Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

Health Care

Recognizing that millions of Americans lack access to adequate and affordable health care, I believe that a government funded and operated non-profit health care option is the most effective way to provide comprehensive, universal, cost-effective health care. I believe access to quality, affordable health care is a right, not a privilege. In addition, I would work to expand the highly-effective and highly-efficient community health center programs, which, provide comprehensive primary care services to all in their community without regard to ability to pay. I also wants to significantly expand the National Health Service Corps which provides scholarships and loan repayment to those health professionals who agree to work in medical and dental under-served areas, a vital resource for overcoming the shortage of health personnel in urban and inner city regions. It is essential that Americans have access to care and the community health center and health service corps programs make significant progress in providing that access.

Primary Health Care

Effective primary health care is a critical component for a stronger and better health care system for all Americans. I am committed to initiatives and programs that promote primary health care and I am a supporter, and former patient, of community health centers, which offer 20 million Americans effective and affordable primary care. Study after study has shown that access to better primary care results in better health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and reduced expenditures for avoidable emergency room and institutional care. A strong primary care system not only makes Americans healthier, it saves the nation money, especially by treating health situations when they arise rather than waiting until those situations worsen and require more extensive and costly care.

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