Platform Plank #3 - Healthcare
Healthcare is a hot issue, and perhaps the most difficult of all problems facing the country. So far, no single leader has verbalized anything close to a reasonable or common sense solution to the large and growing healthcare problem.
Perhaps the most important reason we haven't heard a reasonable solution from either political party is that each is too closely tied to their individual benefactors and special interests. This has led to not only a lack of reasonable solutions, but perhaps even policies that have been detrimental to any eventual solution to the problem.
In keeping with my own party's philosphy, my policy toward healthcare reforms is based fundamentally on the idea that no specific group should get more consideration than any other in the development of government policy.
Besides all citizens who are the consumers of healthcare, the powerful interests who fight effectively from their limitless war chests will make the implementation of any healthcare reforms extremely difficult. We have seen the insurance companies, trial lawyers, pharmaceutical companies, labor unions, corporate interests, and healthcare providers all buying the votes in congress to make sure the status quo is maintained.
Solutions require an understanding of the problem. Let's start with a fundamental understanding: We as a society have already decided that we will not deny needed healthcare services to anyone, even if they can't afford those services. The problem today is that there are far too many in that category whose cost of care is simply passed on to everyone who can pay, namely the insured and the government.
Some want a European or Canadian style universal healthcare program, which would immediately put all private health insurers out of business and essentially make all healthcare providers employees of the federal government. I agree with the opponents of this idea who believe it will lead to shortages and rationing of care, as well as drastically harm the quality of care.
On the other hand, we simply can no longer afford to continue passing the buck of uninsured patients on in higher charges to the rest of the population. COBRA, a good idea when it was initiated, is now unaffordable for most of the general population. A basic family health insurance plan costs the worker who leaves or is laid off from his or her job nearly $1,000 per month. That's a bill that won't be accepted by any but the top wage earners in the country, and is no longer an effective measure to keeping the rolls of the insured high.
Solutions require participation from everyone. The uninsured must have access to healthcare that they can afford. However, that doesn't mean they should get a free ride. The government and private insurers must agree to implemented standardized claims processing that reduces the heavy administrative burden currently delaying compensation and burying providers in paperwork. Trial lawyers must be made to think twice about bringing frivolous suits against providers when there has been no malpractice, while true malpractice should see to it that inept and unqualified practitioners lose their licenses.
The policies to be pursued by my administration in regard to healthcare include the following:
All of this can greatly improve the sytem over time, although it is fully expected that the programs will require constant monitoring and adjustment to keep in step with the real needs and issues that will certainly continue to change.
Perhaps the most important reason we haven't heard a reasonable solution from either political party is that each is too closely tied to their individual benefactors and special interests. This has led to not only a lack of reasonable solutions, but perhaps even policies that have been detrimental to any eventual solution to the problem.
In keeping with my own party's philosphy, my policy toward healthcare reforms is based fundamentally on the idea that no specific group should get more consideration than any other in the development of government policy.
Besides all citizens who are the consumers of healthcare, the powerful interests who fight effectively from their limitless war chests will make the implementation of any healthcare reforms extremely difficult. We have seen the insurance companies, trial lawyers, pharmaceutical companies, labor unions, corporate interests, and healthcare providers all buying the votes in congress to make sure the status quo is maintained.
Solutions require an understanding of the problem. Let's start with a fundamental understanding: We as a society have already decided that we will not deny needed healthcare services to anyone, even if they can't afford those services. The problem today is that there are far too many in that category whose cost of care is simply passed on to everyone who can pay, namely the insured and the government.
Some want a European or Canadian style universal healthcare program, which would immediately put all private health insurers out of business and essentially make all healthcare providers employees of the federal government. I agree with the opponents of this idea who believe it will lead to shortages and rationing of care, as well as drastically harm the quality of care.
On the other hand, we simply can no longer afford to continue passing the buck of uninsured patients on in higher charges to the rest of the population. COBRA, a good idea when it was initiated, is now unaffordable for most of the general population. A basic family health insurance plan costs the worker who leaves or is laid off from his or her job nearly $1,000 per month. That's a bill that won't be accepted by any but the top wage earners in the country, and is no longer an effective measure to keeping the rolls of the insured high.
Solutions require participation from everyone. The uninsured must have access to healthcare that they can afford. However, that doesn't mean they should get a free ride. The government and private insurers must agree to implemented standardized claims processing that reduces the heavy administrative burden currently delaying compensation and burying providers in paperwork. Trial lawyers must be made to think twice about bringing frivolous suits against providers when there has been no malpractice, while true malpractice should see to it that inept and unqualified practitioners lose their licenses.
The policies to be pursued by my administration in regard to healthcare include the following:
- COBRA rules will be replaced by a new insurance portability act that will permit individuals to keep their health insurance even after leaving a company. The policy may be modified with higher deductibles and lower premiums to make it more affordable for the individual.
- For those who are unable to purchase health insurance because of any pre-existing condition or high-risk factors, the opportunity will be extended to join Medicare for a premium rate tied to the individual or family's latest 1040 adjusted gross income. No citizen may be denied coverage for any reason, but nobody will be forced to purchase insurance. It will be made crystal clear to everyone who chooses to remain uninsured that should a catastrophic injury or illness occur while they are uninsured, their property may be subject to confiscation to pay for treatment.
- Companies will be encouraged to provide health coverage for all of their employees. Tax incentives will be created to make it as attractive as possible for all companies to offer coverage to their entire employee population, even including part-time or temporary workers. For small businesses who find it more difficult to acquire group plans at an attractive rate, they will be permitted to band together in large groups to get rates comparable to those enjoyed by larger corporations.
- Free or low-cost wellness programs will be provided through public/private partnership grants to encourage all citizens to participate in exercise, nutrition education, smoking cessation classes, etc.
- Drug and alcohol rehabilitation services will be expanded and made available to a broad segment of the population.
- Non-citizens will be given emergency care only, and forced to pay for non-emergency treatments themselves. Border security and immigration reforms will include specific provisions to help reduce the burden placed on the system today through reducing or eliminating the need for providing free health services to non-citizens unable to pay.
- Medical MalPractice Review Boards will be created to review any malpractice case that is presented alleging harm to a patient due to improper or negligent care. The Review Board will be made up of a mixture of medical and non-medical experts from the community, who must commit to an unbiased review of each case. If the case is deemed to have merit by the Review Board, it will be recommended for referral to civil court proceedings. If the case is deemed without merit by the Review Board, the case can still be heard in civil court, but must include a compelling reason for overturning the findings of the Review Board to proceed.
- Government clinics and hospitals will be opened in major metropolitan areas, where anyone may come for treatment. Charges will be based on ability to pay up to the reasonable and customary limit for all patients. These facilities will generally be affiliated with medical schools, providing a good training ground for medical students and helping to keep costs under control. Emergency Rooms will no longer be the first choice for patients under Medicaid or other government insurers, but these clinics and hospitals will serve those patients. In rural communities, subsidies for treatment of poor and indigent to existing clinics and hospitals will replace the government facilities. Government administration will be outsources to professional healthcare companies subject to regular audit scrutiny to make sure they are keeping overhead costs low and spending tax dollars wisely.
- Pharmaceutical companies will have to negotiate with the government to supply high volumes of needed medications for those covered under government-sponsored insurance plans. Volume pricing of drugs can be negotiated to give a fair profit to the companies while helping reduce costs to the government insurance programs.
All of this can greatly improve the sytem over time, although it is fully expected that the programs will require constant monitoring and adjustment to keep in step with the real needs and issues that will certainly continue to change.
posted by Dan S. at 11:36 AM
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