Health Care

For the record: I support a single-payer system as the only way for every American to be insured and save our medical system from ever increasing costs.

The health care system in America is broken. Senior citizens cannot keep up with the ever-rising prescription drug prices and working families are taking on second jobs to keep up with health insurance premiums that are going up much faster than the cost of living. Meanwhile insurance companies are reaping huge benefits by cost containment better known as denial of benefits.

We spend twice as much as other industrialized nations, $7,129 per capita, and have worse overall outcomes. There are 47 million uninsured in America and 700,000 in Colorado. Even more tragic is the number of Americans paying health insurance premiums who, when they need coverage, will be denied benefits. This must change. Every patient deserves a doctor.

A single payer system is the only way to guarantee everyone is insured and at the same time have every American household save money on their health care costs. This means that a single-payer—like Medicare—pays hospitals and doctors instead of hundreds of insurance companies. Doctors and hospitals would compete for your business, not insurance companies by cost containment better known as denial of benefits.

I strongly supported the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program for the States (SCHIP), which the President Bush vetoed. In Congress I would join the fight for stem cell research.

In Colorado State Legislature I was recognized for my efforts expanding health insurance options; rural, immunization of children, protection of women’s privacy and health options. I sponsored funding for University of Colorado Medical School and Health Programs and sponsored a bill to have an elected insurance commissioner to make that office consumer rather than industry driven. As Senate President, we gave priority to a bulk drug purchasing bill by putting it first on our calendar SB07-01.

Because of my record supporting affordable healthcare and lowering the costs of prescription drugs, my campaign has been recommended by the Colorado Medical Association.