Healthcare

Rising health care costs and access to care continue to be a top concern for many people, especially those who face chronic or acute health conditions. Being married to a nurse who’s spent years working in Chandler’s hospitals, I’m particularly mindful of this issue. Obamacare promised to reduce costs and improve access to care, and yet premiums have continued to increase (hardly living up to its name as the “Affordable Care Act”), and many providers have pulled out of markets altogether because the numbers just don’t add up, leaving people with fewer choices. Now some want to double down on this failed strategy by pushing a complete government takeover of health care—often referred to as Medicare for All. This extreme policy would be a financial and health care catastrophe. When has government-run anything actually reduced costs, let alone increased quality? I support implementing measures that will truly drive down costs, such as improving price transparency, expanding choices and competition, and advancing tort reform, while ensuring that those with preexisting conditions can get coverage. A consumer-centric model that protects the doctor (and nurse!)-patient relationship is the only way to achieving quality and affordable health care.