Healthcare
ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY FOR EVERY SOUTH DAKOTAN
Healthcare is a fundamental issue that impacts every aspect of life for South Dakotans, whether they live in rural communities or urban centers. Sheryl Johnson understands that access to affordable, quality healthcare is not just a privilege for a few but a necessity for everyone. As a candidate for Congress, she is committed to ensuring that all South Dakotans have access to the care they need, whether it’s visiting a family doctor, getting life-saving prescription drugs, or ensuring access to vital reproductive healthcare services.
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Sheryl’s healthcare policy is comprehensive, tackling various issues, from lowering prescription drug prices to improving access to healthcare providers in rural areas. Central to her vision is the idea that healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and centered on personal freedom. By addressing the complexities of healthcare access, including rural healthcare shortages, rising prescription costs, and personal healthcare decisions, Sheryl's policy seeks to bring dignity and agency back to South Dakotans.
The Incumbent's Failing Approach on Healthcare
Sheryl's incumbent opponent, Dusty Johnson, is a broken record on healthcare and prescription drug policies with detrimental, even life-threatening effects on South Dakotans,—particularly for those in rural areas and those dependent on affordable medication. He has consistently voted against measures that would make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable, placing many South Dakotans at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing vital services and medications.
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Opposition to Lower Prescription Drug Costs: Dusty has voted against proposals that would have allowed Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. This decision directly impacts seniors and those on fixed incomes who rely on Medicare for their healthcare and prescription drug needs. Without the ability to negotiate drug prices, pharmaceutical companies continue to set prices that are often unaffordable for many South Dakotans, leading to increased financial strain.
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Support for the Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA): Dusty has consistently supported efforts to repeal or weaken the ACA, which has been a lifeline for many South Dakotans, especially those in rural areas. The ACA provides coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions and offers subsidies that make healthcare more affordable for lower-income families. Repealing or undermining the ACA would leave many residents without affordable coverage options, driving up out-of-pocket costs and reducing access to care.
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Failing to Address Rural Healthcare Access: Dusty has failed to prioritize the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in rural areas, leaving many South Dakotans without local healthcare providers. This forces rural residents to travel long distances for basic medical care, creating significant barriers to access, particularly for seniors and those with limited mobility. His lack of initiative in addressing these issues has further contributed to the healthcare disparities between urban and rural communities in the state.
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Efforts to Restrict Medicaid Eligibility: Dusty has supported policies that would make it harder for South Dakotans to qualify for Medicaid. He has backed legislation that adds work requirements to Medicaid eligibility, a move that disproportionately affects low-income individuals, particularly in rural areas where job opportunities are scarce.
By supporting these restrictions, Dusty is making it harder for vulnerable South Dakotans to maintain access to essential healthcare services. Such restrictions not only place thousands at risk of losing their healthcare coverage, but risk creating even higher healthcare costs for everyone by forcing those who can't afford coverage to utilize emergency room resources for basic care.
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Dusty's voting history consistently demonstrates that his healthcare priorities do not align with the needs of South Dakota’s working families, seniors, and rural residents. By supporting policies that reduce access to affordable care and opposing reforms that could lower drug prices, Dusty Johnson has made healthcare more expensive and difficult to obtain for the people he is supposed to represent.
A Better Way for South Dakota: Affordable Healthcare for All
One of the most pressing issues for South Dakotans is the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. Many people struggle to afford insurance premiums, copays, and deductibles, making healthcare access more challenging for low- and middle-income families. Johnson believes that no South Dakotan should have to choose between paying for healthcare and meeting other basic needs like food and housing.
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Unlike her opponent, Sheryl sees a comprehensive path to improving healthcare by
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Capping insurance premiums and deductibles: Sheryl supports measures to control the rising costs of health insurance premiums and deductibles to ensure that families are not priced out of necessary care.
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Expanding Medicaid: Expanding Medicaid eligibility would allow more low-income families and individuals to gain coverage, particularly those who fall into the coverage gap created by current eligibility thresholds.
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Strengthening the Affordable Care Act: Rather than dismantling the Affordable Care Act, Sheryl is committed to improving it, working to close coverage gaps and reduce the financial burden of healthcare on families.
Lowering Prescription Drug Prices
Prescription drug costs have become a major financial burden for many South Dakotans, particularly those in rural areas where access to affordable healthcare and pharmacies is limited. Sheryl is committed to lowering prescription drug prices, ensuring that lifesaving medications are accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or their income level.
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Sheryl will take a multi-pronged approach to the problem of South Dakotan's lack of access to essential medications by
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Negotiating drug prices with pharmaceutical companies: Sheryl supports allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices for all Americans.
