Fox News host promotes need for government to pay costs of coronavirus testing
Harris Faulkner: “Not everybody has health care, or health care that will cover it”
Published
Citation From the March 4, 2020, edition of Fox News’ Outnumbered
HARRIS FAULKNER (CO-HOST): I just quickly wanted to say, about this time yesterday, we learned from the Trump administration that, in fact, they were looking at health care costs, and how they could do some supplemental spending so people could get the testing. The testing, we don't talk about this, but it's pretty expensive. And you know, not everybody has health care, or health care that will cover it. And so that's something that the administration was taking a long, hard look at.
You may, in fact, see a ripple effect, which is what you're talking about. It's not whether or not you put money in people's pockets, it's can you get them to go outside their homes and spend it? That's the question. Can you get them back on a plane? Can you -- you know, those are the things. And if you can give them maybe confidence or solace in knowing that, you know, you can go to the hospital. Don't be shy about doing that because you think that you can't afford to treat your symptoms or whatever. If the government is taking a look at that as an emergency, you know, repair, if you will — that's what will cause people to say, “OK, well, if I can deal with my own situation then I can get back outside."
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JESSICA TARLOV (CO-HOST): The testing has to get under control. And it was Ted Yoho, a Republican congressman, who said you may want to call it socialism, but people should not have to pay for this, and we have to make sure that they get it.
FAULKNER: Public safety, definitely.
TARLOV: Absolutely.