The Healthcare System
Healthcare decisions should be made by individuals and families, not congressmen and senators. America’s families benefit from the most technologically advanced and effective healthcare system in world history. But rising costs threaten the availability of quality care for millions of citizens. The national debate on healthcare delivery centers on whether a single, Washington-based solution or free-market driven, private sector solutions are the best way to meet this challenge. Will we have more control over decisions affecting health and wellness, or less? Will government force a one-size-fits all, nationalized program, or allow free-market innovations to improve access to care?
As congressman, Keith Richardson will support the following principles and solutions for healthcare reform:
- Individual choice and competition among insurance providers are key principles to lowering costs and expanding availability of care.
- We must recognize that times have changed, and disconnect the availability of healthcare from employment. This can be accomplished by restructuring the tax code to allow individuals a tax deduction or credit for health insurance premiums, including amounts set aside for future medical costs in expanded Health Savings Accounts.
- White House estimates are that allowing individuals to deduct health insurance expenses would reduce insurance costs for than 100 million Americans and reduce the after-tax cost of an average health insurance policy from $6,100 to $1,555 (www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070122-9.html)
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this move alone would allow 7 million people who are currently uninsured to afford healthcare insurance (www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/78xx/doc7878/03-21-PresidentsBudget.pdf)
- Healthcare Savings Accounts are a proven way to provide affordable coverage, while encouraging wellness and smart, consumer-driven decision-making.
- Foster free-market, nationwide health insurance competition, across state lines.
- The current medical liability system results in physicians practicing defensive medicine, and many hospitals reducing access to emergency and specialized care. We must renew the effort to reform our legal system, including caps on non-economic damages, capping punitive damages and limiting the situations in which they may be awarded, and making the loser pay for frivolous lawsuits.
- Healthcare reforms are best handled at the state level. Nationalized, mandated healthcare programs will predictably result in fewer choices for consumers, increased taxes and diminished care for patients. The federal government should give states more flexibility over Medicaid dollars to promote innovation and customized healthcare options for their own citizens.
- Make veterans’ healthcare benefits portable, allowing them to choose providers who are closer to home and more responsive to their needs.
2008 is a defining year for people that care about the future of healthcare. Join Keith in promoting 21st Century solutions in health and wellness for every American.