BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE -- Democrat Ken Lucas is using the sixth radio ad of his 4th District Congressional campaign to tout his plan on health care and HMO reform.
The ad, like most of his other radio spots, also takes Republican Gex "Jay" Williams to task for votes he made as a state lawmaker and for not yet having a formal policy or issue statement on health care.
In a statement, Mr. Lucas said his "Plan to Put Patients First" calls for:
Guaranteeing doctor choice.
Allowing doctors to review all medical options with their patients.
Providing for emergency room access without prior authorization from a managed-care program.
Ensuring patient access to specialists.
"We shouldn't put profits ahead of people," said Mr. Lucas, of Richwood in Boone County. "Patient care must always come first and should be made by patients in consultation with doctors and health care professionals."
John Lapp, Mr. Lucas' campaign manager, said Mr. Williams has yet to talk about health care reform in his campaign.
"Furthermore, his legislative record shows a consistent record of opposing fundamental reform of the health care system at the state level, including providing for patients' rights," Mr. Lapp said.
Craig Hendricks, Mr. Williams' campaign manager, said Mr. Lapp was referring to the Kentucky General Assembly's attempts at health care reform in 1994 and 1996.
Mr. Williams, a three-term state lawmaker from Verona in Boone County, opposed those reforms.
Mr. Lapp said the reforms allowed patients to choose their doctors under managed care.
But Mr. Hendricks, who called the reforms "Clinton-style health care," said the reforms raised rates, increased taxes and caused an exodus of insurers from the state.
The reforms were largely considered unsuccessful. The legislature held a special session to try to fix some of the reforms in 1997, but failed.
A bill was passed earlier this year. Mr. Hendricks said that legislation raised rates on the sickest patients and did not open up competition.
Mr. Williams voted against that bill as well.
"Ken Lucas follows orders from the liberal Democratic leadership on health care," Mr. Hendricks said. "Like them, he is more concerned about fattening the wallets of lawyers than lowering health care costs and treating patients.
"Gex Williams is committed to quality health care that takes care of patients in hospital rooms, not court rooms," Mr. Hendricks said.
Mr. Lapp called the Williams camp "desperate."
"This is yet another Williams smoke screen to hide the fact that he has no plans to address the real issues affecting Kentucky families, no plan for patients' rights and a dismal anti-health care reform voting record in lock step with the big HMOs," he said.
