florida
Governor Ron DeSantisYear: 45Population of Florida: 22.2 million
California
Governor Gavin NewsomYear: 56California population: 39 million
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom — political opponents and agents of red and blue America — face off on November 30th in Georgia for their first debate. I plan to.
Newsom, a liberal who is in his second term as California governor, is not running for president in 2024. But he encouraged Mr. DeSantis, who is in his second term as Florida governor, to run again and again. “I’ll bring you some hair gel. Bring some hair spray,” he said. abused on social media.
The matchup is expected to be a brutal brawl between the rising political stars who lead two of the most populous and diverse states in the country. And it will be the first time the two politicians will meet in person, despite the fact that they have publicly exchanged abuse, insults and attacked each other in recent weeks. Fundraising video and campaign advertisement.
Homelessness and health care, top priorities for voters, will become top issues and will largely determine the governor’s policies and leadership style. From abortion to COVID-19 vaccines, Newsom and DeSantis couldn’t be further apart.
Earlier this year, DeSantis accused California of being too generous with public benefits programs such as Medicaid, which the state expanded to all eligible residents regardless of immigration status. The sweeping policy takes effect in January and goes far beyond the voluntary expansion of Medicaid that the Affordable Care Act provided to states. In Florida, one of the 10 states that refused To expand Medicaid under Obamacare, Mr. DeSantis will help states Uninsured rate 11% As a mark of honor for the residents.
“We’re not going to be like California, where we’re going to have a lot of people participating in government programs that don’t have work requirements,” DeSantis said at a presidential primary debate in Southern California earlier this year.
Mr. DeSantis led the state in restricting abortion and gender-affirming care and banning coronavirus-related mask and vaccine mandates.
Mr. Newsom, a manipulative and brash surrogate of Democratic President Joe Biden, accused Mr. DeSantis of endangering Floridians and stripping them of their rights.
“Come join us in California, where we still believe in freedom,” Newsom said. political advertising earlier this year.
Newsom earned the nickname “health care governor” by pushing the issue to the top of his policy priorities. He has made California an abortion mecca and dramatically expanded health benefits. During his first term campaign, he promised to introduce single-payer health care to the nation’s most populous state, an idea that ran into fierce political opposition early in his tenure. And now Newsom is bragging about raising the state’s uninsured rate to its highest level. 6.5%, the lowest ever By expanding coverage in other ways.
These issues are expected to take center stage in a 90-minute debate that will be televised nationally on Fox News and could have a major impact on next year’s presidential election and even the White House in 2028. It could also help shape the pool of candidates.
Ahead of the showdown, KFF Health News analyzed the top 10 health-care positions of governors and how their policies have improved or hindered the health of the populations they represent.
obamacare
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DeSantis has refused to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act to more people. Partly as a result, but more than that, 3 million Floridians As of February, more states were covered through the federal Obamacare deal than any other state. Florida does not have a state-based exchange and does not offer state-directed subsidies.
California
The state enthusiastically embraced the Affordable Care Act, expanding Medicaid while creating its own insurance exchange, Covered California. Under Newsom, it also created a state requirement for Californians to buy health insurance after the federal mandate was eliminated, going far beyond Obamacare’s provisions.
abortion
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desantis approved law In April, abortions were banned after six weeks of pregnancy. However, the Florida Supreme Court challenged It will be decided whether a six-week ban will come into effect, in addition to the 15-week ban introduced in 2022.
California
Mr. Newsom led the following efforts in 2022: amend the state constitution Guarantee the right to abortion and contraception.he also approved $60 million Signed the Reproductive Health Care Act, helping uninsured patients and people from out of state pay for abortions in California. protector of doctors People who mail abortion pills to other states.
transgender care
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Under DeSantis, Florida passed the law this year. Prohibition of gender-affirming medical care Targets trans minors and requires adult patients to sign. informed consent form Before starting or continuing hormone therapy. The law also limits who can prescribe hormone therapy to doctors and prohibits the use of telemedicine for new prescriptions. A federal lawsuit challenging the law is scheduled to be heard in mid-December.
California
Newsom and other state leaders changed state law to ensure all that. adults and children in california People have the right to receive gender-affirming medical services.and insurance companies doing business in California. must include By 2025, provide information on in-network providers offering gender-affirming services. The state’s health authority is developing “enforceable quality standards” to ensure trans patients receive comprehensive care.
homeless
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Mr. DeSantis has not declared homelessness a priority. In a video shot on the streets of San Francisco and posted to social media in June, DeSantis used the topic: campaign club He criticized what he called “left-wing policies” in California.florida I’m experimenting It is possible to use Medicaid funds to address homelessness, but such programs are limited.almost 26,000 people Becoming homeless in Florida 12 out of 10,000 residents.
