ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — With just six days to go before primary election day, Democrats and Republicans are getting ready to head to the polls to choose their party nominees including in the race for Congress.
On the Republican side, the primary contest is between incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards and his challenger, Adam Smith. Both candidates were asked their positions on health care policy, specifically whether they support subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or favor cash-style payments to help cover health care costs.
Adam Smith
Smith strongly opposes federal subsidies for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. He argued that, what he described as “bloated subsidies,” contribute to rising health care costs by reducing competition and curbing innovation in the private sector.
“If the federal government is going to continue to offer more bloated subsidies when it comes to health care and health care coverage — what stops these companies from accepting these bloated subsidies?” Smith asked. He stressed that ongoing subsidies have driven health care costs higher, claiming they create opportunities for private industry to profit while relying on taxpayer dollars.
Instead, Smith advocated for directing financial assistance “straight to buyer” rather than to insurers or providers. He said providing funds directly to the buyer would create a more competitive marketplace and help to better control costs.
Rep. Chuck Edwards
Edwards, who currently represents western North Carolina in Congress, emphasized restructuring the health care system through regulatory reform and increased transparency.
“We need to restructure things,” Edwards said. “We need to reduce regulation, in a way to incentivize more providers – and we need to have more transparency in billing.”
He also focused on access issues in western North Carolina, stating that attracting more healthcare providers to the region would give residents more options when selecting plans. Edwards criticized what he described as a “one-size-fits-all” approach under the Affordable Care Act, arguing that health care plans should be more specifically designed to fit individuals and families.