Health Care Campaign 2008: Governor Sarah Palin
Even if you aren’t following the presidential election, you probably heard about Republican nominee Senator John McCain’s pick for vice president: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Governor Palin has been touted by Republicans as a fresh face for Washington, a reformer, and a true conservative - not to mention that she’s the first female on the Republican presidential ticket and she would be the first female vice president in American history.
So where does Governor Palin stand when it comes to health care and health insurance reform? Unfortunately, she doesn’t have much of a health care record. But from what we’ve researched, Governor Palin does have a traditional stance toward health care reform as many of her Republican colleagues.
For one, Palin seems to strongly support increased competition to reduce health care costs. In Alaska, new medical facilities can only be opened if the state decides that the facility is actually needed. Any new facility needs to obtain a “certificate-of-need.” This year, Governor Palin fought to get rid of this law so new facilities could freely open and increase competition in the market.
“Under our present Certificate of Need process, costs and needs don’t drive health care choices, bureaucracy does. Our system is broken and expensive.” this is what Palin said, after her efforts had failed. Even thought they failed, she stills favors market health care coverage.
Regarding the SCHIP, Palin sides with the majority of Republican on expanding it. Palin opposed legislation this year in Alaska, when it was introduced. We will probably hear more about Palin’s thoughts and agendas now that she has been formally introduced.
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