With healthcare costs soaring, and the number of uninsured Americans growing by the day, America is approaching a national healthcare crisis. Nearly 16% of Americans and 11% of children have no medical insurance. Health care premiums continue to increase at double-digit rates, which distresses Missouri families and harms Missouri's businesses.
Washington has failed to address the healthcare crisis. The Bush Administration cut billions from Medicaid and proposes further cuts to Medicare. The new Medicare part D prescription drug helps drug company profits more than it does seniors. Meanwhile, extreme special interests are trying to stop promising stem-cell research.
As Senator, Claire McCaskill will fight for the health care needs of everyday Missourians, not the bottom lines for HMOs, drug companies and the insurance industry.
Expanding Health Insurance Coverage
Children's Health Care. Missouri has suffered devastating cuts to Medicaid at the state level while Washington is adding to the problem at the federal level. More than 40,000 children have lost health coverage in Missouri due to these cuts. Instead of cutting Medicaid, Claire believes we need to fully fund and expand the Children's Health Insurance program.
Small Businesses. Claire believes it is urgent that Congress address health insurance for small businesses. Many of our small businesses want to provide employee insurance, but cannot due to enormous health care costs. Claire proposes a plan for Small Employers modeled off the successful Federal Health Benefits Program. Small businesses could band together for lower health care prices negotiated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which has a proven track record of low overhead costs. Insurance policies would have to follow any state mandates, such as breast cancer screenings or mental health coverage.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the nation's health safety net and serves as a vital source of health coverage for over 53 million Americans of all ages, including 992,624 Missourians. Governor Blunt and the Missouri legislature kicked 90,000 Missourians off Medicaid. Claire believes strongly that these outrageous cuts should be reversed. Instead of undermining Medicaid, we need to strengthen Medicaid and help providers who care for large numbers of poor and uninsured patients, particularly in Missouri's rural areas. Claire is committed to supporting the Medicaid program as the primary source of health care for millions of children and pregnant women and also as the source of nursing home and home care for millions of seniors and people with disabilities.
Her plan will re-invigorate community and county health centers by allowing young doctors and nurses to get some student loans forgiven by serving proactively towards the preventative medical needs of Medicaid patients.
Cracking Down on Medicaid Fraud. Claire believes we need to look no further than her work as Missouri auditor to find meaningful ways to reform Medicaid. Costs can be cut without kicking people off their medical coverage. Going after provider fraud is one key component of saving taxpayers money while still providing needed care.
Make Sure Missouri Medicaid Dollars Get Spent In Missouri. Claire will fight to make sure Missouri's Medicaid dollars get spent in Missouri. Thanks to the recent Medicaid cuts, we've sent $700 million in Missouri Medicaid dollars back to Washington and other states -- Claire thinks that's just plain wrong.
Block Proposals to Cuts in the Medicaid Program. Last year, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate united to prevent billions in cuts to the Medicaid program. Claire will stand up against cuts that have been proposed by the President and Republicans in Congress that would limit access to quality care for millions of low-income Missourians and would work to prevent any arbitrary cuts or changes that would alter the fundamental structure and guarantees of Medicaid.
Oppose Any Proposal That Limits Access To Essential Services For Those Who Qualify. Claire believes states like Missouri should not be forced to make choices between the health and long term care needs of seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and children. As Senator, she'll oppose any proposal that would limit access to essential services for those who qualify for Medicaid, particularly in rural areas.
Prescription Drugs
Seniors across Missouri struggle with the cost of prescription drugs. Now Congress has forced upon them a drug benefit that confuses older Americans, while padding the already bulging pockets of big drug and insurance companies.
Claire heard firsthand how seniors struggle with the new benefit, which was not written with their needs in mind. She will work in the Senate to fix the Medicare Rx program and make prescription drugs more affordable. Click here to read her plan.
