Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

Utah legislators paid no mind to what their constituents thought when they approved a sort of Medicaid expansion plan that isn't even substantial enough to earn the label "bare bones."" --Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

We need to re-address health care expansion in Utah. House Bill 437 was a slap in the face to majority of Utahns wanted to see Healthy Utah or full Medicaid expansion. I'm disappointed that our current senator worked to stop measures that would make health care accessible to Utah's poorest citizens. It makes no sense to turn down money that Utah taxpayers had already paid. I will work to advance common sense solutions that allow more Utahns access to affordable health care.

"The most important element for expansion is the human aspect that applies to the conversation: There will be fewer uninsured people and significantly less spending on uncompensated care (care for which doctors, clinics and hospitals are not paid for) and public assistance programs. With expansion, a significant number of Utahns will have health insurance. Not only will this improve access to health-care services for thousands of low-income people, it will also save Utah over $814 million in uncompensated care costs and $39 million in public assistance costs over the next decade." - David Entwistle is CEO of University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics

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