State of West Virginia Archives: on Health Care

Ron Stollings: Coronavirus: $2m to prepare a plan now

Two million dollars is a conservative amount, Stollings said in an interview prior to the Senate floor session. "We absolutely need to be thinking and planning for this coronavirus," he said. "It's a virus that's going to get out into the public. We can't stop it. There's no treatment for it. There's no vaccination for it. So mostly what we have to do is have a statewide plan and excellent communication system between all the health departments."

Ron Stollings: Re-examine Medicaid reimbursement rates to medical providers

Stephen Noble Smith: Create public option for individuals & local small business

Jeff Kessler: ObamaCare gets thousands of the poor onto Medicaid

Bill Cole: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Earl Ray Tomblin: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Gov. Tomblin vetoed and signed a modified bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Jeff Kessler: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Sen. Kessler voted YES on a bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Michael Folk: Limit class-action medical malpractice awards to $500,000

Rep. Folk voted YES on a bill to limit Medical Malpractice awards to $500,000 even in the case of multiple plaintiffs:

Legiscan summary of West Virginia legislation S.B.6:

The purpose of this bill is to control the increase in the cost of liability insurance and to maintain access to affordable health care services for West Virginians. It provides a mechanism to increase the limitation on civil damages in medical malpractice cases to account for inflation by linking increases to the Consumer Price Index. It also requires appellate courts to review certain decisions made by circuit court judges; adds provisions limiting the admissibility and use of certain information; and requires adjustment of verdicts for past medical expenses.

Legislative outcome: Vetoed by Governor; then modified & re-passed by Senate 28-4-2 on March 6; re-passed by House 77-16-7 on March 9; then signed by Gov. Tomblin March 18.

Source: W.V. legislative voting records for S.B.6 Mar 18, 2015

Alex Mooney: Replace ObamaCare with free-market reforms

ObamaCare has to go. Already, ObamaCare has resulted in new taxes and fees, massive regulation, and an increase in the cost of health care. I am fully committed to repealing ObamaCare and will do whatever it takes to see that goal through.

I support replacing ObamaCare with commonsense, free-market health care reforms that will keep health care affordable, increases access to good health care in rural communities, and keeps government out of our most personal health care decisions.

Some of these reforms include allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines, expanding health savings accounts, passing commonsense tort reform, and removing the discrimination in our tax code that prohibits individuals from buying health insurance with pre-tax dollars.

Finally, doctors struggle to treat patients when government gets in the way. Let's repeal ObamaCare so doctors can do what they need to do to treat patients and save lives.

Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, MooneyForCongress.com Nov 4, 2014

Evan Jenkins: ObamaCare is a boondoggle; repeal and replace

Evan knows that ObamaCare will cost trillions, raise premiums and kill jobs. As the disastrous implementation of Obama's health law has proved, this is a classic boondoggle that will greatly damage our health care system. Evan will lead efforts to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with common sense health care reforms that will improve access to quality health care and preserve your doctor-patient relationship. Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, EvanJenkins.com Nov 4, 2014

John Buckley: Repeal ObamaCare

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?

A: Oppose. I favor the complete repeal of ObamaCare and the expansion of health care choice in the private sector.

Source: Email interview on 2014 W.V. Senate race with OnTheIssues Sep 5, 2014

Patrick Morrisey: Repeal ObamaCare; oppose individual mandate

Patrick Morrisey supports repealing ObamaCare. He strongly opposes the individual mandate that will apply a civil penalty on citizens (for the first time ever) if they do not enter into commerce, purchase health insurance, and sign a contract with a private party. That is the opposite of freedom and establishes a dangerous precedent for our country. If the government gains the ability to force an individual to enter into a private contract, it will arguably be able to penalize individuals when they don't eat broccoli or go to the gym.

As a lawyer in private practice, Patrick Morrisey assisted the 26-states in their lawsuit to overturn the individual mandate and helped the U.S. House of Representatives in their efforts to replace the law. As Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey will join the multi-state lawsuit against the law and ensure that our state's interests are protected.

Source: W.V. State Attorney General website PatrickMorrisey.com Nov 1, 2012

Joe Manchin III: ObamaCare makes healthcare more affordable for everyone

Manchin said the goal of ObamaCare is to make healthcare more affordable for everyone which would result in a healthier population and lower healthcare costs.

But Raese deems ObamaCare as part of the problem.

Source: West Virginia MetroNews on 2012 W.V. Senate debate Oct 3, 2012

Joe Manchin III: Reform & repair ObamaCare, not repeal

On health care, Manchin and Raese clashed over the Affordable Health Care Act. Manchin says a complete upheaval of the law would be the wrong idea. "I have been for reforming, repairing, and not repealing. Pre-existing conditions is wrong," Manchin said. "You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, sometimes you just have to change the water every now and then."

