A Comprehensive Healthcare Plan

Healthcare costs are out of control, but Congressman Don Young doesn’t get it. While racking up over $300 thousand from the healthcare industry, he repeatedly tried to take health coverage away from thousands of Alaskan families by voting for an insurance industry bill that increased premiums and failed  to reduce prescription drug prices. He mockingly referred to coronavirus as the “beer virus” and put Alaska seniors at risk by participating in large gatherings with no safety precautions. 

Our healthcare system is broken: it doesn’t cover enough, it’s hard for Alaskans to find doctors, and it’s too expensive for too many people. These costs are also standing in the way of economic growth. Too many small companies are unable to expand their businesses. Employers are seeing labor costs explode, while wages remain stagnant. America’s healthcare dollars should be going to patient care, not Big Pharma and special interests.

The healthcare system has gotten too complicated. It is bureaucratic and cumbersome, just like the federal government. Comprehensive healthcare must include coverage for illness and injury and also coverage for preventative care, maternal and reproductive care, mental health, vision, and dental. And it needs to be easy to navigate. 

Congressman Don Young has been in office for over 40 years, but he hasn’t solved our most pressing problems even though he’s had more than enough time to do so. We deserve a champion in Congress who will fight for all of us to have comprehensive, affordable care. That includes protecting people with pre-existing health conditions so they don’t lose their insurance. 

+ Getting Covid under Control

In order for us to get back to work, we need to significantly reduce the risks associated with getting our kids back in school, shoppers back in our stores, and all of us out of our houses. The approach is straightforward. We need the resources invested in getting rapid testing available to everyone, and significantly increase our contact tracing capabilities. Finally, we need investment in a vaccine, and in therapies that will reduce the suffering and death associated with the disease.

+ LOWERING COSTS

We must fix what is wrong with healthcare right now while also moving toward a comprehensive, long-term solution.

I support responsible actions that bring stability to the system and lower the cost for all Alaskans, including:

  • Open health care exchanges across state lines so Alaska can team up with other small-population states to expand our coverage pool, which lowers expenses
  • Support legislation and policies to lower the cost of prescription drugs
  • Increase Medicare reimbursement rates so that they cover the cost of care for providers and make it easier for Alaskans to find doctors who accept Medicare
  • Allow us to purchase prescription drugs from other countries when safe and at a much lower cost

+ WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH

Alaskans suffer from some of the highest rates of substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide. Intergenerational trauma, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse has contributed to these behavioral health problems. The movement of healing and ending cycles of abuse is beginning and needs support.

Prevention and treatment programs and additional behavioral health professionals are desperately needed across Alaska. We must comprehensively address the opioid crisis and strengthen access to treatment and recovery services.

I will be a champion for a strong re-entry program from prison and drug treatment programs. Alaskans must have the support they need to stay in recovery, find meaningful work, go back to school, reunite with their families, and lead full lives.

We must change from the current system that compensates healthcare providers based on the volume of services they perform and move to a system that compensates based on healthcare outcomes. I support federal policies that make it easier for people to get primary and preventative care to stay healthy.

+ WOMEN’S AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

We must ensure that women have full, unlimited access to reproductive health services. I believe that the issue of abortion is a private matter between a woman, her doctor, and her faith. Women’s reproductive health starts with access and education. I will fight to make sure that contraception is available to all and covered by insurance.