|
Dick Cheney on Health Care
Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush
|
|
FactCheck: Claimed $15B for AIDS-actually $2B this year
FACT CHECK: Cheney used a misleading figure to support the idea that the administration was �deeply concerned� about the toll that AIDS has taken on poor countries, stating that the administration has �authorized $15 billion to help in the international
effort.� That�s true, but the $15-billion figure was to be spread over five years-and when it came actually appropriating and spending the funds, Bush sought only $2 billion for the fiscal year that just ended. Congress increased that to $2.4 billion.
Source: Edwards-Cheney debate analysis by FactCheck 2004
, Oct 6, 2004
We�ve made significant progress on the AIDS epidemic
A: What should the government�s role be in helping to end the growth of the AIDS epidemic? CHENEY: This is a great tragedy when you think about the enormous cost here in the US and around the world of the AIDS epidemic. Bush has been deeply concerned
about it. He has moved and proposed and gotten through the Congress authorization for $15 billion to help in the international effort, to be targeted in those places where we need to do everything we can, through a combination of education as well as
providing the kinds of medicines that will help people control the infection. Here in the US, we�ve made significant progress. I have not heard the numbers with respect to African- American women. We have made progress in terms of the overall rate of
AIDS infection, primarily through a combination of education and public awareness as well as the development, as a result of research, of drugs that allow people to live longer lives even though they are infected - obviously we need to do more of that.
Source: Edwards-Cheney debate: 2004 Vice Presidential
, Oct 5, 2004
Rising malpractice insurance rates is a devastating problem
Q: You have said that lawsuits are partly to blame for higher medical costs. Has John Edwards been part of the problem? A: I�m not familiar with his cases. My concern is specifically with what�s happened to our medical care system because of rising
malpractice insurance rates, because we failed to adequately reform our medical liability structure. And they were deeply concerned because they were fearful that there�d be another increase in malpractice insurance rates as a result of what they believe
are frivolous lawsuits and that that would put them out of business. In Wyoming, we�ve lost the top insurer of malpractice insurance in the state. The rates for a general practitioner have gone from $40,000 a year to $100,000 a year for an insurance
policy. We think this has a devastating impact on the quality of health care. High risk patients don�t get covered anymore. We�ve lost one out of eleven OB/GYN practitioners in the country. We think it can be fixed, needs to be fixed.
Source: Edwards-Cheney debate: 2004 Vice Presidential
, Oct 5, 2004
The Medicare reform bill will help 40 million seniors
CHENEY: The most important and significant change in health care in the last several years was the Medicare reform bill this year. Medicare used to pay for heart bypass surgery but didn�t pay for the prescription drugs that might allow you to avoid it.
It�ll provide prescription drug benefits to 40 million senior citizens.EDWARDS: They had a choice on allowing prescription drugs into this country from Canada, of being with the American people or with the drug companies. They were with the drug
companies. They had a choice on negotiating discounts in the Medicare prescription drug bill of being with the American people or with the drug companies. They were with the drug companies. They had a choice on the patients� bill of rights, allowing
people to make their own health care decisions and not having insurance companies make them, be with the American people, be with the big insurance companies. They�re with the insurance companies.
Source: Edwards-Cheney debate: 2004 Vice Presidential
, Oct 5, 2004
Limiting medical lawsuits keeps healthcare affordable
To keep health coverage affordable, Congress should pass medical liability reform this year. Frivolous lawsuits are forcing doctors to stop practicing medicine. Too often, physicians are closing their practices and moving to states where insurance
premiums are lower. Those that remain often have to order unnecessary tests and procedures just to avoid the possibility of a lawsuit. This defensive medicine drives up health care cost, and all Americans pay those bills. This is a national problem-
it needs a national solution. The time has come for Congress to set reasonable limits on the litigation culture. We need a cap of $250,000 on non-economic damages, and we need reasonable limits on punitive damages.
The House has already passed a good bill reforming medical liability. Now the Senate needs to act. No one was ever healed by a frivolous lawsuit.
Source: Remarks at the National Minority Enterprise Conference
, Sep 30, 2003
Limit federal role in health care
Cheney supports the GOP platform, which says about health care:- Truly positive market forces occur when individuals have the ability to make individual marketplace decisions.
- We therefore strongly encourage support of the emerging concepts of
defined contribution plans and medical savings accounts.
