Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Rounds Up Coverage of Results in 18 House Races

Over the past several months, Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report has identified some of the major House races in which health care has played a central role. The following are the results of those races and a brief description of the candidates' health care stances.

Arizona, 7th District
Former Pima County Supervisor Raul Grijalva (D) defeated former Yuma Council member Ross Hieb (R) for the newly redistricted seat, the Arizona Republic reports (Kamman, Arizona Republic, 11/6). Grijalva received 59% of the votes, compared to 37% for Hieb, with all precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

Arizona, 8th District
Rep. Jim Kolbe (R) defeated Pima County attorney Mary Judge Ryan (D) by a 2-to-1 margin (Corella/Beal, Arizona Daily Star, 11/6). Kolbe received 63% of votes to Ryan's 34%, with 100% of precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

Arkansas, 4th District
Rep. Mike Ross (R) defeated former Rep. Jay Dickey (D). Ross received 60% of the votes, while Dickey received 40%, with 98% of the precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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) defeated Rep. James Maloney (D) for the newly redistricted seat (Keating/Altimari, Hartford Courant, 11/6). Johnson received 54% of the votes to Maloney's 43%, with 100% of districts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

Florida, 5th District
In Florida's "closest congressional battle" on Nov. 5, state Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite (R) defeated incumbent Rep. Karen Thurman (D), the Orlando Sentinel reports. With 99% of precincts reporting, Brown-Waite received 48% of the votes and Thurman received 47% (Mussenden/Garcia, Orlando Sentinel, 11/6). 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).

Florida, 22nd District
Rep. Clay Shaw (R) won a "decisive victory" over Palm Beach County Commissioner Carol Roberts (D), the Miami Herald reports (Reinhard/Ottey, Miami Herald, 11/6). Shaw won 60% of the vote while Roberts won 39%, with 100% of the precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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. John Shimkus (R) defeated Rep. David Phelps (D) to win the newly redistricted seat, the Springfield State Journal-Register reports (Olsen, Springfield State Journal-Register, 11/6). Shimkus received 55% of the vote compared with 45% for Phelps, with 100% of the precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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
Rep. Jim Nussle (R) "beat back the challenge" of Bettendorf, Iowa, Mayor Ann Hutchinson (D), the Des Moines Register reports (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 11/6). With all precincts reporting, Nussle received 57% of the votes and Hutchinson received 43% (CNN.com, 11/6). 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." 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) defeated pediatrician Dr. Julie Thomas (D) in a "closely watched" race, the Des Moines Register reports (Fuson, Des Moines Register, 11/6). Leach received 52% of the vote while Thomas received 46%, with 99% of precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

Iowa, 4th District
Rep. Tom Latham (R) defeated former state Democratic Party Chair and chief of staff to former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) John Norris (D), the Des Moines Register reports (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 11/6). Latham received 55% of the votes, compared to 43% for Norris, with all precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

Kentucky, 3rd District
Rep. Anne Northup (R) "survived a stiff challenge" from attorney Jack Conway (D), the Lexington Herald-Leader reports (Lockwood, Lexington Herald-Leader, 11/6). Northup won 52% of the vote and Conway won 48%, with 100% of precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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 Sen. Mike Michaud (D) defeated Republican Kevin Raye (R), former chief of staff for Sen. Olympia Snowe (R), to capture the seat vacated by John Baldacci (D), the New York Times reports (New York Times, 11/6). Michaud received 53% of the vote and Raye got 47%, with 90% of precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

Maryland, 8th District
State Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) defeated "popular eight-term incumbent" Rep. Connie Morella (R), the Baltimore Sun reports (Barker/Green, Baltimore Sun, 11/6). Van Hollen won 52% of the vote to Morella's 47%, with all precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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) defeated Rep. Bill Luther (D), the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports (von Sternberg et al., Minneapolis Star Tribune, 11/6). Kline received 53% of the vote and Luther garnered 42%, with 99% of precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). Kline supports a Medicare prescription drug benefit available to all seniors (Kline Web site).

Mississippi, 3rd District
Rep. Chip Pickering (R) "decisively" defeated Rep. Ronnie Shows (D) for the newly redistricted seat. Pickering won 64% of the vote to Shows' 35%, with most districts reporting (Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 11/6). 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).

Pennsylvania, 17th District
Rep. Tim Holden (D) "edged past" Rep. George Gekas (R) for the newly redistricted seat, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/6). Holden received 51% of the votes, while Gekas received 49%, with all precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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) defeated technical analyst David Rogers (R), giving him a fifth term in Congress (Corkery, Providence Journal, 11/6). Kennedy won 60% of the votes to Rogers' 37%, with 99% of precincts reporting (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).

West Virginia, 2nd District
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R) defeated former state Sen. Jim Humphreys (D). With all precincts reporting, Capito received 60% of the vote and Humphreys received 40% (CNN.com, 11/6). 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).