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Stephen Pagliuca on Health Care
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Close the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" coverage gap
Q: What policies would you support to make health care more affordable--particularly for the 50-64 age population? - SUPPORTS Affordable coverage for individuals age 50-64.
- SUPPORTS Guarantee that Medicare benefits will be protected in any healt
care reform legislation.
- SUPPORTS Closing the Part D coverage gap.
A: A growing number of adults age 50-64 are without coverage. Without coverage, these people finally enter Medicare coverage in poorer health than those who were insured. The healt
care reform bill that finally emerges from Congress should recognize the unique set of problems facing this age group, especially for those without coverage through their employers, or who cannot afford private coverage. The Baucus bill also goes at leas
part way in reducing the costs of the so-called doughnut hole for prescription drugs; however, I will fight to eliminate this gap in coverage completely. I am opposed to any reductions in the coverage Medicare now provides.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Expand home and community-based long term care services
Q: How would you shift long-term care services and financing so that people can afford to stay in their homes and communities as long as appropriate?- SUPPORT Increasing consumer choice and control for people needing longterm care.
- SUPPORT
Improving standards and incentives for quality care.
- SUPPORT Providing family caregiving initiatives, such as respite care.
A: I support AARP's goal of expanding the use of home and community-based long term care services
(HCBS), which has the twin benefits of expanding consumer choice while lowering long-term growth in costs. At a time of tight budgets and the continuing growth of the over 65 population, we should embrace the expansion of HCBS.
In Massachusetts, only 24% of Medicaid funding for long-term care goes to HCBS programs.
Source: 2009 AARP Voter Guide: MA Senate
Dec 1, 2009
Healthcare reform is more important than covering aborti
Martha Coakley declared that she would have voted against the healthcare bill because of the Stupak amendment, which restricts the sale of insurance policies covering abortion through the proposed national health insurance exchange.
Capuano was one of 219 House Democrats who voted for the bill.Steve Pagliuca, have both said they'll support the bill even though they disagree with the Stupak amendment. Khazei features his statement in the Stupak amendment pro
page of his campaign website, while Pagliuca has run radio ads nailing both Coakley and Capuano for their stance on a health care bill that could ultimately help millions of Americans. "Two of my opponents for the U.S. Senate are pu
legislation at risk," Pagliuca says in the one-minute ad. "The next senator from Massachusetts represents a vital 60th vote to provide health care to over 30 million Americans who don't have it and to help lower spiraling health ca
Source: Politico.com, "Stupak amendment"
Nov 9, 2009
Every citizen should have access to quality health insurance
I believe every American should have access to quality health insurance, and I strongly support efforts to make health insurance affordable, expand access to all citizens, and control run-away costs. Massachusetts is leading the way on this issue
although we still have much work to do, particularly in bringing costs under control. In Washington, much debate has been focused on the so-called "public option." I support a public option as a piece of the bigger challenge of health care reform.
Source: Campaign website, www.stephenpagliuca.com, "Issues"
Oct 1, 2009
Computerized records for healthcare payment system
A health care reform plan that does not drastically reduce costs is not true reform. To meet this goal our system needs to become more efficient in delivering healthcare and bringing our healthcare payment system into the
21st century with computerized records. Fixing our broken health care system is the right thing to do and we must address it now.
Source: Campaign website, www.stephenpagliuca.com, "Issues"
Oct 1, 2009
Page last updated: Jan 28, 2010