Gov. Doug Ducey: Arizona should be at the table for Obamacare replacement discussion
Jan 7, 2017, 1:45 PM
FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2015 file photo, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey participates in a panel discussion during the Republican Governors Association annual conference in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens, File)
(AP Photo/Chase Stevens, File)
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said he wants to be at the table when Republican lawmakers introduce their replacement for Obamacare.
In an interview with Fox News’ Neil Cavuto, Ducey said that he supports repealing the health care law enacted under President Barack Obama, but stressed the importance of ensuring that the replacement will be able to help patients.
“I think this law should be repealed and I think that governors and patients and doctors and all influencers should be at the table,” Ducey said. “Health care has been in need of reform and I’m hopeful that Arizona will have a place at the table to be a constructive part of an improvement.”
Arizona has seen some of the steepest premium hikes under Obamacare and a majority of health care providers have pulled out of the state. Blue Cross Blue Shield, which operates in every Arizona county, will see rate spikes of 51 percent in 2017.
Ducey said he believes that Vice President-elect Mike Pence will be open to including governors in the discussion to repeal the Affordable Care Act, since he is a former governor himself.
But when Cavuto asked about taking health care from all of the people who need it nationwide, Ducey stressed that he does not want to take away free health care entirely.
“I don’t want to pull the rug out from any of our Americans who have insurance or need insurance, I want to see affordable, accessible insurance for everyone,” Ducey said. “This idea of health care — we’ve needed improvement for some time, I know we can do better than we have under Obamacare.”
