Barrage Of Attacks On Health Care Is Forcing Republicans To Promise To Protect People Who Are Sick
In California, the ongoing vaccination debate is influencing the state Senate race in District 6. And the dialysis ballot initiative is being watched nationally.
Los Angeles Times:
Republican Candidates Say They Would Protect Sick Americans But Fight Coverage For Poorest Patients
Even as embattled Republican candidates across the country pledge to protect Americans with preexisting medical conditions, nearly all continue to resist extending health protections to their poorest constituents. Republicans running for governor in states that have not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults through the Affordable Care Act almost universally oppose any coverage expansion through the government safety net program. (Levey, 11/1)
The Hill:
Democrats Close Campaign By Hammering GOP On Health Care
Democrats are pinning their hopes on health care as a winning message in the final days of the midterm campaign, saying they will not be distracted by President Trump's attempts to make the election about immigration. When Trump this week proposed ending birthright citizenship, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) responded by hammering Republicans on health care. Meanwhile, the House Democrats' campaign arm recently launched another wave of ads targeting GOP lawmakers for their ObamaCare repeal votes. (Sullivan, 11/1)
Capital Public Radio:
Anti-Vaccination Groups Align With Outsider Candidate Against Lawmaker Who Wrote California’s Vaccine Law
California’s vaccination debate has cropped up again, this time in a district senate race between Independent party candidate Eric Frame and incumbent Democratic Senator Richard Pan. ...Major health and science organizations have stated that vaccines given to children have only minor side effects. And theories about vaccines causing autism have been debunked. (Caiola, 11/1)
The New York Times:
It’s Not Just Pre-Existing Conditions. Voters Weigh Many Health Issues On State Ballots
It may not be single payer, but it’s a step toward regulating health care prices. California voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on a proposition limiting how much dialysis companies can charge private insurers to treat patients with serious kidney disease. State Democrats and labor unions, notably the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, are backing the proposition aimed at the two largest dialysis chains, DaVita and Fresenius. They claim the companies are overcharging for their care. (Goodnough and Hoffman, 11/1)
California Healthline:
The Election’s Impact On Health Care: Some Bellwether Races To Watch
Voters this year have told pollsters in no uncertain terms that health care is important to them. In particular, maintaining insurance protections for preexisting conditions is the top issue to many. But the results of the midterm elections are likely to have a major impact on a broad array of other health issues that touch every single American. And how those issues are addressed will depend in large part on which party controls the U.S. House and Senate, governors’ mansions and state legislatures around the country. (Rovner, 11/2)
Reuters:
From Pharma To Prisons, Election-Sensitive Stocks That Could Swing
Perhaps no sector will be in the election spotlight as much as healthcare, which has been one of the top-performing S&P 500 sectors this year. Policy efforts to lower prescription drug prices that have started under Trump could get more attention should Democrats gain control in Congress. Democratic gains in particular could lead investors to anticipate expanded coverage or other changes related to the Affordable Care Act, possibly benefiting some insurer company and hospital shares. (Krauskopf, 11/1)
California Healthline:
Podcast: ‘What The Health?’ Open Enrollment And A Midterm Preview
In this episode of “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News and Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss the start of open enrollment for individual health insurance plans for 2019 and preview what next week’s midterm elections might mean for health policy. Plus, Barbara Feder Ostrov of KHN and California Healthline talks to Julie about the latest NPR-KHN “Bill of the Month” feature. (11/1)