Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Rounds Up Health Care Stances of Candidates in 18 House Races

The current House breakdown is 222 Republicans, 208 Democrats, two independents and three vacancies. Over the past several months, Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report has identified some of the major races in which health care has played a central role. A brief description of the candidates' health care stances is outlined below:

Arizona, 7th District
Former Pima County Supervisor Raul Grijalva (D) is facing former Yuma Council member Ross Hieb (R) in the newly redistricted seat.

• Grijalva has said he supports raising the Medicare reimbursement rate to cover "routine and diagnostic" mammography services and increase federal funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings. He has proposed a plan that would establish a prescription drug purchasing pool for Medicare patients and said he advocates closing loopholes that allow brand-name drug makers to prevent access to generic drugs. In addition, Grijalva said he would advocate for increasing funding for mental health evaluation and treatment services. He has said he would attempt to pass the Equity in Prescription Insurance Contraception Coverage Act and increase federal funding for family planning services (Grijalva Web site).
  

• Hieb advocates eliminating HMOs and "return[ing] the health care system to the market place." He proposes establishing medical savings accounts to supplement insurance plans; increasing health care deductions for taxpayers; providing a "Public Mender," similar to a "Public Defender," for people who cannot pay for health care; and increasing Medicare reimbursement rates to "market levels" (Hieb Web site). Hieb supports the GOP-backed Medicare prescription drug plan, passed in the House last summer (Corella, Arizona Daily Star, 10/4).
  

Arizona, 8th District
Rep. Jim Kolbe (R) is being challenged by Pima County attorney Mary Judge Ryan (D).

• Kolbe favors tax credits to help insure people without employee health insurance and supports increases in federal funding for health coverage, including $350 billion for prescription drug coverage for seniors. Previously, Kolbe has voted to allow individuals to sue HMOs under guidelines that place limits on jury awards. He has voted for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare and for establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. In addition, Kolbe supports telemedicine for "underserved areas" and tax deductions for long-term health care insurance (Issues 2002 Web site).
  

• Ryan believes that Congress should provide effective prescription drug "cost-containment measures," enforce existing price control laws and incorporate affordable prescription drug coverage into Medicare. Ryan also believes that long-term health care is "good medicine and good economics" and supports making long-term care a Medicare benefit. In addition, Ryan supports a patients' bill of rights that gives "each of us the right to sue our health care companies" (Ryan Web site).
  

Arkansas, 4th District
Former Rep. Jay Dickey (R) is challenging Rep. Mike Ross (D).

• Dickey has said that although there is a need for affordable prescription drugs for seniors, current proposals have made a Medicare prescription drug benefit a "political issue," and it would be "a disservice to the issue" to support a benefit based solely on partisan politics (CongressDaily/AM, 7/1). While serving in Congress, Dickey worked to increase funding for community health centers (Dickey Web site).
  

• Ross (D) has co-sponsored the American Hospital Preservation Act, as well as legislation to equalize for all hospitals the Medicare inpatient and outpatient prospective payment system's base payment amounts (Ross Web site). In addition, Ross supports a Medicare prescription drug benefit plan that would cover 80% of the cost of medicine, in exchange for a monthly premium of $25 and an annual deductible of $100 (Ross Web site).
  

Connecticut, 5th District
Rep. Nancy Johnson (R) is facing Rep. James Maloney (D) for the newly redistricted seat.

• Johnson helped write the GOP's $350 billion Medicare reform bill (HR 4954) that includes a prescription drug benefit, which passed in the House in June (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 6/28). She supported new Medicare benefits for seniors, including annual mammograms; diabetes education and supplies; osteoporosis screening; prostate, colorectal, and cervical cancer testing; disease management; and nutrition therapy programs. Johnson supports making long-term care more affordable and enacting a patients' bill of rights. Johnson also advocates extending Medicare benefits to cancer patients who undergo clinical trials, making health insurance subsidies available to laid-off workers and extending additional health care benefits to military personnel and their families (Johnson Web site). She also favors increasing Medicare+Choice reimbursements (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/19). In addition, Johnson's 1997 measure to provide free or low-cost health insurance to uninsured children in Connecticut through a cigarette tax was passed into law and has covered 211,000 children and 82,000 of their parents, the Associated Press reports (Scarponi, Associated Press, 9/20).
  

• Maloney opposes reductions in Medicare benefits and block-granting Medicaid (Maloney Web site). He has criticized Johnson's prescription drug bill for seniors for giving "too much power and money to HMOs," saying, "We need a health care plan that includes prescription medicine through Medicare and we need it now" (Scarponi, Associated Press, 7/15).
  

Florida, 5th District
State Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite (R) is challenging Rep. Karen Thurman (D).

