THE PARTY LINE: Campaign Ads Highlight Health Topics

      Freedomchannel.com, a political video-on-demand Web site, is featuring two campaign ads that address some hotly-debated health care issues. Rep. Ernie Fletcher (R-Ky.) runs an ad that focuses on increased access to health care and a Medicare prescription drug benefit. Taking a swipe at opponent Scotty Baesler (D), who supports a proposal that Fletcher says would increase "frivolous lawsuits" and drive up the number of uninsured, Fletcher says: "I think that we can provide real patient protection and increase access to decrease the number of uninsured. And we're making sure that we do that, providing the tax relief that's needed and providing other plans for folks to have more choice in their doctors and the health plans they are able to get." Noting the importance of providing a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Fletcher says: "Health care without prescription drugs is not real health care. And there [are] many senior citizens [who] can't afford it. That's the reason I support a plan that will make Medicare prescription drugs affordable, available and optional for everyone."

In the Other Corner ...
      Weighing in for the Democrats, Michael Case, who is challenging Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), walks the party line on a patients' bill of rights in his ad. Calling for an end to the "partisan wrangling in Congress" over the legislation, Case says: "The patients' bill of rights will make sure that only you and your doctor make the decisions about your health care. HMO and insurance company bureaucrats should not be allowed to deny coverage for any procedure a doctor deems necessary. The patients' bill of rights will finally hold the HMOs and insurance companies accountable for putting their profits ahead of the families who pay their premiums every month." To view the ads, click here or type www.freedomchannel.com into your browser (6/1).