Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

I believe that we need health care reform. However, the last thing we need is another new massive entitlement program that will create billions of dollars of deficit spending and move us closer to a government takeover of our health care system. What we need to achieve are reforms that move us in the opposite direction - toward LESS government control and MORE individual empowerment.

LET ME BE CLEAR...I AM OPPOSED TO OUR GOVERNMENT RUNNING OUR

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM!

So, let's be honest. Our healthcare system faces primarily two major challenges:

1. We have a number of people who don't have insurance, approximately 40 million. However, It is estimated that approximately 50% of that 40 million choose not to have insurance, even though they are capable of purchasing private insurance.

2. Our health care costs are skyrocketing.

So, how do we deal with these challenges in health care? Obviously, I believe the current plan of the Obama administration is not the answer...in fact, far from it! Where do we go from here? I want to give you just a few short examples of ways that I believe we can reform health care immediately, drive down costs, provide coverage to more people, and not raise the national debt or taxes!!

FIRST PROPOSAL: Tort Reform. Doctors pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year because of frivolous and ruinous lawsuits. These costs are passed back to us through much higher prices for health care. Placing reasonable limits on medical liability lawsuits can significantly lower costs.

SECOND PROPOSAL: Allow the purchase of out-of-state insurance to increase competition and innovation. We should repeal all laws that prohibit insurance companies from competing across state lines. Health insurance should be portable.

THIRD PROPOSAL: Enact Medicaid and Medicare reform. Medicare and Medicaid are heading toward bankruptcy. We should enact legislation that creates greater patient empowerment, choice and responsibility. Currently, when a patient on Medicaid goes to the doctor or hospital, he pays nothing for the visit. However, this accrues costs through the hospital, doctor, and finally the taxpayer that must pay for that visit. Because of this, the system is abused. Those on Medicaid are more likely to go to the doctor more often, thereby accruing more costs. I propose adding a co-pay to all Medicaid visits. A co-pay of just $1 per visit, for example, would save Medicaid over 15% a year. In addition, more than 10% of all Medicaid expenditures are fraud. We must enact legislation that reforms Medicaid and Medicare.

FOURTH PROPOSAL: Any person receiving government assistance must have a valid social security card or a government I.D. card, thereby proving they are legal citizens. The treatment of illegal aliens in this country puts an enormous strain on our hospitals, who, by law, must treat anyone who comes in, with or without insurance. It also adds billions of dollars a year to our nation's healthcare, thereby driving up costs even further.

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