The Democrats have agreed to their official party platform at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Noticeably, the Democrats' platform does not devote as much verbiage to healthcare compared with that of the GOP, which vowed to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, reform Medicaid and Medicare, and place more restrictions on women's healthcare. Instead, the Democrat platform upholds PPACA, emphasizing its benefits while directly denouncing GOP ideas for reform.
1. Medicaid. Democrats have vowed to strengthen Medicaid and "oppose efforts to block grant the program," according to the platform. The party also mentions how the Obama administration has helped state Medicaid programs fund home- and community-based services, and more working class families will be eligible for Medicare under the healthcare reform law.
2. Medicare. Democrats vowed to "block Republican efforts to subject Americans' guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market through privatization." The platform also says the PPACA will save the average Medicare beneficiary $4,200 over the next 10 years through new benefits, fraud-fighting efforts and improved patient care.
3. Fraud. The Democrats maintain that President Barack Obama is leading the "most successful crackdown on healthcare fraud ever," as he has recovered $100 billion from healthcare schemes.
4. Women's health. The Democrats "oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine" Roe v. Wade, which allows women to make decisions regarding their pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion. "[T]here is no place for politicians or government to get in the way" of this decision, the platform says.
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1. Medicaid. Democrats have vowed to strengthen Medicaid and "oppose efforts to block grant the program," according to the platform. The party also mentions how the Obama administration has helped state Medicaid programs fund home- and community-based services, and more working class families will be eligible for Medicare under the healthcare reform law.
2. Medicare. Democrats vowed to "block Republican efforts to subject Americans' guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market through privatization." The platform also says the PPACA will save the average Medicare beneficiary $4,200 over the next 10 years through new benefits, fraud-fighting efforts and improved patient care.
3. Fraud. The Democrats maintain that President Barack Obama is leading the "most successful crackdown on healthcare fraud ever," as he has recovered $100 billion from healthcare schemes.
4. Women's health. The Democrats "oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine" Roe v. Wade, which allows women to make decisions regarding their pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion. "[T]here is no place for politicians or government to get in the way" of this decision, the platform says.
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