• Brown-Waite has voted in favor of HMO reform. In addition, Brown-Waite supported patients' rights legislation and grievance procedures, worked to improve the quality of care provided in Florida nursing homes and increased consumers' access to medical provider information. In Congress, Brown-Waite has said she would "work tirelessly" to pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit (Brown-Waite Web site). She expressed support for the drug benefit passed in the House earlier this year. Brown-Waite has also criticized her opponent for not obtaining Medicaid fee waivers for Florida that would have increased federal reimbursement for in-home care (Reid, Tampa Tribune, 10/23).
  

• Thurman supports the Senate Democrats' plan to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit under Medicare (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Reports, 9/23). Thurman supports legislation that would cap prescription drug prices and prevent drug makers from charging twice as much for products sold in the United States than they do for products sold abroad. Thurman says she plans to use her position on the House Ways and Means Committee to secure more federal funding for Florida's in-home care programs. In addition, Thurman supports legislation that would provide tax credits for people who care for relatives at home (Reid, Tampa Tribune, 10/23). During the current term, Thomas sponsored a bill that would make a portion of long-term care insurance premiums tax deductible (Thurman Web site).
  

Florida, 22nd District
Palm Beach County Commissioner Carol Roberts (D) is challenging Rep. Clay Shaw (R).

• Roberts ran a television advertisement promoting her telephone hotline that explains how to reimport prescription drugs from Canada (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/16). Roberts also supports a guaranteed Medicare prescription drug benefit (Roberts Web site).
  

• Shaw would support legalizing drug reimportation from Canada, but only if the FDA can "authenticate" the medications (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/16). Shaw also supports medical savings accounts for individuals and reducing malpractice lawsuits (Fooksman, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 10/24).

  Illinois, 19th District
  Rep. David Phelps (D) is being challenged by Rep. John Shimkus (R) for the newly redistricted seat.
  
  

  • Phelps does not support a Medicare prescription drug benefit through private insurance companies because he says it would "benefit big pharmaceutical companies," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He also does not support restricting lawsuits against HMOs because he believes it is "impossible to place a price on someone who had lost an arm or suffered other problems because of negligence," the Post-Dispatch reports (Parish, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/23).
    
  
  
  • Shimkus supports a Medicare prescription drug benefit and also is advocating Illinois' SeniorCare Program (Shimkus Web site). Shimkus voted in favor of the GOP-backed Medicare reform proposal that included a prescription drug benefit, which passed in the House in June. He favors restricting medical malpractice suits against HMOs because he says they increase health care costs (St Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/23).
    

  Iowa, 1st District
  Bettendorf, Iowa, Mayor Ann Hutchinson (D) is challenging Rep. Jim Nussle (R).
  
  

  • Hutchinson has called on Congress to "overhaul the entire Medicare system" so that the state, which receives lower Medicare reimbursements than any other state, would get more federal funding, according to the Des Moines Register (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 9/7). Hutchinson has criticized the Bush administration's plan for a Medicare prescription drug benefit as a "modest start" that would provide "only a fraction" of the assistance seniors need. Hutchinson says she will "fight to see that prescription drugs are more accessible and affordable" for Medicare beneficiaries (Hutchinson Web site). Hutchinson's campaign has also focused on increasing health care access for children and improving access to generic drugs (Dvorak, Associated Press, 10/5).
    
  
  
  • Nussle has proposed taking an "incremental approach" to reforming Medicare, saying that because states that receive greater reimbursements from the program are "unwilling to revamp the reimbursement formula," the Des Moines Register reports. During the current term, Nussle proposed an amendment to the House Medicare prescription drug benefit bill that would provide $123 million in additional Medicare reimbursements to state hospitals (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 9/7).
    

  Iowa, 2nd District
  Rep. Jim Leach (R) is being challenged by pediatrician Julie Thomas (D).
  
  

  • Leach has supported increasing funding to NIH by more than 30% and also supported legislation intended to assure the "financial stability" of Medicare and expand Medicare coverage to include preventive care (Leach Web site). Leach supports therapeutic human cloning, voting against a ban in July 2001. Leach has opposed needle exchange and medical marijuana initiatives and has voted for the GOP-backed Medicare reform package that included a prescription drug benefit. Leach has also said he supports tax credits to purchase health insurance for people who work but do not have coverage through their employers (Issues 2002 Web site). Leach in 1998 endorsed a patients' rights proposal introduced by Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) (Norton, CongressDaily, 4/29/98).
    
