Raleigh, NC, February 7, 2008 -- Justice Bob Orr, Republican candidate for Governor, announced today the release of his healthcare strategy for North Carolina as outlined in the attached document, and at http://www.orr2008.com/Issues/Heath/HealthCare.html.

This announcement precedes the UNC-TV gubernatorial debate tonight which will focus on healthcare issues. 

 “The delivery of high quality, affordable healthcare to our citizens is of utmost importance,” said Orr. “I’m pleased to further the discussion on healthcare issues by outlining my plan for expanding health service providers, creating a culture of preventive care, and market-based insurance reforms.”

“Despite all the rhetoric about government programs and insurance plans,” Orr added, “a discussion of healthcare policy should begin with the question: what can and should state government be doing to help our people live healthy and productive lives? I believe we should be thinking about accessibility and affordability of quality care as the first step, and then consider the insurance coverage questions.”         

Orr noted that, “we have a looming crisis in North Carolina. With projected population growth and aging, we can envision critical shortages of care providers across the healthcare sector. Therefore, I am announcing my unequivocal support for the UNC and ECU Schools of Medicine proposal announced last Friday for adding students and creating regional campuses to deal with a predicted doctor shortage in North Carolina.” Orr said, “I applaud this far reaching vision to address in part the critical need for quality medical care throughout North Carolina. My plan encompasses this expansion and outlines an additional strategic expansion of nursing and allied health providers using our universities and Community College system to ensure we have not only an adequate supply of care givers, but that they are available to provide care in all of our counties.”

“I know our citizens are worried about insurance,” Orr continued, “but affordable coverage won’t mean a whole lot if there is a shortage of doctors and other support staff. We can and must address this potential crisis, because the state controls the majority of the resources that train and develop the people who provide the care.”

Orr further expanded, “we must also address insurance coverage and cost in North Carolina. The insurance market has not failed us. The government has failed us, because we don’t have a market here; we have a monopoly. Accomplishing the real market reforms that I have proposed in this plan will enable thousands of our people to buy their own insurance and take control of their health. This will allow us to use the safety net of Medicaid as it was intended instead of the massive expansion of government coverage that the Democrats have proposed.”

“The Democrats have either not done the math, which would be irresponsible, or don’t want to admit that their reliance on Medicaid expansion will cause either a massive shift of money out of education, transportation or public safety, or a major tax increase. The solution simply cannot be a greater reliance on government to run our healthcare system,” Orr said.

Further information on Justice Orr’s healthcare plan and other issues pertinent to the future of North Carolina can be found at www.orr2008.com.

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