Raese disagrees with that. In 2010, Raese fully supported a full repeal of the bill. And he still does. "This country, right now, I call it a coalition of taking. They are taking our money, they are taking our power, and they are taking our freedom, and they are giving it government to control. That's unacceptable," Raese said.

Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting on 2012 W.V. Senate debate Oct 3, 2012

John Raese: ObamaCare is the problem, not the solution

Manchin said the goal of ObamaCare is to make healthcare more affordable for everyone which would result in a healthier population and lower healthcare costs.

But Raese deems ObamaCare as part of the problem.

Source: West Virginia MetroNews on 2012 W.V. Senate debate Oct 3, 2012

Earl Ray Tomblin: WV Connect: access for 10,000 working uninsured & spouses

Regardless of the debate over the federal health care bill, we need to continue to improve our health care system. One focal point of my administration will be to find ways to foster the creation of health insurance for our working uninsured.

WV Connect provides access to health care for 10,000 working, uninsured West Virginians and their spouses. This pilot program will reduce emergency room visits and avoidable hospitalizations, resulting in a healthier workforce.

Source: 2011 W.V. State of the State Address Jan 12, 2011

Joe Manchin III: I'm behind reform; but a lot of ObamaCare needs repeal

The Raese campaign makes at least three claims trying to tie Manchin to Obama: He's in favor of the recently passed health care reform, he was for the government stimulus package, and he supports cap and trade legislation.

On health care, Raese has repeatedly aired a clip of Manchin saying, "I am totally behind health care reform." What Raese tries to imply, but what Manchin doesn't say, is that he's totally behind Obama's particular version of health care reform.

People of all political persuasions agree that health care reform is needed; what is contentious is what shape those reforms should take. That Manchin said he's behind health care reform does not mean he supports Obama's version of reform. What Manchin has said is that there are problems with the enacted health care legislation and that "it needs to have a lot of it repealed, (and) if you can't fix that, repeal the whole thing."

Source: Daily Athenaeum coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

Joe Manchin III: Opposes requiring individuals or businesses to buy insurance

Raese declared the health care law "unadulterated socialism" and "the worst bill to ever come out of the United States Senate and House." He referred to the "myth that is global warming." (Manchin was not asked about global warming).

Manchin said he liked certain parts of the health care legislation, such as its requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, but he opposed the law requiring individuals to buy insurance and most businesses to cover their employees.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

Joe Manchin III: Prohibit denying coverage for pre-existing conditions

They also diverged on federal health care reform, which Raese called "pure, unadulterated socialism; the worst bill that has ever come out of the United States Senate and House." Raese said he would repeal the legislation entirely, complaining that it supplants what should be doctor-patient relationships with patient-bureaucrat relationships.

Manchin acknowledged problems with the legislation but said there are elements worth keeping, including provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. "There's a lot of good in the bill that Democrats and Republicans can agree on," Manchin said.

Medicare, Social Security and the Children's Health Insurance Program cover the needs of many Americans, Manchin said but there are others who are denied."A working person today is the one most vulnerable in our society," Manchin said. "If you're getting up every day and going to work, you're probably the most vulnerable part of our society. That has to change."

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

John Raese: ObamaCare is worst bill to ever come out of Congress

Raese declared the health care law "unadulterated socialism" and "the worst bill to ever come out of the United States Senate and House." He referred to the "myth that is global warming." (Manchin was not asked about global warming).

Manchin said he liked certain parts of the health care legislation, such as its requiring insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions, but he opposed the law requiring individuals to buy insurance and most businesses to cover their employees.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

John Raese: ObamaCare is pure, unadulterated socialism

They also diverged on federal health care reform, which Raese called "pure, unadulterated socialism; the worst bill that has ever come out of the United States Senate and House." Raese said he would repeal the legislation entirely, complaining that it supplants what should be doctor-patient relationships with patient-bureaucrat relationships.

Manchin acknowledged problems with the legislation but said there are elements worth keeping, including provisions that prohibit insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. "There's a lot of good in the bill that Democrats and Republicans can agree on," Manchin said.

Medicare, Social Security and the Children's Health Insurance Program cover the needs of many Americans, Manchin said but there are others who are denied."A working person today is the one most vulnerable in our society," Manchin said. "If you're getting up every day and going to work, you're probably the most vulnerable part of our society. That has to change."

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

The above quotations are from State of West Virginia Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Health Care:
	Democrats running for President: Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) 2020 Third Party Candidates: Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM) Howard Schultz(I-WA) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)	Republicans running for President: Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX) Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD) Gov.John Kasich(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) 2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates: Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)


Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021