Gov. Kate Brown released a new plan Friday for improving the health of Oregonians.
In a policy paper called Health Care For All she said insurance alone doesn’t create healthy people. She said health is a result of everything from classrooms to housing.
“It starts by breaking down silos and preconceived notions. It starts by approaching longstanding problems from new angles,” she said.
Brown hopes to improve health by ensuring all Oregonians have access to insurance, by increasing the amount of money spent on mental health, and by creating good jobs.
"Everyone deserves to have quality, affordable health care, regardless of who they are or where they live," Brown said. "Coverage alone does not create health. We must also improve the conditions in which Oregonians are born, live, learn, work, and age if we want our communities and our state to thrive."
Republican candidate for governor Knute Buehler announced his health care package in July. He called Brown’s management of the Oregon Health Authority chaotic and wasteful.
Buehler said his plan focuses on protecting Medicaid from federal cuts, expanding mental health care and safeguarding reproductive care.
Copyright 2018 Oregon Public Broadcasting.
