Issue Position: Protecting and Expanding Healthcare

Issue Position

No one in our community should have to worry about whether or not they can afford to visit the doctor. Unfortunately, I have spoken with hundreds of our neighbors who have shared personal stories about their medical debt or inability to visit their primary care provider because of how expensive healthcare is.

I believe healthcare is a human right and I am going to fight so all our neighbors can receive the treatment they deserve, regardless of their economic background.

​

As your State Representative, I will unapologetically advocate for:

Fighting Against Cuts to Medicaid

Over the last few years, Rhode Island has continued to cut Medicaid from the state budget (in 2016 alone, we cut more than $70 million from the program). This has led to the closure of state hospitals, nursing homes, and other primary care providers. At the same time, co-pays for Medicaid recipients continue to increase.
It does not have to be this way. Instead of spending tax-dollars on "management consultants" and the privatization of government services; we can stop cutting Medicaid and further expand access to the program. When I am at the State House, I will vote against any budget cuts to Medicaid and advocate for further expansion.

Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

Each year, prescription drug prices continue to increase, forcing working families and our senior citizens to choose between paying for their medication, rent, or groceries. This is not an exaggeration as I have spoken with dozens of senior citizens who tell me they have either reduced their fillings or stopped taking their medications completely because of how expensive it is.
Our state government has the ability to address the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and it is an urgent issue we have to act on. When I am at the State House, I am going to fight for:
- Limiting Monthly Co-Pays on Prescription Drugs
- Establishing a "Prescription Drug Affordability Board" -- an independent body with the authority to negotiate with drug companies and establish fair drug costs

Supporting our Nursing Homes

Our nursing homes are suffering from staff shortages, a lack of personal protective equipment, and inadequate support. As a result, Rhode Island has the lowest average number of "care hours' in all of the New England Region.
Our seniors deserve to be cared for with dignity and respect! That is why I fully support the efforts of "Raise the Bar on Resident Care" (a coalition of nursing home caregivers, clergy members, community partners, nursing home residents and family members working to end the staffing crisis in Rhode Island nursing homes). When I am at the State House, I am going to fight for:
- Safe Staffing Regulations
- A state budget that provides nursing homes with an adequate funding stream strictly for resident care and staffing purposes
- A minimum standard of 4.5 hours of resident care per day (slightly above the federal recommendation for quality care)
- Higher wages for caregivers and healthcare workers (no caregiver and/or healthcare worker should have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet)

Achieving Universal Healthcare

Even if you have health insurance this does not necessarily mean you have access to affordable healthcare. There are thousands of neighbors in our community, who have health insurance from their employer or a private provider, but still do not receive the care they need because of how expensive it is. In between health insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles -- it is no wonder why so many of our neighbors are "underinsured".
We need a more efficient healthcare system that will guarantee coverage to everyone and will be more cost-effective for our local businesses. When I am at the State House, I am going to fight for a universal healthcare system that:
- Removes the burden of healthcare on employers
- Reduces government spending on administrative costs and shifts these dollars to the actual provision of healthcare
- Eliminates out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for working and middle-class residents
- Provides comprehensive healthcare to ALL Rhode Islanders

Source