Jeff Kessler on Health Care

	Jeff Kessler on Health Care

ObamaCare gets thousands of the poor onto Medicaid

Kessler embraces the Affordable Care Act, saying that putting thousands of poor West Virginians on Medicaid is a positive. Kessler also spent considerable time during the recent legislative session speaking on behalf of labor, and that included organizing a rally of hundreds of union members at the Capitol. Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial race , Jun 23, 2015

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

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