Healthcare touches every family in Minnesota. Whether it is a parent trying to afford their child's prescription, a small business owner struggling to provide coverage for employees, or a senior navigating a complex medical system — the cost and accessibility of healthcare is one of the most pressing issues facing our community.

I believe two things can be true at the same time: healthcare must be more affordable, and patients must have the freedom to make their own medical decisions. These are not competing ideas — they are both essential to a healthcare system that actually works for the people of Minnesota.

Making Healthcare More Affordable

The cost of healthcare in America is simply too high. Families are skipping doctor visits because they cannot afford the copay. People are rationing medication because they cannot afford to fill their prescriptions. Small businesses are making agonizing choices between providing health coverage and keeping their doors open.

This is not sustainable — and it is not acceptable.

Lowering Prescription Drug Costs

Prescription drug prices in the United States are dramatically higher than in other developed countries — not because our drugs are better, but because the system allows pharmaceutical companies to charge whatever the market will bear.

I will support:

• Allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and extending those savings to all Minnesotans
• Transparency requirements that force drug companies to justify price increases
• Expanded access to generic and biosimilar medications that provide the same therapeutic benefit at a fraction of the cost
• Importation programs that allow Minnesotans to access safe, affordable medications from licensed pharmacies in other countries

No one should have to choose between their medication and their groceries.

Expanding Access to Primary and Preventive Care

The most cost-effective healthcare is the kind that prevents serious illness before it starts. Yet too many families in Minnesota lack access to regular primary care — either because they are uninsured, underinsured, or simply cannot find a provider who is accepting new patients.

I will fight for:

• Expanded community health centers that provide affordable primary care regardless of insurance status
• Incentives to attract primary care physicians and nurse practitioners to underserved areas
• Telehealth options that make it easier for patients to access care without taking time off work
• Preventive care coverage with no cost-sharing, so routine screenings and checkups are truly free

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — and it costs a fraction of the price.

Supporting Working Families and Small Businesses

The employer-based health insurance system puts enormous pressure on small businesses. Many simply cannot afford to offer coverage, which means their employees — and their families — go without.

I will advocate for:

• Small business health insurance tax credits that make coverage more affordable for employers
• Reinsurance programs that stabilize the individual market and lower premiums
• Expanded eligibility for public health programs so more working families can access affordable coverage
• Transparency in insurance pricing so consumers can make informed choices

Health Freedom: Your Body, Your Decisions

I believe deeply in the principle of health freedom — the idea that medical decisions belong to patients and their doctors, not to government bureaucrats, insurance companies, or anyone else.

This is not a left or right issue. It is a fundamental matter of individual liberty and personal dignity.

The Doctor-Patient Relationship

The most important relationship in healthcare is the one between a patient and their physician. That relationship works best when it is built on trust, open communication, and mutual respect — and when outside parties are not inserting themselves into decisions that belong to the two people in that room.

I will oppose any policy that:

• Requires patients to use specific treatments or medications against their will or their doctor's recommendation
• Penalizes physicians for prescribing treatments that are in their patients' best interest
• Restricts access to legal medical options based on government preference rather than medical evidence

The Right to Informed Consent

Every patient has the right to full, honest information about their medical options — including the benefits, risks, and alternatives for any proposed treatment. Informed consent is not a formality. It is the cornerstone of ethical medicine.

I will support:

• Strong informed consent requirements for all medical procedures and treatments
• Patient access to their own medical records and data
• The right to seek second opinions without penalty or delay
• Protection for patients who decline treatments they do not want

Parental Rights in Healthcare

Parents have a fundamental right to be involved in their children's healthcare decisions. I will protect that right and oppose any effort to undermine the role of parents in their children's medical care.

Protecting Medical Professionals

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers should be able to practice medicine according to their best clinical judgment and their professional ethics — without fear of government interference or professional retaliation for following their conscience.

I will stand up for healthcare professionals who are being pressured to act against their medical judgment or their deeply held beliefs.

A Healthcare System That Works for Everyone

The goal is a healthcare system that is affordable enough that no family has to go without care, accessible enough that geography and income are not barriers, and free enough that patients and their doctors — not government or insurance companies — make the decisions that matter most.

That is the healthcare vision I will bring to the Minnesota Legislature. And it is one I believe the people of Minnesota — regardless of party — can get behind.

Your health is your business. I will make sure it stays that way.