Clinton and Trump need to address healthcare in next debate

There are many issues to discuss in every presidential election, and healthcare is one of them.

Last night in the first presidential debate, while the moderator, Lester Holt, asked many questions about the economy, racial division in America, and women’s rights, Holt did not ask one question about healthcare, and neither candidate mentioned healthcare.

{mosads}While there are many areas to discuss, one can hope that in the next two presidential debates, or at minimum in the vice presidential debate, the issue of healthcare will be brought to the forefront. Here are some of the issues Americans deserve more information about.

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, developed by President Obama and his administration, has been a controversial issue for the past five years. Despite providing insurance for millions of Americans and the Supreme Court ruling in its favor, it is still deemed controversial.

On his website, Donald Trump has said he would repeal it and replace it with a Health Savings account. Hillary Clinton, on her website, said she would expand it.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act could mean that as many as 20 million Americans could lose their insurance.

Questions that should be asked include: what is Trump’s plan to replace it, how will Clinton expand it, and how will either of those plans affect the economy and the American people?

While on the subject of the Affordable Care Act, another topic of great debate is healthcare entitlements.

What are their specific plans to either maintain, expand or end Medicare and Medicaid? Additionally, if ended, what will replace them? How will this impact the people who depend on them? Whoever is elected president has to be careful to ensure that all Americans have access to insurance and quality healthcare.

There has also been much discussion about Planned Parenthood and reproductive health, as with any election.

There are some politicians who seek to defund Planned Parenthood because of abortions, but it is important to note that abortions make up a small percentage (three percent) of the services provided at Planned Parenthood.

Although abortions are more expensive than other services provided, it is still a minor part of the budget.  Hillary Clinton, according to her website, wants to protect and expand access to reproductive health.

Donald Trump only mentions healthcare reform as it relates to the Affordable Care Act and entitlements. Does Donald Trump support Planned Parenthood, and how does Hillary Clinton plan to expand it?

The opioid epidemic, which includes heroin, prescription narcotics, and countrified narcotics is another hot topic at the moment.

There are thousands of Americans overdosing and dying on the streets because of opioid addiction. President Obama recently called for 1 billion dollars to offer more treatment options and help with education efforts.

President Obama also declared last week to be Prescription Opioid and Heroin Awareness Week to bring this issue to the public. Will either of the candidates continue this effort? Does Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump view the opioid epidemic as a crisis? How will they increase access to treatment centers and help to prevent overdoses?

There are other topics such as prescription drug pricing and gauging, as we have seen in cancer treatments and the controversial EpiPen developments that deserve the attention of the candidates.

What would be either candidate’s plan to protect Americans from this in the future? We need successful treatment of mental health and access to behavioral health care, as well the overall increase in healthcare centers.

These centers are needed in both urban and rural areas. Not to mention, improving quality and quantity of healthcare services and healthcare providers for our veterans should be top of mind for each candidate.

While it is impossible to touch on all of these topics in any or all three presidential debates, one or more should be addressed.