  
  
  • Thomas has highlighted her experience as a pediatrician in her campaign ads. In an ad, Thomas criticized drug companies for offering "junk and ... expensive trips" to encourage providers to prescribe their products. Thomas advocates "cut[ting] drug prices instead" (American Health Line, 9/25). Thomas has said her priorities include "strengthening" Medicare and "fighting for a strong patients' bill of rights" (Thomas Web site). Thomas has also proposed a four-point plan to reduce prescription drug costs, which includes passing a Medicare prescription drug benefit; legalizing drug reimportation from Canada; limiting pharmaceutical companies from deducting marketing expenditures to an amount equal to that which they spend on research and development; and requiring public disclosure by physicians and drug companies of "gifts" over $50 in value (Thomas Web site). Thomas has also said she will be "a forceful advocate for common-sense ergonomics legislation (Thomas Web site).
    

  Iowa, 4th District
  Rep. Tom Latham (R) is being challenged by former state Democratic Party Chair John Norris (D), chief of staff to former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D).
  
  

  • Latham has supported a bill that included about $100 million in additional Medicare reimbursements for Iowa, which has the lowest reimbursement rates in the nation for Medicare (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/4). In July, Latham introduced a bill (HR 5246) that would provide an estimated $41 million per year in additional funding for Iowa health care providers (Latham Web site). Latham also supported the House-passed GOP Medicare prescription drug benefit bill (Goldstein, Washington Post, 7/7).
    
  
  
  • Norris has proposed a plan to address problems in Medicare that includes allowing no further cuts to the program and ensuring that solutions are first "focused toward" states whose reimbursement rates fall below the national average (Norris Web site). Norris has also said that he would support a prescription drug plan that is administered through Medicare, offers the same premium levels to seniors across the country and ensures the same coverage levels for all seniors (Norris Web site).
    

  Kentucky, 3rd District
  Attorney Jack Conway (D) is challenging Rep. Anne Northup (R).
  
  

  • Conway supports a patients' bill of rights, as well as allowing individuals to deduct the cost of individual health insurance and providing more tax incentives for businesses to cover employees (Conway Web site). Conway also supports a federally funded Medicare prescription drug benefit (Al, Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/25).
    
  
  
  • Northup ran an ad discussing her efforts to address the issue of prescription drug costs stating that she "took the lead in passing a prescription benefit for seniors" and "took on the big drug companies" to allow patients to purchase "safe prescription drugs at lower Canadian prices" (American Health Line, 10/23). In addition, Northup supports legislation that would mirror California's malpractice law, which limits attorney contingency fees, caps non-economic damages at $250,000, ensures compensation on economic damages and provides a statute of limitations on malpractice claims (Burling, Associated Press, 10/26). She also supports subsidizing private insurance to help seniors pay for prescription drugs (Al, Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/25).
    

  Maine, 2nd District
  State Senate President Mike Michaud (D) is facing Kevin Raye (R), former chief of staff to Olympia Snowe, for a seat vacated by John Baldacci (D), who is running for governor.
  
  

  • Michaud supports providing uninsured residents who do not qualify for Medicaid with refundable tax credits to purchase health insurance. He would fund such a program by "redirecting" half of an income tax cut passed last year (Tuttle, Bangor Daily News, 9/17). Michaud co-sponsored legislation in the state Senate that established the Maine Rx program, which would reduce the cost of prescription drugs for Maine residents who lack prescription coverage (Michaud Web site). If elected, Michaud said he would introduce a national version of Maine Rx. The law would allow the federal government to negotiate with the drug companies for lower prescription drug costs. Michaud also supports legislation to curb drug advertising on television and to deny a tax deduction on advertising costs if those costs exceed the spending on research and development (Michaud Web site).
    
  
  
  • Raye supports providing refundable tax credits for uninsured individuals to purchase health insurance. Raye said he would pay for health care tax credits through money in the Bush administration's 2003 budget proposal. Raye's reform plan also calls for a voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit that is available to all beneficiaries and allows a choice of coverage plans. In addition, Raye supports curtailing "runaway" spending by pharmaceutical companies on advertising; limiting health care costs by capping punitive malpractice awards and reducing paperwork for health providers; and allowing patients to sue HMOs for denied services only after arbitration has failed (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/19).
    

  Maryland, 8th District
  Rep. Connie Morella (R) is being challenged by state Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D).
  
  

  • Morella was an original co-sponsor of a bill (HR 2723) that would require managed care companies to provide quality care and be held liable for their decisions. The bill also requires that managed care patients have access to emergency care without prior authorization, have access to specialized treatment when it is medically necessary in the judgment of a health professional and be guaranteed continuity of health care services (Morella Web site). Morella in March 2001 joined 95 members of Congress in sending a letter to President Bush urging him to continue to support stem cell research (CongressDaily/AM, 3/20).
    
