Healthcare and Reproductive Rights
Affordable health care - I ultimately believe that a federal “Medicare for All” style system is going to be the only way forward to provide all Americans with access to quality, affordable healthcare. Until that time, we can reduce the cost of prescription drugs by preventing the supply chain of pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy benefit managers and insurance companies from inflating the price of prescription drugs. We can continue to make permanent in our state law the requirements of the Affordable Care Act that insurance policies continue to cover a full range of benefits like mental health care, newborn care, emergency and hospital care and prescription drugs. We also need to fight to make sure pre-existing conditions continue to be covered. We can prevent insurance companies from renegotiating with and changing network providers during a plan year. Finally, we should look at providing a public option for health insurance that can provide decent health insurance at a reasonable cost to anyone who wants it. We continue to make progress in these areas.
Protecting Reproductive Rights - I strongly support a woman's right to choose. That is why I proudly co-sponsored Connecticut's strongest in the nation law which insures that Connecticut residents will not be subject to the draconian laws being enacted in places like Texas and Missouri. My Republican opponent this year is on record opposing this legislation and supports scaling back our reproductive rights.
End the opioid epidemic - We must continue to address the opioid epidemic in our state. Despite the expansion of access to treatment and other substantial policy achievements, the opioid epidemic continues to grip Connecticut. More than 1,000 Connecticut residents die from opioid-related overdoses every year– more than from car accidents, homicides and suicides combined. We need to continue to work with medical professionals and experts to preserve the gains already made and further expand access to treatment.