- Individuals should be free to manage their own health care needs through Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) and Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs).
- These initiatives make a government
takeover of health care as anachronistic as surgery without anesthesia.
- We will make these accounts the vanguard of a new consumer rights movement in health care.
- Our overall philosophy is to trust state and local government to know what best
suits the needs of their people.
- We believe the federal government should respect the states� traditional authority to regulate health insurance, health care professionals, and health practice guidelines through their medical boards.
Source: Republican party platform 2000, �Quality Care�
, Aug 15, 2000
Prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients
Cheney said he opposed some worthy social programs while in Congress because the country couldn�t afford them, given budget deficits and the need to increase military spending to fight the Cold War. Given the current economic climate, Cheney said: �We�re
now in a position to be able to look at doing some things from the compassionate standpoint.� He mentioned prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients, something his fellow conservatives fought for some time before offering a plan of their own.
Cheney said he opposed some worthy social programs while in Congress because the country couldn�t afford them, given budget deficits and the need to increase military spending to fight the Cold War. Given the current economic climate, Cheney said: �We�re
now in a position to be able to look at doing some things from the compassionate standpoint.� He mentioned prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients, something his fellow conservatives fought for some time before offering a plan of their own.
Source: D. Ian Hopper, Associated Press
, Jul 26, 2000
Fund Medicare psychologists; self-employees; & organ donors
Cheney co-sponsored the following bills in Congress:- H.R.774 (1989):A bill with respect to coverage of services of psychologists under the medicare program.
- H.R.11 (1986) & H.R.3487 (1984):A bill to provide that one-half of the amounts paid
by a self-employed taxpayer for his or her health insurance premiums will be allowed as a business deduction.
- H.R.4080 & H.R. 5580 (1984):A bill to authorize financial assistance for organ procurement organizations, and for other purposes.
Source: Thomas Register of Congressional Votes
, Jan 1, 1989
Require HMO registration & AIDS testing
Cheney co-sponsored the following bills in Congress:- H.R.186 (1988):A bill to require the registration of certain nonprofit entities which provide health services and sell prescription drugs.
- H.R.2272 & H.R.2273 (1988):A bill to prohibit grants
to any public entity that does not establish requirements with respect to testing for AIDS.
- H.CON.RES.40 (1989):Expressing the sense of Congress that Medicare payments should not be reduced below the levels provided in current law.
Source: Thomas Register of Congressional Votes
, Jan 1, 1988
Voted against 1979 hospital cost control plan
Cheney�s votes on key social issues bills in Congress:- Voted NO to impose textile import limits over Reagan veto (1986)
- Voted YES to weaken gun control laws (1986)
- Voted YES to reject hospital cost control plan (1979)
- Voted NO to establish the Department of Education (1979)
- Voted YES to approve anti-busing Amendment (1979)
Source: Congressional Record, in Poltics in America, Alan Ehrenhalt
, Jan 1, 1979
Voted YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Vote to pass an amendment that would make up to $300 billion available for a Medicare prescription drug benefit for 2002 through 2011. The money would come from the budget's contingency fund. The amendment would also require a Medicare overhaul.
Reference:
Bill H Con Res 83
; vote number 2001-65
on Apr 3, 2001
- Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care.
- Click here for VoteMatch responses by Dick Cheney.
- Click here for AmericansElect.org quiz by Dick Cheney.
|
Other past presidents on Health Care: |
Dick Cheney on other issues: |
Former Presidents:
Barack Obama(D,2009-2017)
George W. Bush(R,2001-2009)
Bill Clinton(D,1993-2001)
George Bush Sr.(R,1989-1993)
Ronald Reagan(R,1981-1989)
Jimmy Carter(D,1977-1981)
Gerald Ford(R,1974-1977)
Richard Nixon(R,1969-1974)
Lyndon Johnson(D,1963-1969)
John F. Kennedy(D,1961-1963)
Dwight Eisenhower(R,1953-1961)
Harry S Truman(D,1945-1953)
Past Vice Presidents:
V.P.Joseph Biden
V.P.Dick Cheney
V.P.Al Gore
V.P.Dan Quayle
Sen.Bob Dole
Political Parties:
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Libertarian Party
Green Party
Reform Party
Natural Law Party
Tea Party
Constitution Party
|
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
|
|
Page last updated: Feb 22, 2022