Unraveling Indiana candidates’ health care policies – Indianapolis Recorder

As Indiana’s gubernatorial election approaches, three candidates are offering different visions for health care. Here’s a review of their recommendations and what they mean for Hoosiers facing significant health issues:

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.)

Braun’s health plan, created in partnership with the nonprofit Hoosiers for Opportunity, Prosperity and Enterprise (HOPE Inc.), proposes six key points to “protect patients from unexpected medical bills and putting Hoosiers in the driver’s seat for their health care.” The six strategies are:

1. Improve quality.

2. Low cost.

3. Improve transparency.

4. Increase access.

5. Promote good health.

6. Increase competition.

To improve quality, Braun’s strategy is to prioritize quality primary care, invest in patient data and support Indiana’s healthcare workforce.

To reduce costs, the plan of action is to create more options for affordable coverage, prevent unexpected medical bills, lower prescription costs, help with long-term care and create coverage against waste, fraud and abuse.

Improving transparency starts with making health care prices more predictable, accessible and affordable.

The expanded access plan is to support Hoosiers with pre-existing conditions, increase access to treatment for rare and fatal diseases, improve access and capacity for care in rural areas and support local suppliers.

Braun hopes to promote good health through healthy lifestyle and other preventive services.

To increase competition, Braun’s plan is to strengthen enforcement of antitrust laws and remove barriers to entry.

Braun declined to give The Recorder a quote about his policies.

Jennifer McCormick, Democratic candidate

McCormick’s plan is based on the idea that “when Hoosiers are healthy, they thrive in the classroom, at work and at home.”

In McCormick’s health care plan, his goals are:

• Addressing the monopolization of Indiana hospitals by creating competition with private hospitals, promoting the recruitment and retention of health care workers and providing professional independence in the workplace.

• Reducing the cost of prescription drugs.

• Prioritizing nationwide access to quality and affordable mental health services.

• Expanding Hoosiers’ Right to Try About Their Health Care by Removing Barriers and Providing Education to People With Disadvantages.

• Fighting for all Hoosiers to make their own health care decisions, including reproductive rights and freedoms, IVF acceptance and access to contraception.

• To provide nationwide access to maternal health services.

• Reducing the infant mortality rate in Indiana.

• Analyzing and solving problems within the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) operations.

• To support the development of a legal, well-regulated cannabis market.

• Supporting organ and tissue donation by creating a better support system for living donors.

• To promote policies that protect wetlands, water, air, soil, recreational forests and wildlife.

• Prioritizing Indiana’s top health care programs.

• Working with local offices to support their health centers and providers.

• Fully support Medicaid and the Health First Indiana program.

• Prioritizing education about vaccines and vaccines.

McCormick’s health care plan and policies have found a solid foundation for abortion rights, which he says is central to his plan and gubernatorial election.

“It’s about making sure Hoosiers are heard,” McCormick said. “This election, 100%, is a referendum on abortion rights. It is a referendum on our freedom. ”

Donald Rainwater, Libertarian candidate

Rainwater health care policies are based on medical freedom and individual choice. The four main points are:

• Health care coverage and prescriptions
• Libertarian position: The government should not force citizens to buy health insurance.
• Voluntary vaccinations: The government should not require vaccinations.
• Mask orders: The government should not require a mask order.

• Strengthening legal protection
• Living will and medical power of attorney: Rainwater will work to strengthen this protection.
• Clear processes: Rainwater will ensure that documents of the will and medical power of attorney are available, well understood and respected by donors.

• Rights of fathers and minors
• Autonomy for parents: Travelers must retain the right to make decisions for their children.
• Informed consent: Parents should receive full information about treatments, vaccines and potential risks.

• Indiana as a beacon of medical freedom
• Lead by example: Rainwater will advocate for medical freedom.

Rainwater has the function of life and supports the principle of non-violence, which affirms that the initiation of violence, whether through physical force or coercion, is always illegal. Rainwater also supports the legalization and legalization of marijuana.

“Health insurance and health care are areas where Hoosiers need our federal and state governments to reduce monopolistic regulations that have created little competition, lack of real innovation and high costs,” the said Rainwater.

For more information on Braun’s health policies, visit mikebraunforindiana.com. To read McCormick’s policies, visit mccormickforgov.com. Rainwater can be found at rainwaterforindiana.com.

To read more political stories, click here.

Contact Life and Environment Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.