Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

* Dr. Dan Benishek's viewpoint:

As a surgeon for over 25 years, Dr. Benishek has an acute appreciation for the delivery of health care services. By serving as a physician for a principally rural population, he further recognizes the fact that a one-size-fits-all federal solution cannot accommodate the unique and diverse health care challenges facing Northern Michigan.

* Quoting Dan Benishek:

"I am strongly opposed to "ObamaCare' in the form passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress. The American health care system, while the best in the world, merits reform -- but not the types of changes enacted under this new health care law. In my view, the so-called "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act' moves in the wrong direction. The reason this law is so unpopular is because citizens recognize that it would assert federal control over health care benefits and financing, erect a complex one-size-fits-all health system, and centralize America's health care decisions in Washington. As a doctor, taxpayer, and now candidate, I want Congress to transform the health care system into one that empowers individuals and families -- not Washington -- to control more of their health care decisions."

* Repeal ObamaCare:

On a recent ballot referendum, over 70 percent of Missouri residents rejected the provision in ObamaCare requiring that individuals purchase a health insurance plan designed and approved by government bureaucrats. This opposition at the state level is widespread and manifesting itself in the form of ballot initiatives, legislation, and court challenges. The easiest way to address all these grievances is to simply repeal ObamaCare.

* Allow Customization of Insurance and Promote Competition:

A major reason why health insurance is so expensive is that many state legislatures require policies to provide benefits that some families do not want. These mandates increase costs for everyone. Additionally, interstate competition in the health insurance industry should be permitted and promoted. Just like competition in the auto insurance industry, this would bring costs down.

* AIDS Prevention:

Dr. Benishek supports the efforts of prior administrations to support abstinence education and to promote healthy relationships.

* Ethical Research, Embryonic Stem Cells, and Cloning:

Dr. Benishek supports innovative scientific research, without undermining the fundamental ethical principles that have guided medical research in this country for decades. As someone whose work has depended on medical research, this issue has personal meaning. Dr. Benishek would welcome and encourage a stronger emphasis on adult stem cell and umbilical cord blood stem cell research, which provides real promise for treatments to help millions of Americans. Dr. Benishek strongly supports a policy that prevents taxpayer dollars from being used to encourage the future destruction of human embryos. In addition, Dr. Benishek favors the approach which calls for a comprehensive ban on human cloning and on the creation of human embryos solely for experimentation.

* Physician Assisted Suicide:

Dr. Benishek vigorously opposes the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment because of disability, age, or infirmity, just as society opposes euthanasia and assisted suicide. Dr. Benishek favors focusing research and treatment resources on the alleviation of pain and the care of terminally ill patients.

* Medicare Reform:

Dr. Benishek favors giving Americans access to an insurance plan similar to what Congress has, including medical savings accounts. He supports building on the strength of the free market system, offering seniors real choices, and making sure there are incentives for the private sector to develop innovative drugs. No more one-size-fits-all approaches. Dr. Benishek also believes Medicare needs new measures to ensure long-term solvency. Efforts must be made to reduce the administrative complexities in the system. A reformed Medicare program must provide reimbursement at levels that will permit providers to continue to care for patients.

* Give Individuals Tools to Manage Their Own Health Needs:

Dr. Benishek supports initiatives that would allow individuals the freedom to manage their own health needs through Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) and Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs). MSAs should be a permanent part of tax law, offered to all workers without restriction.

* Preventative Care:

One area of health care that is sadly ignored is the role of primary and preventive care. Dr. Benishek supports boosting funding for community health centers and establishing stronger public-private partnerships for safety-net providers and hospitals in underserved communities.

* Promote Personal Control Through Tax Equity:

Today, workers who purchase coverage through their employer receive an unlimited tax break on the value of their health care benefits. However, those who purchase coverage on their own receive no comparable tax break. Dr. Benishek believes the current tax exclusion should be replaced with a system of universal tax credits for taxpayers. Concurrently, efforts should be made to help low-income individuals and families purchase private health insurance. Putting Americans in charge of their health care dollars and decisions will go a long way toward bringing about greater efficiency and cost reduction to the health care system.

* Promote Federal--State Partnerships:

A one-size-fits-all federal solution cannot accommodate the unique and diverse health care challenges facing Northern Michigan. States should take the lead in health care reform by identifying the key health care challenges facing their citizens. States should structure a patient-based marketplace for health insurance and expand affordable health care options for their citizens, including setting up pooling arrangements to protect persons with pre-existing conditions, while not unduly burdening taxpayers. Beyond reforming the tax treatment of health insurance and restructuring health care entitlements, the federal government should promote interstate commerce in health insurance, extend certain protections for those who maintain continuous coverage, and provide states with technical assistance and relief from federal rules that inhibit innovation.

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