Today’s health care system does not work.
Currently, 700,000 South Carolinians have no health insurance or rely on hospital emergency rooms for their health care.
A national study by Kids Count lists our state as 45th in the nation for child well being. Our infant death rate is the highest in the nation.
We are in quite a quandary. Costs are soaring, doctors’ orders are subject to insurance company approvals, and patients are hurting.
America can do better. South Carolina can do better.
But where are our leaders?
Our Governor and state legislators have failed to take on this problem.
Here’s an example: Our cigarette tax is the lowest in the U.S. Our state leaders refuse to raise that tax. An increase of just 50 cents would raise $150,000,000 to be matched 2 to 1 by the federal government in Medicaid funds.
Think how our state’s health care could be improved with that money.
The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce stated that the opposition to health care reform led by one of our own U.S. Senators is putting small business in jeopardy.
This is a complex issue. Our current path means millions more not insured, premiums and deductibles soaring out of control, and continued dominance of health care by insurance companies, not health care providers.
Now is the time for action. Now is the time for leadership. South Carolina needs legislators who will roll up their sleeves, negotiate in good faith and bring about a solution to help all our citizens.
That is why I want to be your Congresswoman.
