After a narrow competition in Iowa and just six days before the next contest, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both took the stage at a town hall in Derry, N. H., to talk issues and answer questions.
Here is how the Democratic presidential candidates answered six challenges related to their views and experience in healthcare policy.
1. After explaining his Medicare for All tax plan, Sen. Sanders is challenged to explain how he will pass a single-payer plan through Congress. He responded: "What this campaign is about is, not just electing a President, it is creating a political revolution where millions of people, many of whom have not been involved in the political process, stand up and demand a government which represents all of us, not just wealthy campaign contributors. That's how we make change."
2. Sen. Sanders, who previously chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and helped pass $16 billion veterans healthcare legislation, is asked why it took so long to acknowledge problems with the VA. He responded: "Your point is fair that we should've acted sooner. We should've known what was going on in Phoenix, those long waiting lines and the lies that some administrators were telling us.
On the other hand, what we also did, though, is make significant progress in terms of dealing with homelessness. We passed a post 9/11 GI bill, which provides college education for the men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. We passed a Caregivers Act, which for the first time will provide support for those folks, mostly women, who are staying home with disabled vets."
3. Sen. Sanders is asked if he could make it to a second term. He responded: "You know, I am, thank God, in good health. And one can't predict the future, one never knows what happens tomorrow. But, thank God, I have — when I was a kid, I was a long-distance runner. I was not quite the marathon runner, but I was a cross-country runner," he added, "And I've had good endurance and good strength my whole life. So, you know, if I am fortunate enough to win the general election, and we do well, yes, I would like to run for re-election."
4. Both candidates addressed the growing substance abuse issues. Sen. Sanders said: "When I talk about moving toward universal health care, what I understand that to be, and it is absolutely imperative that it be, is understanding that mental health and addiction is part of healthcare... These drugs are rampant. Kids are using them, getting addicted then getting into heroin. So I think we got to talk to the pharmaceutical industry about what they're producing, doctors what they're prescribing. And then we have to make treatment available to people when they need it."
Ms. Clinton addressed opioid abuse hand-in-hand with marijuana laws. "We have to work on doctors to understand better when they prescribe opioids, which is often the first step towards heroin. We have to have every police department equipped with naloxone, which is the antidote to reverse overdose, save lives here in New Hampshire. We've got to put more money into this... You deserve answers about marijuana and we deserve more treatment for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol for other kinds of challenges. So that's what I would like to do."
5. Ms. Clinton is challenged when asked why the majority of young women support Sen. Sanders and why she isn't pushing for revolution. She responded: "Well, that's for Sen. Sanders to explain because that certainly is the core of his message to young people. I have a different take on it. I think the progress that we have made, and particularly the Democratic Party has made, has been hard fought for, hard won and must be defended," adding, "So I want to defend the Affordable Care Act. It is one of the great accomplishments, not only of this president, but of the Democratic Party going back to Harry Truman."
6. Ms. Clinton is asked what she will do for physician-assisted suicide and end-of-life discussions. "I have to tell you, this is the first time I've been asked that question, Ms. Clinton said. "We are, on the good side, having many people live longer, but often, then, with very serious illnesses that they can be sustained on, but at some point, don't want to continue with the challenges that poses," she added, "So I don't have any easy or glib answer for you. I think I would want to really immerse myself in the — the — the ethical writings, the health writings, the scientific writings, the religious writings. I know some other countries, the Netherlands and others, have a quite open approach. I'd like to know what their experience has been."
More articles on leadership and management:
What's going on at Yahoo? 5 things to know
41-year member of Upper Allegheny Health System board to step down
HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital adds 3 board members