the white house for two terms.

Governor Mitt Romney's health care policy is good.

Institutions that agree	Institutions that disagree]
Heritage Foundation	Cato Institute

Health Related Links

Health Care Policy

Quotes From Governor Mitt Romney on Health Care

"In this era of fiscal belt-tightening, we need to ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead the nation on public health issues - from AIDS prevention to bioterrorism preparedness. I am confident that Christy is the right person to help lead this effort."
- Governor Mitt Romney, 01-16-2003 Press Release

“Seniors in Massachusetts and across the nation are facing skyrocketing prescription drug costs. I have instructed my health care team to develop a discount program to ease the burden on all of our senior citizens.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 02-21-2003 Press Release

“Massachusetts is one of the most generous states in the nation. But we will only be as generous as we can afford to be. Prescription Advantage now costs roughly $100 million a year to administer and our budget is strained to the breaking point. If Washington doesn’t pass the waiver we are requesting, fiscal reality will require us to end the program.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 02-21-2003 Press Release

“Under Operation Liberty Shield, we continue to implement increased protective measures,” said Romney. “As this process unfolds, I want to reassure the people of Massachusetts that their protection and the safety of their families is our highest priority.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 03-19-2003 Press Release

“While we all appreciate the dedication of our public work force, we can no longer expect the taxpayers to pay for health care benefits for state employees that are more generous than what they receive in the private sector,” said Romney.
- Governor Mitt Romney, 04-14-2003 Press Release

“With winter coming, flu season is fast approaching,” said Romney. “We want to make sure that everyone in Massachusetts who wants a flu shot can get one. The creation of this vaccine trust fund will allow us to do that by partnering with private sector health care providers in order to ensure a steady flu vaccine supply.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 09-29-2003 Press Release

“The first crucial task for the legal and medical professionals on this commission is to recommend top-notch candidates for the state’s Chief Medical Examiner,” Romney said. ** Governor Mitt Romney, 01-12-2004 Press Release

“The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has been chronically underfunded for more than a decade,” said Romney. “This additional funding in my budget will allow the office to purchase new lab equipment and make other sorely need upgrades to bring the office into the 21st century.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 01-12-2004 Press Release

“Today, we can all breathe a little easier,” said Romney, who was joined at the historic State House bill signing by Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, members of the Legislature, advocates and children. “Everyone has the right to breathe clean air and be free of secondhand smoke, especially our kids.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 06-18-2004 Press Release

“We have a crisis with America’s health,” said Romney. “The best way to address it is by promoting healthy lifestyles that will keep people living longer and more productive lives.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 11-15-2004 Press Release

“Massachusetts medical institutions are second to none in delivering world-class care to our citizens,” said Romney, who spoke at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Ether Dome, the site of the first successful use of ether anesthesia more than 150 years ago. He added, “By applying new and innovative technology to patient care, and helping caregivers to adopt it, we will make health care more affordable and offer even higher levels of quality care to our citizens.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 12-06-2004 Press Release

“With the small percentage of uninsured in Massachusetts, we are in a unique position to give all of our citizens quality health insurance,” said Romney. “This will not be a government-mandated universal coverage program or a plan that requires new taxes. It will be a market-based reform focused on the creation of affordable insurance plans.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 04-06-2005 Press Release

“Because of the high cost of health insurance, some people choose to go without or end up paying more than they can afford,” said Romney. “My proposal will make it easier for small businesses and individuals like Richard Rothstein to purchase affordable and quality health insurance.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 04-07-2005 Press Release

“Making this information accessible is an innovative step, and we urge consumers to use the data, talk with their healthcare providers, and seek out additional resources to help them make the right decisions for themselves and their families,” said Romney.
- Governor Mitt Romney, 10-18-2005- Press Release

“Of all the many hazards we face, a pandemic has the unique potential to disrupt our lives, our health care system and our economy,” Romney said. “We have to make sure Massachusetts is coordinated and equipped to effectively monitor outbreaks, slow the spread of disease, provide care to those who become sick and continue to provide critical government services.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 02-07-2006 Press Release

“An achievement like this comes around once in a generation, and it proves that government can work when people of both parties reach across the aisle for the common good,” said Romney. “Today, Massachusetts is leading the way with health insurance for everyone, without a government takeover and without raising taxes.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 04-12-2006 Press Release

“Our ability to now insure every Massachusetts citizen is a historic achievement for both the Commonwealth and the nation,” said Romney. “A critical component of our plan is that all residents will have the opportunity to purchase affordable health insurance.”
- Governor Mitt Romney, 07-26-2006 Press Release

Press Release from the Governor Mitt Romney Administration regarding Healthcare

2003

01-16-2003, ROMNEY APPOINTS NEW PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER

