Oregon residents were faced with a difficult decision in early 2018, as they debated Measure 101, which would uphold taxes on hospitals and insurers to support the state's growing Medicaid program. The discussion over the bill is emblematic of the healthcare policy differences between Oregon's gubernatorial candidates, who will face off in a general election Nov. 6, according to OPB.
Here is a breakdown of each candidate's healthcare stance:
Kate Brown (Democrat). The incumbent governor supported Measure 101, which passed in a public referendum with nearly 62 percent of the vote. Other healthcare proposals she has supported include the 2017 Reproductive Health Equity Act, which covers abortions for all Oregon women, and the extension of Medicaid coverage for undocumented children. If re-elected, Ms. Brown would face an $830 million Medicaid funding gap.
Knute Buehler, MD (Republican). Dr. Buehler is an orthopedic surgeon and a member of Oregon's House Committee on Health Care. He was a strong proponent of a bill that allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control, the first of its kind in the U.S. However, he said he opposes coverage expansions proposed by Ms. Brown due to fiscal concerns. Dr. Buehler opposes Measure 101 on the grounds that the taxes were unfair to providers.
Patrick Starnes (Independent). The cabinet maker has run mostly on a platform of campaign finance reform, though he has proposed a tax on junk food that he argues will be able to fund a single-payer healthcare system in Oregon.