An ObamaCare Alternative from the States
by Kristina RasmussenEarlier today Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty explained to BigGovernment.com readers how the Baucus health care plan is a prescription for higher taxes and higher premiums.
In keeping with the theme that good perspectives and ideas often come from the states, 33 state-based think tanks came together this morning to announce a health care reform alternative to ObamaCare.
“President Obama and other supporters of government-run health care like to proclaim that there’s no alternative to their plans,” said John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. “Our patient-centered reform package offers a clear alternative that puts patients, not bureaucrats, first. It protects the doctor-patient relationship, offers viable solutions for the uninsured, and keeps medical care affordable for all Americans.”
Patient-centered health care reform:
- Leverages Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). HSAs empower individuals to monitor their health care costs and create incentives for individuals to use only those services that are necessary;
- Allows interstate purchasing of insurance. Policies in some states are more affordable because they include fewer bells and whistles, and consumers should be empowered to decide which benefits they need and what prices they are willing to pay;
- Reduces the number of mandated benefits insurers are required to cover. Empowering consumers to choose which benefits they need is only effective if insurers are able to fill these needs;
- Reallocates the majority of Medicaid spending into simple vouchers for low-income individuals to purchase their own insurance. An income-based sliding scale voucher program would eliminate much of the massive bureaucracy that is needed to implement today’s complex and burdensome Medicaid system and produce considerable cost savings;
- Eliminates unnecessary scope-of-practice laws and allow non-physician health care professionals practice to the extent of their education and training. Retail clinics have shown that increasing the provider pool safely increases competition and access to care and empowers the patient to decide from whom they receive their care;
- Reforms tort liability laws. Defensive medicine needlessly drives up medical costs and creates an adversarial relationship between doctors and patients.
Read the whole plan at www.PatientCenteredReform.com.
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62 Comments
Of course, this will never work, since it doesn't fit in with our radical-fringe President's socialist plans. (Let's hear it, lefties: "But, but, but, the military and the police and the highways are socialist, in that case. The government pays for those things!" Oh, well, then, pardon me. Please allow me to step aside while you interpose your stupid ideology between my doctor and me.
This fine write-up describes some common-sense ideas that would yield big improvements, but, unfortunately, these policy proposals just don't get the big government job done. Sorry!
Why always the unquestioned assumption that government NEEDS to do this! Or NEEDS to do that? And always to the tune of "the system is broken, government NEEDS to fix it". Maybe the government just NEEDS to get the hell out of the way and let Capitalism do it's job.
Of course, this will never work, since it doesn't fit in with our radical-fringe President's socialist plans. (Let's hear it, lefties: "But, but, but, the military and the police and the highways are socialist, in that case. The government pays for those things!")
Oh, well, then, pardon me. Please allow me to step aside while you interpose your stupid ideology between my doctor and me.
This fine write-up describes some common-sense ideas that would yield big improvements, but, unfortunately, these policy proposals just don't get the big government job done. Sorry!
Yay! But what about reducing employer-based choices in health care in favor those of the individual? Get rid of incentives to employers to package health benefits as alternatives to outright salary compensation. Let US decide how our health dollars are spent! Sure, some idiots are going to blow their money on beer or huge LCD HD TVs, but that's what freedom is about: the freedom to make the right AND the wrong choices.
Of course they will say it won't work because …? Theres no public option
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We can pizz and moan here until the cows come home, but the bottom line is, Government Medicine is Unconstitutional.
There is one missing piece to the points in the OP: reform of the tax code to decouple health insurance from employment.
Health care is a consumable, just as housing (property insurance), cars (car insurance), food, clothing, etc. are. It would make more sense for the funding for health care to be added to compensation, and then included in income for individuals, with corresponding abilities to exempt income from taxation via HSAs and an allowance for health insurance. The free market approach in the other points will result in a variety of options from bare bones catastrophic care to fuller service plans – which The Consumer may decide to purchase, or not. It's the Individual's Right To Choose.
