Fixing health care: 2 differing approaches

July 29--Both Rep. Claudia Tenney and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi want to fix the American health care system.

How they plan to do that is where they differ.

Tenney, the incumbent Republican congresswoman, has voted for the American Health Care Act, which she said would have helped people who are struggling with insurance.

"We spent a lot of time on it all last year and came up with the American Health Care Act to try to give an opportunity for Americans to once again be able to afford health insurance and to have flexibility to," she said. "We've done a lot of things since the American Health Care Act to try to provide and give people lifelines to rescue them from Obamacare."

Running against Tenney in the 22nd Congressional district, Democrat Brindisi said the first thing that needs to be fixed is the Affordable Care Act and make health insurance more affordable for everyone.

"We're faced with the fact, here in New York, that due to the relentless attacks on the Affordable Care Act, premiums are going up and my vote on the New York Health Act was a message to the federal government to do something about rising premiums," he said. "I think the No. 1 problem with health care in America is that it's too expensive -- it's the classic rip off -- we're paying more and getting less."

In the state Legislature, Brindisi worked with state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, to get funding to improve health care access in the region.

He helped get $8 million for Rome Memorial Hospital and $3 million for Eastern Star Home in Oriskany. Brindisi also supported legislation to stem the increase in prescription drug prices, something he believes needs to be done at the federal level.

"One thing we need is a real plan to lower drug prices," Brindisi said. "Some ideas that I have are to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies; we need more transparency in drug prices and the government should take a tougher stance against companies that price gouge consumers. I believe we also have to look for ways to make it easier for generics to get to market so there's more competition. And finally, we should be doing what Sen. Griffo and I did at the state level when we were able to get language inserted into the state budget to increase transparency in drug prices."

Since being sworn into Congress, Tenney has voted to extend the Children's Health Insurance Program for 10 years. She also co-sponsored the Community Health Investment, Modernization and Excellence Act that would reauthorize community health centers for five years.

Tenney believes that health care for all or single-payer health care is "new socialism" and shouldn't be passed. But her votes for the AHCA have drawn criticism from some.

Many critics of the AHCA have said it would have taken away coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, but Tenney said that is a lie.

"The biggest, I would call it a flat-out lie that Democrats are telling, is that they keep saying we cut out pre-existing conditions," Tenney said. "It's funny, because the exact opposite is true. The bill that we passed would prohibit insurance companies from not insuring people with pre-existing conditions; they actually have to insure them."

The act would have allowed for states to seek a waiver that would make it possible to charge patients more if their coverage lapsed for more than 63 days, which could be used against people with pre-existing conditions, some argue.

If she were elected, Tenney said she would continue to try to provide a way for those people who want health insurance -- but can't get it because of Obamacare -- to get insurance.

"We're going to continue to fight the battle to do what we're doing -- to give people a lifeline from Obamacare," she said. "We're also going to come up and try to renegotiate some kind of solution. ... We're going to try to lower premiums, we're going to give people the opportunity to buy across state lines. Ultimately, we'd like to see us be able to repeal and replace Obamacare with something that actually gives quality health care, preserves the relationship between patients and doctors."

Brindisi said Congress needs to restore the individual mandate, continue cost-sharing reduction subsidies that help pay out-of-pocket costs of low-income Americans and unfreeze the risk-adjustment program that help insurers afford high-risk customers.

"When it comes to health care, my No. 1 priority in Congress is fixing the Affordable Care Act and stopping attempts to take away protections for people with pre-existing conditions," he said. "I believe that health insurance should be a right, not a privilege. Nobody in this country should have to declare bankruptcy because they can't afford their medical bills, and seniors should not have to choose between paying for prescription drugs or going without a meal."

Contact reporter Samantha Madison at 315-792-5015 and follow her on Twitter (@OD_Madison).

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