OP-ED: Patient Centered Patient Driven Health Care Reform; Making Health Care more Affordable, Portable and Accessible

Clearly, no issue is more in the public eye right now than that of health care reform. And, the Democrat-controlled Congress and the Obama Administration seem more interested in rushing a careless bill of failed reform options through Congress and signing it into law, than they are about the consequences the legislation would have on the quality of life of the American patient. The plan they propose is government centered and government driven.  This approach will only exchange a malfunctioning health care system in need of reform for one that is even worse.

Any attempt at effective health care reform must be Patient Centered and Patient Driven. Your relationship with your doctor is most important and it should not be outsourced to a faceless bureaucrat in Washington who is more concerned about their own self preservation, rather than your best interest.

While it is easy to voice disagreement with the President and Congress’ proposed plan, it’s vitally important to offer constructive alternatives and real reform options that will lower the cost of health care and improve care through more choices and proven results. In order to do this, health care reform must be more affordable, portable and accessible for all Americans.

We must embrace free-market solutions, solutions that move away from government-control of health care and more towards individual empowerment and options.  It will require a fundamental shift in the way D.C. approaches a problem.  Of late, it seems that when something isn’t working the solution is to stimulate it.  When it’s failing, bail it.  And when it’s bankrupting, buy it.  And now, with less than 20 percent of Americans lacking health insurance, the government has come to “the rescue”, yet again.  And most of those 20 percent aren’t even Americans – they are non-citizens who use our health care system and don’t contribute.

The change required by our Washington leaders is one that doesn’t empower the government in the name of crisis, but recognizes that government intervention is the root of many of the problems of higher costs and inaccessibility.  Therefore, to achieve the desired goal we must accept that government is generally the problem and not the solution.

So let’s explore some simple solutions.

First, begin with reforming the tax laws so that individual health insurance is fully tax deductible in the same way as employer health insurance benefits. Furthermore, access to health care can be increased by helping employers offer health care coverage by reducing their administrative costs through specially designed small business tax credits.

Next, repealing laws that prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines will create competition, increase supply and will ensure that those seeking health insurance have the option that best fits them.  In addition, current government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover are increasing the cost of health insurance by billions of dollars. These mandates should be lifted and the power of choice returned to the individual policy holder.

Policy holders should also have the option to keep their plan with them.  This is called portability.  Just because you may change employers doesn’t mean you should have to change doctors and health care coverage.  Just imagine if you lost your retirement benefits because of a career change or relocation.  

And lastly, it’s time for the federal government to enforce the immigration laws of our country.  The cost of uncompensated care for illegal immigrants is inflating the rates for all patients.  This cost is then passed on to the insurance companies, who in return are raising the rates of insurance premiums for all law abiding citizens.

Whatever reforms are enacted, only a Patient Centered, Patient Driven health care system will work in the long run. We can make health care more affordable, portable and accessible without increasing government spending, raising taxes or threatening a patient’s right to choose in the process.  The first step is to recognize that more government isn’t the answer.