Donna Shalala Invites Maria Elvira Salazar to Discussion on Healthcare

Press Release

Donna Shalala, Democratic candidate for District 27, invites her opponent, Republican candidate Maria Elvira Salazar, to join her in discussing their respective positions on health care, one of the most important issues facing South Florida.

Donna Shalala is deeply concerned about the future of healthcare for Floridians. We are currently facing possible changes in protections for people with pre-existing conditions as a result of a lawsuit filed by the State of Texas and signed onto by Florida's Attorney General Pam Bondi that seeks the strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Shalala, the former Secretary of the Health & Human Services Department under President Bill Clinton, opposes the lawsuit because it threatens the protection that 7.8 million Floridians who have pre-existing conditions currently have under the ACA. In addition, there are approximately 600,000 people under the age of 65 in Miami-Dade County that have pre-existing conditions. Some of the most common pre-existing conditions include: pregnancy, cancer, diabetes, lupus, HIV, and mental health issues.

The State of Florida also has the highest number of ACA marketplace enrollees among all fifty states with 1.7 million choosing a plan during Open Enrollment this year, and the 27th Congressional District has the single largest of marketplace enrollees among congressional districts nationwide, with nearly 100,000 people enrolled.

To ensure access to high quality, affordable health care and work towards universal care, Donna Shalala has proposed defending and improving the Affordable Care Act, implementing her "Medicare Option for All" plan, and reducing prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices.

The voters in FL-27 have only heard of Mrs. Salazar proposal to allow companies to purchase health insurance policies across state lines, a position President Donald Trump supports but has very little potential for implementation or success.

Donna Shalala is a national leader on health care, and will bring her unique expertise to Congress, where she is ready to fight for everyone on day one. She holds the distinction of having been the longest-serving HHS Secretary in U.S. history, where she fought to create, implement and oversee the Children's Healthcare Insurance Program, currently covering more than 9 million children throughout the country. She also worked to double the budget of the National Institute of Health and secured the highest immunization rates in American history. She currently serves as the Trustee Professor of Political Science and Health Policy at the University of Miami.

"I look forward to discussing the vital issue of healthcare with Mrs. Salazar, whenever she chooses," said Donna Shalala.

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