Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter and Republican rival Bob Beauprez tried to out-position each other as the candidate who best understands children’s health care needs during a debate Thursday at The Children’s Hospital.
Ritter told the crowd of doctors and invited guests that Beauprez voted in Congress to slash $9 billion in Medicaid spending.
The money, he said, would have been used to screen children for disabilities and provide basic care for poor children, including immunizations, at a time when Colorado ranked 50th in the nation in that area.
“Just examine the record,” Ritter said. “When you’re listening to people talk about health policy, make sure you look at the things that back it up as well because this is an issue that’s critical to the state.”
The two-term congressman shot back: “I think they should examine the record. I actually have one.”
Ritter is a former Denver district attorney with no voting record on health care issues.
Beauprez said he has supported local hospitals and the Medicare prescription drug benefit. He also touted a Medicaid reform bill that he is sponsoring. It would create a pilot program to allow states to spend federal money as they see fit.
“I provided health care. Are tough decisions necessary to be made? You bet. I’ve actually been in the arena of public policy for health care, not on the sideline,” he said.
Beauprez added that his youngest son, John, is studying at Regis University to be a health care administrator.
“Bill, do you really think that I want to chop his knees out from under him? Do you really believe that?” Beauprez said.
Ritter, as he has done in past debates, contrasted his support of last year’s ballot measures, Referendum C and D, with Beauprez’s opposition.
Voters approved C, which allows the state to keep an estimated $4.9 billion in extra tax revenues over five years.
Ritter criticized Beauprez’s plan to tap into tobacco settlement money instead of supporting Referendum C, saying the revenues pay for valuable programs such as visiting nurses.
Beauprez said, “I have proposed securitizing the undedicated portion of the tobacco proceeds, not pulling the rug out from under breast and cervical cancer and the nurse help line.”
Both men agreed that the next governor must reform how the state reimburses doctors for care of Medicaid patients.
Ritter said the state must reduce the administration cost.
Beauprez said he would assess the rates and suggested that health care officials who provide care to those who can’t pay be eligible for a tax credit or a tax deduction.
Dr. James Todd, a pediatrician at Children’s, said he wants to see health care for all children that also provides a “medical home” where health outcomes can be measured.
“We need a CSAP for health care,” he said, in reference to the state test used to measure student achievement.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-820-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
