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Kyrsten Sinema on Health Care

 

 


Shaped $35 insulin cap; lower prescription drug cost

Sen. Sinema and Rep. Gallego both helped pass a law that caps insulin costs for seniors on Medicare at $35 monthly. But the prescription drug-pricing issue is one of the clearer examples of what separates the political rivals.

Sinema helped shape the final legislation. Her critics say she prevented it from providing more help to more people more quickly and some point to her financial support from the pharmaceutical industry as a likely reason why.

Gallego voted for the final measure and urged a more ambitious approach in the first place. His critics say that he had little impact in shaping the matter and supported a plan that would have made future drug development more difficult.

A Sinema spokesperson said, "Kyrsten delivered laws that make health care more affordable and accessible for Arizonans by personally negotiating policies capping the cost of insulin and lowering the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, while saving taxpayer dollars and protecting continued innovation."

Source: Arizona Republic on 2024 Arizona Senate race , Jul 19, 2023

Supported $35 insulin cap; cut prescription drug cost

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Rep. Ruben Gallego both helped pass a law that caps insulin costs for seniors on Medicare at $35 monthly. But the prescription drug-pricing issue is one of the clearer examples of what separates the political rivals.

Sinema helped shape the final legislation. Her critics say she prevented it from providing more help to more people more quickly and some point to her financial support from the pharmaceutical industry as a likely reason why.

Gallego voted for the final measure and urged a more ambitious approach in the first place. His critics say that he had little impact in shaping or pressing the matter and supported a plan that would have made future drug development more difficult.

"Ruben Gallego has been a longtime proponent of cutting the cost of prescription drugs for Arizonans, and he has the record to back it up," said a spokesperson. "The pharmaceutical lobby has enough people fighting for them in the Senate--Ruben will not be one of them."

Source: Arizona Republic on 2024 Arizona Senate race , Jul 19, 2023

Arizonans worry about coverage for preexisting conditions

Q [to GOP Senate opponent Martha McSally]: Sinema notes that you voted for repeal and replace last year, which would have permitted states to allow insurance to be sold for people with preexisting conditions with higher premiums. In your debate:

(BEGIN VIDEO) SINEMA: The reality is that Arizonans are worried about losing access to this critical coverage. And Martha voted to take that protection away.

(END VIDEO) Q: Do you acknowledge that protection for people with preexisting conditions was significantly weaker under repeal and replace than it was under ObamaCare?

MCSALLY: I am passionate about protecting people with preexisting conditions and forcing insurance companies to provide them health insurance. I voted to make sure that they had that coverage. The reality is that ObamaCare right now is not covering people with preexisting conditions. We can't go back to what we were in the past.

Source: Fox News Sunday interviews for 2018 Arizona Senate race , Oct 21, 2018

Affordable health-care for everyone

I used to say that I wanted universal health-care coverage in Arizona, which went over like a ton of bricks. Turns out, Arizonans hear the word 'universal' and think 'socialism'--or 'pinko commie.' But when I say that I want all Arizonans to have access to affordable, quality health care, Arizonans agree wholeheartedly. Same basic idea, different language.
Source: Powerline Blog on 2018 Arizona Senate race , Sep 18, 2017

ObamaCare isn't perfect; let's work to amend it

When President Obama moved in 2009 to improve health care by stopping insurance company practices like dropping coverage when you or a family become sick or refusing to cover pre-existing conditions, and strengthening Medicare to offer free preventive care and wellness exams, Sinema supported these and other important reforms to get health care costs under control for all. She was part of national team of state elected officials who worked to help craft America's new health care law to meet the needs of states, not the federal government. Sinema believes that there is still work to do to improve health care. For example, we need new reforms to help keep costs down for families and also for primary care providers, which are often small businesses. The health care law isn't perfect, and in Congress, Sinema will work to amend the law to make it work effectively.
Source: 2012 House campaign website, kyrstensinema.com , Nov 6, 2012

"Universal" sounds socialist, so say "affordable healthcare"

I've become a huge fan of research. It's helped me as a candidate learn to talk in ways that voters can understand. For example, I used to say that I wanted universal health-care coverage in Arizona, which went over like a ton of bricks. Turns out, Arizonans hear the word "universal" and think "socialism"--or "pinko commie." But when I say that I want all Arizonans to have access to affordable, quality health care, Arizonans agree wholeheartedly. Same basic idea, different language. Research is what teaches us these differences so that we can relate to voters in ways that are authentic and meaningful for them.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p.166-167 , Jul 1, 2009

Opposes repealing ObamaCare.

Sinema opposes the PVS survey question on ObamaCare

Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.

Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?'

Source: Project Vote Smart 12-PVS-q5 on Aug 30, 2012

GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster".

Sinema voted NAY Full Repeal of ObamaCare

Heritage Action Summary: This vote would fully repeal ObamaCare.

Heritage Foundation recommendation to vote YES: (2/3/2015): ObamaCare creates $1.8 trillion in new health care spending and uses cuts to Medicare spending to help pay for some of it. Millions of Americans already have lost, and more likely will lose, their coverage because of ObamaCare. Many Americans have not been able to keep their doctors as insurers try to offset the added costs of ObamaCare by limiting the number of providers in their networks. In spite of the promise, the law increases the cost of health coverage.

Secretary of Labor Robert Reich recommendation to vote NO: (robertreich.org 11/22/2013): Having failed to defeat the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are now hell-bent on destroying the ObamaCare in Americans` minds, using the word `disaster` whenever mentioning the Act, and demand its repeal. Democrats [should] meet the Republican barrage with three larger truths:

  1. The wreck of private insurance: Ours has been the only healthcare system in the world designed to avoid sick people. For-profit insurers have spent billions finding and marketing their policies to healthy people--while rejecting people with preexisting conditions, or at high risk.
  2. We could not continue with this travesty of a healthcare system: ObamaCare is a modest solution. It still relies on private insurers--merely setting minimum standards and `exchanges` where customers can compare policies.
  3. The moral imperative: Even a clunky compromise like the ACA between a national system of health insurance and a for-profit insurance market depends, fundamentally, on a social compact in which those who are healthier and richer are willing to help those who are sicker and poorer. Such a social compact defines a society.

Legislative outcome: Passed House 239-186-8; never came to a vote in the Senate.

Source: Congressional vote 15-H0132 on Feb 3, 2015

Keep healthcare mandate, according to CC survey.

Sinema opposes the CC survey question on healthcare mandate

The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Repealing the Nationalized Health Care System that Forces Citizens to Buy Insurance ' Christian Coalition's self-description: "Christian Voter Guide is a clearing-house for traditional, pro-family voter guides. We do not create voter guides, nor do we interview or endorse candidates."

Source: Christian Coalition Surve 18CC-5 on Jul 1, 2018

Other candidates on Health Care: Kyrsten Sinema on other issues:
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