  
  
  • Van Hollen has said he favors all Americans gaining access to health care coverage and supports patients' rights legislation. Van Hollen has also said he would work for funding increases for mental health services. He supports a prescription drug benefit under Medicare (Van Hollen Web site).
    

  Minnesota, 2nd District
  Retired Marine officer John Kline (R) is challenging Rep. Bill Luther (D).
  
  

  • Kline supports a Medicare prescription drug benefit available to all seniors (Kline Web site).
    
  
  
  • Luther supports a voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit and has supported legislation that would increase states' Medicare HMO reimbursement rates (Luther Web site).
    

  Mississippi, 3rd District
  Rep. Chip Pickering (R) is facing Rep. Ronnie Shows (D) for the newly redistricted seat.
  
  

  • Pickering has voted to allow individuals to sue HMOs under federal regulations and within award limitations, to include a prescription drug benefit under Medicare and to establish tax-exempt medical savings accounts. He has voted against a needle exchange program and against medical marijuana (Issues 2002 Web site).
    
  
  
  • Shows has said that Congress should enact a Medicare prescription drug benefit that is "available, affordable, dependable and voluntary for all seniors." In addition, Shows has voted to adopt an amendment that would "limit liability and damage awards" when a patient is "harmed by a denial of health care." He voted against the House Republican-backed Medicare prescription drug benefit (Issues 2002 Web site). Shows has also sponsored a bill that would require large drug companies to bid for Medicare business (Shows Web site). To curb drug and alcohol abuse in the state, Shows has also proposed a grant that would help the Mississippi Division of Public Safety with residential substance abuse treatment (Wagster, Associated Press, 6/2).
    

  Pennsylvania, 17th District
  Rep. George Gekas (R) is facing Rep. Tim Holden (D) for the newly redistricted seat.
  
  

  • Gekas voted for a House bill that would cap non-economic damage awards in patient lawsuits against health plans and has also supported prescription drug coverage under Medicare. He has opposed all human cloning, including for medical research (Issues 2002 Web site).
    
  
  
  • Holden is a cosponsor of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which would guarantee a stay in a hospital for certain medical procedures, and supports legislation intended to ensure that women have proper access to health care (Holden Web site). He has voted against human cloning, including for medical research. Holden supports a Medicare prescription drug benefit that would be available to all seniors and help reduce costs through market competition. Holden also supports immediately increasing funding for Medicare and Medicaid providers (Issues 2002 Web site).
    

  Rhode Island, 1st District
  Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D) is being challenged by technical analyst David Rogers (R).
  
  

  • Kennedy, who supported a Democratic proposal to expand the Medicare program to include drug coverage, has said he will introduce a bill that would offer grants to pharmacy assistance programs, including the Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Elderly Program. The grants would be subsidized with proceeds from pharmaceutical sales. The bill also would budget $1 million for doctor and patient education on the "benefits of generic drugs" and would allocate $5 million to the FDA's generic drug review program (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/14). Kennedy also supports a patients' bill of rights and advocates doubling the NIH budget and increasing research funding for diseases including asthma, cancer, Parkinson's disease, lupus, osteoporosis, diabetes and birth defects. In addition, Kennedy favors increasing spending on community mental health services, senior mental health research and treatment and supports equality in mental and physical health coverage (Kennedy Web site).
    
  
  
  • Rogers has said he supports the GOP-backed Medicare reform bill that included a Medicare prescription drug benefit, which passed in the House in June (Rogers Web site).
    

  West Virginia, 2nd District
  Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R) is being challenged by Former state Sen. Jim Humphreys (D).
  
  

  • Capito has served as vice chair of the Speaker's Prescription Drug Task Force. She has introduced legislation that would provide Medicare coverage for 75% of drug costs up to $2,000 a year, 50% of costs between $2,000 and $5,000 and 100% of costs that exceed $5,000 (Capito Web site). In addition, Capito has said a prescription drug benefit should be available to all seniors through Medicare, should be voluntary, should never expire and should provide "extra help" for low-income beneficiaries and those with catastrophic prescription costs. Capito also voted in favor of legislation passed in the House earlier this year that would provide prescription drug coverage for seniors with incomes less than 150% of the federal poverty level (Charleston Gazette, 10/27).
    
  
  
  • Humphreys supports legislation that would provide health care coverage for recently unemployed workers and advocates a patients' bill of rights. In addition, Humphreys has said he would work with state leaders to expand the CHIP program to every uninsured child in the state and would "fight to stop big drug companies from overcharging seniors for their medications" (Humphreys Web site). Humphreys has said that seniors should have access to a "guaranteed" Medicare prescription drug benefit that does not preclude certain drugs and is not based on income (Charleston Gazette, 10/27).