We all pay too much for health care.
Beshear
Far too many do not go to the doctor or fill a prescription because it simply costs too much.
I am fighting on many fronts to protect access to affordable health care because I don’t want to see medical bills continue to climb and millions of people to lose coverage.
I don’t want folks with pre-existing medical conditions – like asthma and diabetes – to be denied health care. I sure don’t want to see our grandparents paying more for prescription drugs and women paying more just because of their gender.
Keeping the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in place also protects coverage for 500,000 Kentuckians, many who received coverage for the first time in their lives thanks to the expansion of Medicaid. In fact, Kentucky led the nation in the reduction of uninsured residents.
Through the expansion of Medicaid, one study found colon cancer screenings jumped 230 percent in the state and the risk of death from the disease reduced by 27 percent.
These are just a few of the reasons I am leading the efforts to stop those who would strip health care benefits from Kentucky families.
Recently, I joined 11 attorneys general in securing a major first win in this fight.
We won a federal lawsuit that will protect essential health care benefits for Kentuckians on individual and small group health insurance plans. Now, many more Kentucky families won’t have to worry about having their health care taken away.
If we succeed in our arguments in a case out of Texas, Kentucky will be part of the national effort that will ultimately preserve access to affordable health care. This case is critical for more than 1.3 million Kentuckians and tens of millions of Americans.
In parts of the state where the loss of jobs has devastated local economies, life expectancy is far less than the national average. If we’re going to change that statistic, we must win this case so those people can have access to preventive care and affordable insurance.
Another devastating statistic is that we lose 30 Kentuckians a week to a fatal overdose. If we don’t protect the ACA, many facing addiction will be unable to find the resources needed for drug treatment, which is necessary in the ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic.
Studies have shown rural hospitals have received billions from Medicaid expansion, and without this critical funding many would be in dire financial straits. Treatment could be jeopardized and thousands of good-paying jobs could be lost in the neediest areas.
Protecting Kentuckians has also led me to take on the pharmaceutical industry.
I am holding nine opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable in Kentucky courts for their role in the opioid epidemic. I want them to pay to help us recover.
Last month, we launched an investigation into pharmaceutical companies who have allegedly charged the state, Kentuckians and local community pharmacies more for prescription drugs. If we have overpaid, I want them to pay us back.
Kentucky cannot afford to step back and that’s why I’ve stepped forward to fight for the very livelihood of our families and communities.
I am working to ensure major corporations stop putting profits ahead of the health and safety of our Kentucky families.
Andy Beshear is Kentucky’s Attorney General