Govt takeover of healthcare is completely unconstitutional, particularly mandating individuals purchase it or be heavily fined. These little despots in congress need to be told in the 2010 elections what miserable failures they are with a swift kick to the curb. Olympia Snowe should be one of the swine that's thrown out.
The cost of this is going to bankrupt this nation. As it stands now soc sec is going to be insolvent in 7 years. The same criminal cretins that have ruined soc sec and Medicare/Medicaid/VA Hospitals now want to bring their failures to every home in America.
Revoultion 2010: throw out every leftwing sellout and rino invertebrate.
I don't know if we can survive for another year at the rate they are destroying our economy.
One of the projects I'm working on involves new construction for low income housing. The materials that are being called for by the crack smoking architect are the highest end and most expensive. Even those in Beverly Hills somewhat shudder at the cost of a remodel using the top of the line products but I digress.
This is just one example of the staggering waste that goes on in govt every single day. Burn it down and start over.
To bad the Republican Party can't figure out away to articulate these points. Sometimes you have to wonder if the Power Brokers in the Republican Party want this takeover of Health Care! Stupid jerks!
Simply put SNOWE HAS GOT TO GO
If for no other reason than the fact she gave that POS POTUS the 'technical' ability to say the bill was BIPARTISAN
Correct !!!
I can see the supreme court cases now….
I, for one, do not need health insurance benefits (or premiums that support those benefits) for medical care that I will never use (largely due to lifestyle choices). The proposed patient-centered reform bill alludes to this a la carte ability, but it should be spelled out.
Most importantly, the proposal should include how the reform plan will be funded.
The Dollar looses reserve status…..just Damn
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/dollar_lose...
Of course it it unconstitutional, but that will NOT stop them from implementing it. It is the goal of this administration and much of Congress to make the Constitution subservient to the government's agenda, rather than the opposite as the founders intended.
Everyone remember what brought US all together here? ACORN.
Things are getting interesting over at ACORN. Bertha Lewis just fired Wade Rathke's bimbo.
Perhaps things are unravelling from within quicker than we realize.
Everyone remember what brought US all together here? ACORN.
Things are getting interesting over at ACORN. Bertha Lewis just fired Wade Rathke's bimbo.
Perhaps things are unravelling from within quicker than we realize.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/13/acorn-...
Considering the poor quality of much low income housing, the higher likelihood is that the government will pay for the high cost materials. Cheaper ones will be delivered with a kick back to the architect and government cronies who nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more, say no more while they rip off the taxpayers.
I'm looking forward to Bertha firing someone who has a ton more dirt to bury the entire Obamanation. Nothing is more vengeful than a crook who is thrown out of the gang.
True, but who will be sitting on that court. We had better be sure no one else on the court quits or dies. The court is already weighted and a little more weight and the judges will not remember the constitution. The pres is a constitutional lawyer, how well is he respecting it, and how have we been fighting it. Was not constitutional for him to fire CEO's of private companies that did not stop him. Why was there not a suit the next morning? Was not constitutional for him to put caps on CEO's salaries but he is doing it. See a pattern.
This plans has to much LOGIC (Lost On Government In Control)
That is just what O wanted, another crisis, quick don't let it go to waste. Blame Bush, first (although he has some blame for it, it is this pres policies that really are the problem) impose martial law so that there will be no other election, devaluate the money so we owe pennies on the dollar and shake hands with Chavez and Castro soon our standard of living will be down to their level. Oh but Obama and the people in power who supported his policies will still be able to buy aragula, and vacation at thousands of dollars a week resorts.
I'm still tempted.
It will be interesting, as they turn on each other as ravenous wolves.
Rathke's bimbo could be key. It depends how stout her relationship is with "Devil Wade". If they split, she is the key witness, and could turn States Evidence. Wouldn't that be wildly ironic?
