Arnold Schwarzenegger on Health Care

Republican CA Governor

Froze enrollment in Healthy Families program

Arnold Schwarzenegger as candidate said, “We have to make sure that every child in California is insured. That is the most important thing. I’m very passionate about children’s issues. It is very important because they cannot fend for themselves. The children, we have a Healthy Families program here in California, and it is a very, very good program.” (Gubernatorial debate, CSU Sacramento, September 24, 2003)

[Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor] actually proposed freezing enrollment in the “very, very good” Healthy Families program, a move that will force as many as 100,000 children to go without health insurance -in a state where one in seven children is already uninsured.

Source: Fanatics and Fools, by Arianna Huffington, p.168-169 Apr 14, 2004

Market competitions and reduced costs improve health care

We need as many companies bidding so that the prices coming down and make it available. We have a really a crisis here with our health insurance companies with our businesses because they’re overburdened as it is right now with worker’s compensation & with Med-Cal. They are much higher than anywhere in the nation. They cannot afford it [which could result in] no jobs, no businesses, & no health care. What we have to do right now is protect the businesses and protect the people so that they have jobs. Source: Recall Debate, Cal. State Univ. at Sacramento Sep 24, 2003

Must insure the low-income families, especially the children

It’s important that we take care of our children. We have to make sure that every child in California is insured. I’m very passionate about children’s issues. We have to take care of our children and our seniors [because] they cannot fend for themselves. The children, we have a Healthy Family Program here in California. It’s a very, very good program. It’s supposed to insure people to get health care, for children and also for their parents if they’re low-income people. The only problem with the program right now is only 2/3 of the people that are eligible are not having that health care. And because the government has not done a good job of reaching out and finding the people and letting them know to sign up and to find easy ways for them to sign up. And so that is really terrible. I will immediately go out there and promote it, and market it and get it out there, so everyone knows about it and everyone signs up, because we must insure our families, the low-income families, especially the children. Source: Recall Debate, Cal. State Univ. at Sacramento Sep 24, 2003

Tax credits for those without employee health insurance.

Schwarzenegger adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:

H.R. 1181 the Health Insurance Affordability and Equity Act
With 40 million Americans currently living without health insurance, Republican Main Street Partnership members have been leading the effort to find new and innovative ways to secure health care for our citizens. Easing the burden on businesses entering into insurance purchasing pools, and expanding the use of medical savings accounts (MSAs) have been included in previous economic stimulus packages. RMSP Congresswoman Nancy Johnson (CT) in conjunction with Representatives Jo Ann Emerson (MO), Melissa Hart (PA), Jim Kolbe (AZ), Connie Morella (MD), Doug Ose (CA), Marge Roukema (NJ), Rob Simmons (CT), Fred Upton (MI), and Jim Walsh (NY) introduced legislation that targets tax credits to those that are not offered employee provided health insurance, or are self employed.

Source: Republican Main Street Partnership Legislative Agenda 02-RMSP4 on May 24, 2002

Tax deduction for long-term care insurance.

Schwarzenegger adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:

H.R. 831/S. 621 the Long Term Care and Retirement Security Act.
Republican Main Street Partnership Senators Lincoln Chafee (RI), Susan Collins (ME), and Gordon Smith (OR) joined House of Representatives sponsors Reps. Charlie Bass (NH), Dave Camp (MI), Tom Davis (VA), Greg Ganske (IA), Ben Gilman (NY), Dave Hobson (OH), Steve Horn (CA), Nancy Johnson (CT), Sue Kelly (NY), Ray LaHood (IL), Connie Morella (MD), Deborah Pryce (OH), Jim Ramstad (MN), and Rob Simmons (CT) in securing health insurance for seniors and those in long-term care facilities. As new medicines and healthier lifestyles are extending life, more and more Americans need to prepare for their long-term health needs. This legislation allows a tax deduction on long-term care insurance premiums for taxpayers, including accelerated deductions persons for people 55 years of age and up.

Source: Republican Main Street Partnership Legislative Agenda 02-RMSP5 on May 24, 2002

Support telemedicine for underserved areas.

Schwarzenegger adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:

H.R. 2706, The Medicare Telehealth Validation (MTV) Act.
Republican Main Street Partnership members Congressman Doug Ose (CA) and Jo Ann Emerson (MO) have introduced this bill to increase the use of telehealth services under the Medicare program. Currently, telehealth services are restricted to use in certain geographically underserved areas. The MTV Act provides sufficient funding and regulatory relief to expand high technology medical diagnostic tools, across the Internet, to urban as well as rural underserved areas. The bill further provides for expansion of store-and-forward techniques, and for a study of the restrictions on telemedicine due to state licensing rules.

Source: Republican Main Street Partnership Legislative Agenda 02-RMSP6 on May 24, 2002

$350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors.

Schwarzenegger adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
One of issues to be addressed this year by Congress is that of providing a prescription drug benefit to our nation's Medicare beneficiaries. Legislation currently being drafted [by Republican Main Street Partnership members] intends to authorize $350 billion over the next 10 years to provide purchasing assistance for prescription medications. The benefit reaches out to low and moderate income seniors by extending coverage to incomes up to 150% of the poverty level. The bill could also include provisions to correct reimbursement reductions for physicians, nurses, hospitals, technicians, home health care providers, and long-term care facilities.

Source: Republican Main Street Partnership Legislative Agenda 02-RMSP7 on May 24, 2002

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Page last updated: Jan 29, 2009