02-21-2003, ROMNEY FIGHTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE FOR SENIORS

03-19-2003, ILLNESS OUTBREAK DETECTION SYSTEM IS NATIONAL MODEL

04-14-2003, ROMNEY CALLS FOR REFORMING STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE

09-29-2003, ROMNEY ANNOUNCES SHOT IN THE ARM FOR FLU VACCINE PROGRAM

2004

01-12-2004, ROMNEY PROPOSES INCREASED FUNDING FOR MEDICAL EXAMINER

06-18-2004, ROMNEY MAKES SMOKING HISTORY IN BAY STATE

11-15-2004, ROMNEY APPOINTS PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS COMMITTEE

12-06-2004, ROMNEY, HEALTHCARE LEADERS TOUT MEDICAL INNOVATIONS

2005

04-06-2005, ROMNEY LAUNCHES HEALTHCARE REFORM IN MASSACHUSETTS

04-07-2005, ROMNEY TAKES HEALTHCARE REFORM ON THE ROAD

10-18-2005-, ROMNEY LAUNCHES NEW HEALTHCARE TOOL FOR CONSUMERS

2006

02-07-2006, ROMNEY PROPOSES $36.5M IN FUNDING FOR PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS

04-12-2006, ROMNEY SIGNS LANDMARK HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM BILL

05-25-2006, RENOWNED HEALTHCARE STRATEGIST NAMED TO HEAD CONNECTOR

07-26-2006, GOVERNOR ROMNEY ANNOUNCES FEDERAL APPROVAL FOR COMMONWEALTHS HEALTHCARE REFORM PLAN

Health Care from The Wikipedia Article about Governor Mitt Romney

On April 12, 2006, Governor Romney signed legislation to provide health insurance to virtually all citizens of Massachusetts without raising taxes.13 Working with conservative groups such as the Heritage Foundation and Democrats in the state legislature, Romney developed a plan that stresses personal responsibility in paying for coverage and provides funding for low-income residents. Starting in July 2007, health insurance will be mandatory for all state residents, provided a plan is available to the individual that is deemed affordable according to state standards. Lower income individuals will be eligible for subsidies to purchase health insurance.

As of March, 2006 there were approximately 500,000 uninsured citizens in Massachusetts. Those who are uninsured commonly use emergency rooms as a source of primary care because of their lack of health insurance coverage.14 Massachusetts hospitals are required to provide care even if a patient cannot pay for it. As a result, hospitals have been left with unpaid bills and mounting expenses to care for the uninsured. "People who don't have insurance nonetheless receive health care," said Romney. "And it's expensive."15

In Massachusetts, a roughly $800 million fund known as the "uncompensated care pool" is used to partially reimburse hospitals for these expenses. The fund's revenue comes from an annual assessment on employers, insurance providers and hospitals, plus contributions of state and federal tax dollars. Governor Romney's plan redirects money from this fund to subsidize health care costs for low-income residents of Massachusetts. The Romney Administration consulted with MIT professor Jonathan Gruber to study the state's population and health care needs. They determined that there was enough money in the "free care pool" to implement the Governor's plans without additional funding or taxes.16 A separate study by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts found that universal coverage would require substantial additional state spending. 17

The legislature amended Romney's plan somewhat, adding a Medicaid expansion for children and imposing an assessment on firms with 11 or more workers who do not offer health coverage. The assessment is intended to equalize the contributions to the free care pool from employers that offer and do not offer coverage. The legislature also rejected Romney's provision allowing high-deductible health plans.

The new Massachusetts health care legislation establishes a system to provide citizens with private, affordable, market based insurance. The state will work to enroll all residents eligible for Medicaid and subsidize private insurance policies for low income individuals18. A sliding scale based on income is used to determine the amount of money a person contributes to their policy. The higher the income, the higher the premium. Individuals who can afford health coverage but chose not to purchase a policy will now be required by law to acquire insurance. Failure to purchase health insurance if an affordable policy is available would result in tax penalties.19

The legislation also establishes a device developed by the Heritage Foundation known as the "Connector." The Connector allows Massachusetts citizens to "purchase health insurance with pretax dollars, even if their employer makes no contribution. The connector enables pretax payments, simplifies payroll deduction, permits prorated employer contributions for part-time employees, reduces insurer marketing costs, and makes it efficient for policies to be entirely portable. Because small businesses may use the connector, it gives them even greater bargaining power than large companies."20

Romney vetoed 8 sections of the health care legislation, including a $295 dollar per person fee on businesses with 11 employees or more that do not provide health insurance.21 22 Romney also vetoed provisions providing dental and eyeglass benefits to poor residents on the Medicaid program, and providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid.23 24 The legislature overrode all of the vetoes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapter_58