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Capping out-of-pocket costs: For seniors and others on fixed incomes, Sheryl supports capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs to make essential medications affordable.
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Increasing competition: By supporting policies that foster competition in the pharmaceutical industry, Sheryl aims to reduce the cost of generic and brand-name drugs alike.
Rural Healthcare Access
South Dakota’s rural communities face unique healthcare challenges. Many rural areas lack sufficient healthcare facilities and providers, forcing residents to travel long distances for care or forgo it entirely. Sheryl is committed to addressing this rural healthcare crisis by expanding access to providers and modernizing healthcare infrastructure in these communities.
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Sheryl has a solid plan to improve the quality and accessibility of rural healthcare, including
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Telemedicine expansion: Sheryl strongly supports expanding telemedicine services to ensure that rural residents can access healthcare providers remotely. This is especially important for mental health services and follow-up care.
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Incentives for rural healthcare providers: To address the shortage of doctors, nurses, and specialists in rural areas, Sheryl advocates for federal incentives, such as loan forgiveness programs, that encourage healthcare professionals to practice in underserved communities.
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Strengthening rural clinics and hospitals: Sheryl’s infrastructure policies include modernizing and expanding rural healthcare facilities to ensure they have the resources to meet the needs of their communities.
Reproductive Healthcare and Personal Freedom
Sheryl Johnson firmly believes in protecting the personal freedoms of all South Dakotans, particularly when it comes to healthcare decisions. Reproductive healthcare is a vital aspect of this, and Johnson has been outspoken in her support for safeguarding access to necessary reproductive services. She is committed to preserving personal freedom and autonomy in healthcare, focusing on the individual’s right to make private medical decisions without government interference.
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Sheryl's opponent, Dusty Johnson, supports policies that severely restrict reproductive healthcare access. She believes this creates a dangerous precedent, where women’s healthcare decisions are no longer their own. Instead of piecemeal restrictions, she advocates for federal protections that ensure all Americans have equal access to the care they need, regardless of where they live.
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Sheryl's approach to reproductive healthcare freedom includes
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Protecting access to reproductive services: Johnson advocates for comprehensive reproductive healthcare access, ensuring individuals have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions.
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Ensuring privacy: Healthcare decisions should remain private, between a person and their doctor. Sheryl supports policies that protect patient confidentiality in reproductive healthcare matters.
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Supporting a consistent federal framework: A patchwork of state laws creates unequal access to healthcare. Sheryl advocates for a national standard that ensures individuals in every state have access to the same healthcare rights and services.
Mental Health Services
Mental health is often overlooked, but it is a critical aspect of overall healthcare. Johnson recognizes that mental health services are in short supply, particularly in rural South Dakota. She is committed to ensuring that mental health services are more widely available and accessible by
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Expanding tele-mental health services: With limited mental health providers in rural areas, Sheryl supports expanding telehealth services to ensure people can access mental health support from anywhere.
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Increased funding for mental health services: Sheryl advocates for increased federal funding for mental health programs, particularly in underserved areas where mental health resources are limited.
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Breaking the stigma: Sheryl aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health, encouraging more South Dakotans to seek help when they need it.
Long-Term Care and Aging in Place
As South Dakota’s population ages, access to long-term care is becoming an increasingly important issue. Sheryl is focused on ensuring that seniors have the resources and care they need to age in place and live with dignity. This includes expanding home health services and ensuring long-term care facilities are adequately funded and staffed.
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Expanding home health services: Sheryl supports expanding home health programs that allow seniors to stay in their homes while receiving the care they need.
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Improving long-term care facilities: Sheryl is committed to ensuring that long-term care facilities are adequately funded, so they can provide high-quality care to their residents.
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Supporting caregivers: Sheryl advocates for policies that provide financial support and resources for caregivers, recognizing the essential role they play in supporting seniors.
Sheryl's Vision for Healthcare
Sheryl Johnson’s healthcare policy is built on the belief that the freedom to access healthcare should be considered a right, not a privilege. From reducing prescription drug prices to expanding access to rural healthcare and safeguarding personal healthcare freedoms, her approach is comprehensive and centered on the needs of South Dakotans.
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Her opponent works instead to create hurdles and consistently supports policies that limit access to healthcare, particularly for low-income and rural residents. Sheryl's vision offers a sharp contrast, emphasizing inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability for all. She believes that by investing in healthcare infrastructure and policies that put people first, South Dakota can build a healthier and more prosperous future for everyone.