What do the 2016 Candidates have in mind for Health Care?
President Obama and his “Obamacare” achievements have shown just how big an effect the white house can have on patients and physicians. It is always difficult sorting out the effective platform from the pipe dream. This list is a fairly general look at 2016’s candidate’s platforms and tendencies that could have a significant effect on medical professionals. Using 10+ varied websites (to weed out some bias), this is a compilation of some important things to keep in mind for physicians with the 2016 presidential candidates.
Hillary
“Fighting for us.”
- Strong Supporter for Expansion of ObamaCare:
- Cover people with pre-existing and chronic conditions.
- Does not believe Marijuana is a gateway drug.
- Higher taxes on the wealthy
- Universal HealthCare Stance: Not economically feasible. “Based on every analysis I can find, the numbers don’t add up, and many people will be worse off than they are now.”
- Supports vaccinations.
- Drug company ideas: Support Universal Health Care, so taxpayers fund Research and Development not the Companies themselves.
- “Give Medicare the right to negotiate with drug companies”. – 2008 Democratic debate in LA, Jan 30, 2008
- ProChoice
- Also open to End-Of-Life Conversation
- Medical Malpractice Stance: In 2006, Hillary voted Nay on capping medical liability lawsuits at $250,000. Claimed she did not want to attach a possibly horribly injured victim to an arbitrary low sum, and there is no evidence that caps will lower insurance rates.
- Insurance Ideas: “Managed Competition”. Less government involvement, where groups and businesses bargain with insurance companies to promote competitive prices and high quality care.
- Take money away from people who are doing well right now, “start with the insurance companies.” Require insurance companies to insure everyone, “no exclusions for preexisting conditions.”
Trump
“Make America Great Again.”
- Opposed to expansion of ObamaCare:
- “Get rid of ObamaCare, we’ll come up with new plans.” –CNN Telemundo Republican Debate Feb. 25, 2016
- Doctors are quitting the business… it is complicated and terrible.” –Freedom Summit January 2015
- Does not believe Marijuana is a gateway drug.
- Higher Taxes on the wealthy.
- Universal Healthcare Stance: Strong Supporter
- “Our People are our greatest asset. We must take care of our own. We must have Universal Health Care.”- The America We Deserve, Trump p. 206-208, 2000
- Support vaccinations, but a lower dosage given in spaced intervals.
- Drug company ideas: Strong belief that insurance companies control politicians and wants to fight that with a different system.
- Prochoice in case of rape, incest, or mother’s health complications; but believes in a ban at a certain time in the pregnancy.
- Medical Malpractice Stance: Recent actions in lawsuits would suggest a “(sue) first and (ask) questions later” disposition says MD David Mokotoff.
- Though Trump is very versed when it comes to litigation (or rather his lawyers are), a positive outcome is less than likely for national malpractice reform with him in office.
- Insurance Ideas: Increase insurance companies’ competition across state lines.
