Voter Canvassing in Cambridge, Massachusetts – Saturday, June 22, 2013
Image Credit: Dorkina Myrick, M.D., Ph.D.

Today is election day in Massachusetts. Voters head to the polls to select either Democratic Congressman Ed Markey or Republican candidate Gabriel Gomez in a race that will decide the fate of the Senate seat vacated by former Senator and current Secretary of State John Kerry.

As for me, well it is my last day hitting the phones and hitting the doors here in Cambridge. I thought this election was important enough not just for the state of Massachusetts, but also for our nation to make the trip here from the Washington, D.C., area and talk to voters about the significant impact that Ed Markey will make if elected to the Senate. Congressman Markey cares about so many of the same issues that I care about, most importantly, improving health care services and access and advancing biomedical research.  These are issues that affect all Americans, and I know that having a Senate team of Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey is the best chance that we have for moving the legislative agenda of medicine and science FORWARD.

Biomedical Research
Ed Markey believes that a strong research agenda is essential to our nation’s collective health, and he has been instrumental in supporting legislative measures to increase funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  As a physician and research administrator who worked at the NIH for over 10 years, I deeply understand Congressman Markey’s commitment to the advancement of the agency and the importance of investing in biomedical research of all types, including basic science, translational research, and clinical trials.  He is best equipped to champion this effort in the Senate, as Massachusetts leads the nation in NIH funding initiatives for disease prevention and treatment.

Affordable Health Care for All Americans
As a staunch supporter of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Ed Markey will continue the fight to protect provisions of the law.  Obamacare allows young adults, seniors, women, children, and people with pre-existing medical conditions a better shot at obtaining the health care they need. Congressman Markey believes in quality over quantity in health care delivery. Ed Markey also believes that streamlining health care services to maximize efficiency while cutting costs by integrating health information technology and eliminating medical errors is crucial to the continued vitality of the health care system in our nation.

Seniors, the Disabled, and the Socioeconomically Disadvantaged: Fighting for Medicare and Medicaid
Ed Markey believes our nation’s seniors, disabled, and socioeconomically disadvantaged deserve dignity, honor, and respect.  That’s why Congressman Markey will fight against cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.  He strongly opposed converting Medicare into a voucher program that would have had potentially devastating consequences for our seniors, and he voted against $1.4 trillion in cuts to the Medicaid program.  Ed Markey believes in providing better health care quality for seniors by allowing them to stay in their homes as long as possible through a health care payment model entitled, “Independence at Home.”

Brain Health, Alzheimer’s, and Mental Health
Congressman Markey has been a staunch supporter of legislative initiatives for increasing funding for brain and Alzheimer’s research.  As someone who has been personally impacted by Alzheimer’s due to the fact that his mother suffered from the disease, Ed Markey truly understands the devastating impact that losing a family member to the disease can have on families.  He wrote legislation that led to the creation of the The National Alzheimer’s Plan, an initiative that strives to invest heavily in research and funding for the disease.  Congressman Markey also believes that people who are mentally ill and/or suffer from substance abuse issues have the right to be charged equally for these types of health care services.  Thus was the basis of Ed Markey’s co-sponsorship and vote for the Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act.

A Final Thought
Now it is up to the people of Massachusetts to decide. I wish I could vote, too, but since I cannot, this blog posting is the most that I can do to express my genuine support. As for the fortunate ones who are blessed enough to have the opportunity to vote, PLEASE make it to the polls today.

Reference:
“Ed Markey for US Senate: Healthcare.” Ed Markey Senate Campaign Website.  www.edmarkey.com/issues/healthcare. Retrieved June 25, 2013.

Categories: MSP3

Tags: alzheimer's, brain health, children, disabled, Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Gabriel Gomez, John Kerry, Massachusetts, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicine, Mental health, Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, Mental Health Parity, National Alzheimer's Plan, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Obamacare, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA, pre-existing medical conditions, research, science, women, young adults