California
Mr. Newsom has poured more than $20 billion into the homelessness crisis and billions more into health care and social services. For example, some homeless Californians can receive social services such as rental deposits, utility payments, and first and last month’s rent through the state’s Medicaid program. Newsom also led a new state effort that could force some homeless people into mental health and addiction treatment.is more than 171,000 people In California, 44 out of 10,000 residents are homeless.
mental health
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DeSantis is keeping his promise as governor to advocate for mental health treatment programs, although Florida still has one. 43rd place nationwide Miami has the fourth-highest rate of adults with mental illness who lack access to mental health care and are uninsured, according to the Miami Mental Health and Recovery Center. Under DeSantis, Florida increased state funding. Mental health programs in schools peer-to-peer mental health Services for first respondersand directed funds toward suicide prevention.
California
Newsome signed the best player in the country in 2020. mental health equality This law requires insurance companies to cover mental health and substance use disorders as well as physical health conditions.he is funding $4.7 billion effort Provide mental health treatment in schools. Newsom is also leading a statewide campaign. $6.4 billion in bonds Take steps in 2024 to revamp and expand community-based behavioral health programs, including thousands of new treatment beds.
Dependence
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The drug overdose death rate in Florida is 37.5 per 100,000 people In August, DeSantis announced a new Statewide Addiction Recovery Program It is billed as the “first of its kind” in the United States, using peer counselors, medication-assisted treatment, and a network of coordinated support services.DeSantis too Licensed Counties in Florida We plan to introduce a needle exchange program in 2019 to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases and facilitate treatment of addiction.
California
The drug overdose rate in California is 26.6 per 100,000 people Newsom is sending the State Highway Patrol and National Guard to San Francisco to fight open-air fentanyl trafficking and is ramping up addiction recovery programs across the state.but he vetoed the bill Doing so last year would have allowed Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland to set up safe injection sites.
Prescription drugs
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DeSantis’ proposal, submitted to the FDA in 2020, includes: Medicines imported from Canada.The new state law also provides: Price limits for pharmacy benefit managers They are intermediaries between insurance companies, pharmacies, and manufacturers, creating new rules for pricing transparency. The law also requires drug companies to disclose significant price increases.
California
Newsom takes the lead. 100 million dollars, the nation’s first effort to bring California into the manufacturing business of generic drugs, including insulin and the opioid recovery drug naloxone. When Newsom took office, California already had a price transparency law in place.This year he signed into law it strengthens state regulations For pharmacy benefits managers.
healthcare affordability
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In 2019, DeSantis patient savings methodThis allows health insurance companies to share cost savings with enrollees who purchase medical services such as imaging and diagnostic tests.Under his leadership, Florida legislators also Approved short-term health plan Lasts less than a year, direct medical contract Insurance between a patient and a provider is not considered insurance and is not subject to the Florida Insurance Code.
California
One of Newsom’s first health initiatives was to fund state-funded health insurance subsidies for low- and moderate-income residents who buy insurance through Covered California. Newsom also agreed this year to lower out-of-pocket costs and eliminate some deductibles for plans sold through exchanges.California has created a new Medical Expenses Affordability Bureau It is curbing rising costs in the industry and could regulate consolidation in the healthcare industry. California bans short-term health plans.
public health
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desantis signed bill In 2021, governments, schools and private employers will be prohibited from requiring coronavirus vaccinations. In 2023 he will urged lawmakers to adopt the law banning certain vaccine and mask requirements; he also Public Health Integrity Commission He is led by his handpicked surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, whose official guidance on coronavirus vaccines contradicts CDC recommendations. Covid-19 in the Sunshine State vaccine booster rate 12.4% of residents are 5 years of age or older.
California
Newsom became the first U.S. governor to issue a statewide stay-at-home order at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. He has pushed for stronger vaccination and mask mandates and accused Mr. DeSantis of being weak on public health. Newsom also signed legislation that strengthens childhood vaccination requirements. fake medical exemption approved by a doctor. The Golden State’s additional vaccination rate for COVID-19 vaccines for residents ages 5 and older is 21.9%.
Immigrant health care
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As DeSantis makes immigration a priority, lawmakers State Law Require all hospitals in Florida to ask on admission forms whether patients are U.S. citizens or legally present in the United States. Doctors, nurses and health policy experts say the law targets marginalized populations who already have difficulty accessing the health care system and will further discourage them from seeking treatment. Says.
California
From January, everyone Immigrants who meet income requirements Eligible for state Medicaid programs. Before Newsom took office, California had already expanded eligibility to children of unauthorized immigrants up to age 18. Newsom then signed legislation expanding the program to young people up to age 26, adults age 50 and older, and thereafter to eligible immigrants of all ages. requirements.
This article was created by KFF Health Newspublish california healthlinean editorially independent service. california healthcare foundation.