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
I totally agree!!! I do not want government, union bosses, HR managers, or any business owner deciding what my health care plan is. I want to make my own choice.
You Go Girl! Right On!
One of my sisters is a nurse – or was. She quit because of the eroding working conditions and income.
I agree,
And as soon as that pizz of crap bill is passed, and signed by the BOZO in the BlackHouse, I will sign onto the 1st class action suit to take it to the Supreme Court. Who's on board???
In about 6 months, maybe longer the ol greenback wont be worth much….There is enough blame to go around, Bush, NO-Bama and all of CON-gress.
No, I'm not Prejudice or Racist,
I just heard the White House hired painters to paint the House BLACK, because everything bill is being negotiated behind closed doors with the Lights out, in the Blackness of the Night
I am sorry but I have been thinking this all afternoon. WHERE THEY NOT FREAKING LISTENING TO THE OUTRAGE AT THE TOWNHALLS AND THE MARCH ON 9-12?
OMG are these thugs in DC this stupid? Do they realize they are playing with fire? They try to push Government Health care on us, it will tip into civil unrest for sure. PEOPLE ARE PISSED! WAKE UP AND LISTEN!
This is just a set up to make it look like Lewis is trying to clean up ACORN. I bet Wade and Butler told her to do this. "Let's make it appear like a Cleaning of the House"
I lost my brother on October 3rd and he was in the Trauma unit for 24 hours. You nurses and caregivers deserve every dollar! He had a nurse that I will love forever for all she did for him and for my family. She even cried when he passed away. I just don't know how you do that every day, you have to have a heart of gold
You can bet if we get government run health care, you will be lucky to make 35k a year
Unions use to be for the worker but they have become nothing more than the mafia. t
They think they can get away with it. They can until the worm turns.
Our American health-care system is NOT BROKEN! Could it be improved? YES! So, stop the insanity in DC and let's take a good look at it and tweak the parts that need tweaking and leave the rest of it alone. Then, after a year or so, if we tweaked too much simply turn the tweak back a little or tweak it more, but FOR GOODNESS SAKES….STOP THE DESTRUCTION OF HEALTH CARE AND OUR COUNTRY WITH THIS MADNESS! There are good ideas that Obama and the Democrats refuse to look at because they don't impose government control and that is what they are after. STOP IT NOW!
Guys, What is going on with Hanna? Is there a gag order? Why have we not heard anymore about her and her partner who blew the lid off of ACORN? Please, let us know.
I think she did the right thing.
Look, no way the bill passes the Senate unless the Dems try to circumvent 200+ years of Senate methodology and attach a 1300 page bill to something like the defense bill.
If, as we know they will, the Dems ram the public option in there, she votes no and makes a big stink about it being no longer bipartisan (and it wont pass because of the cost). Without the public option, the libs wont vote for it.
Dead.
She's on O'Reilly tomorrow. I just caught the trailer…
You have far more faith in her than I. The simple fact is that the bill got a fresh gust in its sails simply because Obama was able to call it Bipartisan. We have to be able to stand the line on principle if we can do nothing else.
Have you all seen this? What the hell……………………
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/13/tentat...
Thank you, Kristina.
It's a good start.
NO WAY!!
We're being sold out by rookies in fantasy land!
Wait until the introduce the new "Amero".
It'll make US all wish we had peso's.
I was in the Air Force in the 70's and was on a Titan ll missile crew. I never dreamed we would give the Russians a tour let alone show them all of our nuclear secrets….The titans are long gone but we still have the Minute Man and others….It is Treason….Impeach No-Bama now !!!!!
Things are getting scary.
Could you just imagine Ronald Reagan letting the Ruskies inspect US?
Good Lord!
