Amid talk on the American Health Care Act, Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, is lobbying President Donald Trump for more authority to governors to help curb the escalating costs of medication – something as concerning to him and not in the AHCA.
"The whole problem with what we're debating today is not just insurance coverage," Gov. Kasich told host Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union." "What we're not talking about are the things that need to be done to lower the cost of medicine, and let me also tell you I told President Trump in the Oval Office that governors need to have more authority to have more leverage over these pharmaceutical companies.
"Because the Democrats gave the law that says I have to cover everything, every drug, whether I can afford it or not. And the fact is I have no leverage. So, I said let me exclude these high priced drugs, give me leverage, and I'll be in a position to drive that cost down. That is not in this bill."
Gov. Kasich told Tapper he is taking his case for "leverage" against expensive medication to the Senate, along with talking to Republican democratic governors, as the healthcare bill evolves from the AHCA version the House passed this week.
Ultimately, though, the conservative Kasich would like to depoliticize healthcare reform.
"What I'm concerned about, frankly, Jake, is I'm concerned about how this is going to affect people who find themselves in a very difficult position," Kasich told the host.
"Bringing politics into this discussion is not something I have any interest in, because I'm more concerned about how the policy affects real people. That's what I care about. Too much thinking about politics in Washington. Why don't we just get to it, let's reform the system."
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