Health Care Reform Plan

Government has no business involving itself in health care (or any other business venture for that matter) whether it be Medicare, Medicaid, Bush's Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or this current proposed health care assault on personal liberty. From past performances our federal government presents a disgraceful resume in their application for yet another opportunity to further scuttle our economy and expand power.

A more practical approach would be to first address health care costs, the underlying source of complaints over affordability in lieu of a high handed, Draconian government plan that will be funded by more taxes, cuts in allocations to Medicare and printing more money. How irresponsible and idiotic is that? Pulling the rug out by decreasing funding for a faltering government sponsored Medicare program to support another ill conceived government health plan is incomprehensible.

There is great disparity in the health plan enjoyed by our members of Congress and what they would advance for the peasantry. This in itself exhibits the true arrogance and isolation they have with their constituency and recently confirmed by town hall meetings.

Tort reform would be an excellent first step in curbing outrageously expensive malpractice insurance for physicians. This will be extremely difficult if not impossible to accomplish since trial lawyers exert tremendous sway over all aspects of government and Congress in particular since trial lawyers have traditionally defended the turf of Democrats. It is an absolute necessity if costs are to be trimmed though.

Next would be the repeal of interstate regulations so that health insurance can be purchased across state lines without restriction. It makes no sense whatsoever for a person living in Pennsylvania to pay less for a given policy than a comparable policy in New Jersey. Competition and more options would benefit all.

John McCain made this very proposal during the presidential campaign but was opposed, surprise surprise by then Senator Obama. Arizona Rep. John Shadegg has sponsored legislation known as the Health Care Choice Act which would allow citizens in one state to purchase health insurance being sold in another state. About 160 million Americans can already do this through an employer-provided group market. As a matter of fact as a senator, Mr. Obama received his health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program which was not located in Illinois.

Crack down on illegals availing themselves of "free" medical care at the expense of American taxpayers which contributes to further increases in health insurance premiums to make up the shortfall. Many clinics in California have had to close their doors as a result. Non payment of hospital services increases operating expenses which are passed on to those of us who meet our obligations with responsibility.

Redouble efforts at prevention of Medicare and Medicaid fraud and more severe penalties for abuses of these programs.

Make health insurance premiums tax deductible on a graduated scale by income. Admittedly this is a long shot but worth considering. This would have an immediate impact on those who don't have health insurance and encourage those who can afford health insurance but are not presently insured to enroll.

By no means have I explored all aspects of cost containment measures but the above would be a good start. Most would agree that what we can ill afford is another top heavy government bureaucracy that has too much control over how we manage our daily lives and is too darn nosy in the bargain.

Draconian government measures such as found in this monumental bill will cripple the health care industry in this country, discourage those presently pursuing a medical career and will manifest by a decline in public health through selective preventive medicine. Specialists will become a relic of the past and the vast expanse of medical breakthroughs propagated through their ranks along with the R&D spin-offs of the specialist community. The resultant quality of care received will deteriorate as primary care physicians will be the norm.

In my opinion this bill was not drafted as quickly as some might think. This blueprint for the takeover of health care has probably been around for some time. Can anyone seriously believe such a detailed plan came about on such short notice? A prime time player is Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, special adviser for health care at OMB and a strong proponent of radical health care reform who incidentally was an adviser to the Clinton administration on similar matters. Dr. Emmanuel has no doubt been misquoted by some but his radical theories on administering quality of life for seniors and the chronically ill should not be taken lightly.

Costs can't be curtailed by denying care nor by oppressive taxation. There is grave danger in the government's demand that Americans blindly delegate quality of life decisions to panels of bureaucrats appointed by the Chief Executive and overseen by Congress.

If passed this will be another fatal tentacle of government inextricably embedded in our personal lives.