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9th Congressional District candidates lay out health care proposals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With less than 50 days until election day, Democratic and Republican 9th Congressional District candidates are laying out their proposals for health care.

[DOCUMENT: McCready's plan]

Joined by a doctor and a patient with a preexisting condition, Democratic 9th Congressional District candidate Dan McCready released his third major policy proposal of the campaign, a seven-point plan on health care.

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"Health care is the most important issue in this race," McCready said. "It is an issue we hear about every day and that is why we placed it front and center."

McCready said he wants to fix the Affordable Care Act by excluding primary care visits from deductibles and promoting value-based care, so people are charged based on the quality of care instead of the number of tests or procedures.

McCready said any major health care change has to continue to protect people with preexisting conditions.

"We absolutely have to make sure every North Carolinian with a preexisting condition has coverage," he said.

[SPECIAL SECTION: DISTRICT 9 ELECTION]

Republican 9th Congressional District candidate Dan Bishop differs with McCready on most healthcare positions but said he also supports protecting coverage of people with pre-existing conditions.

He said the Affordable Care Act should be repealed and replaced with market-oriented solutions that will result in greater access to care at a lower cost.

"A lot of people have had horrendous experiences with Obamacare. Their premiums are through the roof. They have health coverage, but they don't have access to care," Bishop said.

Bishop said the focus should be on competition to drive down health care costs for patients.

"Anybody who thinks a much bigger government solution is the right answer, is the wrong choice," he said.

McCready and Bishop differ on Medicaid expansion. McCready is in favor of it while Bishop opposes it. The election is Sept. 10. Libertarian Jeff Scott and Green Party candidate Loran Allen Smith are also running.