LOCAL VOICES
Chris Shays and his missed opportunities to improve health coverage
[June 2008] Currently, 46 million non-elderly Americans are uninsured, including 9 million children. 70% of the uninsured have a least one full time worker in the household. 23% of Americans without health insurance and 18% with health insurance went without needed prescription medication because of high costs.
How has Chris Shays addressed this problem? In 2007, he voted against a bill that would remove prohibitions to negotiating medication costs with pharmaceutical companies, a move that would lower the costs to Medicare of prescription drugs. In 2004 he voted against a bill that would make it easier for small businesses to provide health care to their employees. In 2005 he again voted against a bill that would help small businesses offer health insurance to their employees. Now, just before what is appears to be a highly contested election run against democratic candidate Jim Himes, he has agreed to co-sponsor a bill to help expand health coverage.
Chris Shays’ record is clear. He votes against the non-profit American Public Health Association recommendation 78% of the time. Are we to believe that he has had an epiphany and plans to adopt the mantle of improving health care and access to medication or is this election year pandering?
Kim Yonkers, MD, Goodridge Road