We have started a cause and group on Facebook to reach out and find all the people in America from all political stripes to join us in N.O.I.S.E. NOW-NOT ONE INCUMBENT STAYS ELECTED. We must use the power that remains to each one of us, our vote, and make our voices heard at the voting booth starting in 2010. We must return to the Jeffersonian ideal of the citizen statesman who is elected, serves one to two terms and returns to their real occupation. Not the professional politicians (crooks) that currently inhabit the halls of Congress. Take a look at the most corrupt Congressmen & women and guess what-they are all long-term politicians. Our protests can be and are minimized by the 4th arm of the government, the main stream media, but if we unite as one and vote them ALL OUT, there will be no denial possible. They too will be unemployed, albeit with full retirement and health care unlike the average American. Join us!
If I had to choose between this or Obamacare and no other option was available, I would choose this.
Now of course you realize that the Dems won't consider this as presenting an alternative plan to Obamacare since they love to say nobody on the Right has offered one.
If current forms of the plans are passed, I am positive that premiums will skyrocket, much faster than the 7% ? rate now. Guaranteed mandate without greatly increasing the risk pool is catastrophic. The proposed penalties are a joke. Taxes will rise dramatically.
I am lucky in that I can afford it, but at great sacrifice. By the time reality hits in a few years when the plan is in effect, Obama will be long gone.
All I can say to that is that the people that voted for him will get what they deserve. I will have NO sympathy.
How about cracking down on abusers of the system, too? Austin's ERs got 2,678 visits from NINE PEOPLE over six years. That's about 300 visits (or fifty a year) and $750K per person. And that's just Austin.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/storie...
i have been a critical care nurse for 25 years and know the only way they ever cut cost is to cut nurses salary and staffing. I have two BS degrees and never made more than 70,000 a year even with overtime. I will not do this job for one dollar less even if it means organanizing union membership at my hospital or leaving the field. The government has always been able to make the hospital's absorb the cost of really expensive cases. Even our republican governor in MS has decided to tax hospital beds (sick people) to pay for medicaid deficits. This is the single factor that the retards forgot to calculate when they come up with their plan. The basic question is why do you expect our wasteful government to eliminate waste or our uncompassionate government, with its vested interest in our early demise, to improve our health? We have seen this administration steal from the people on level never imagined. Why do they really want health care reform if not to steal more? I hope they all go to jail.
More than unravelling, CL… Butler was fired this morning for FAILURE to turn over "trust" assets from N'awlins to the NY chapter. A move to hide the transfer of TAXPAYER funded monies allocated for N'awlins. Just more corruption.
They are unglued….. Stay tuned….
Now wouldnt that be great fun to see….ACORN is starting to crumble but I am afraid one of the other spinoffs will just take up the slack. It is not time to let our guard down.
The govt will indeed pay despite explanations to the lunacy of their decisions.
Cheaper ones will be delivered with a kick back to the architect and government cronies who nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more, say no more while they rip off the taxpayers.
As tempting as this may sound since the money has been allocated for the higher end items anyway and the city would be more than satisfied with a 4 star product at half the price of a 5 star product, this is not done. For one, we'd go to jail. Secondly, there are inspections. This type of behavior is reserved primarily for politicians.
Be still my heart ! Aren't you suggesting that the PRIVATE MARKET SECTOR might just provide the solution and "common sense" remedy for this issue ? At the state level, no less ! What a bunch of seditious traitors you all are…. Don't you understand that Dear Leader has ALL the answers even though he has no intent of resolving the issue unless it benefits his "collectivist" Marxist programs. Resign now for the sake of America's future !
I've been thinking about that recently, too. To arms, one and all.
True, but that becomes far more damaging if it loses "bipartisanship" than had she voted no in the first place.
Looks like a good plan, but I'd add making all health care insurance tax deductible, not just employer-provided plans.
[...] drives up medical costs and creates an adversarial relationship between doctors and patients. An ObamaCare Alternative from the States from Big Government by Kristina [...]
Better than doing nothing as Bush did.
If we have public option or non for profit insurers the rates wont go up because the private insurers will have competition.
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