Healthcare. Addressing the lack of affordable, accessible healthcare in House District 17 is a priority for Paige. Paige believes that healthcare and insurance should be available to everyone, regardless of income, background, or occupation, which means cost should never be an issue for someone in the United States. She believes that healthcare is a basic human right.
Paige’s mother has been a Registered Nurse for almost forty years, and her father worked twenty-nine years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic. They instilled in her a commitment to public health which she has pursued throughout her life working in various healthcare settings including healthcare policy at the Oregon Health Authority. Paige understands the dire need for healthcare that makes sense for those in her community. She supports the concept of “Medicare for all”, but believes that a transition period would be necessary for proper implementation of such a large program that could quite literally put lives at risk if executed poorly by federal and state agencies across the nation. High deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, and traveling long distances to medical and mental health providers, and substance use disorder treatment facilities negatively impact many people in her community. Healthcare as it exists in House District 17 does not work for everyone and needs to be changed. Paige has seen our insurance and healthcare system fail patients, causing them unnecessary stress in an already stressful and emotional time in their lives. Paige is ready to bring her background in the healthcare field to her work as State Representative, where she will work for a system of affordable and accessible care that values quality program implementation, and provides for everyone.