Well I take a different approach to this.
1 - HAVE Medicare and Medicaid go from quasi publicly run to privately run. In turn make the company accountable for quality of care and savings to the people. All of this talk and "action" about reform is based on the rising cost of Medicare and Medicaid expenses, NOTHING ELSE. The feds can't control it with competition within the industry so they want to take it over. READ THE DETAILS and the comments from congress.
2 - limit the state mandates and make them uniformed across the country, including purchasing insurance across state lines. Simplify the laws so everyone has an understanding what their insurance is all about.
3 - reform the privacy laws, let the industry push for electronic records in their own way without the government involvement
4 - a nationalized doctor/nurse licensing system
5 - change the caps to lawyers practicing in malpractice cases, from the 1/3 to 1/4
6 - no government paid for health care for congress members - period. It is not a job, they are elected.
7 - Enforce the frivolous lawsuit laws across the country and make one change - loser pays. If the lawyer takes a case that is considered frivolous, then they need to pay
8 - revise the health savings account tax laws, remove the mandate that the money needs to be spent but can be put into an interest bearing account tax free for future medical expenses
9 - Allow the insurance companies to actually give discounts to people who don't use their insurance but are subscribers
10 - increase the number of medical professionals by stop giving money to colleges and universities. The reason for the high cost of tuition is not because of the cost of running the place but because of the cash cow of free money from the state and feds to subsidize education
The most important change that needs to happen is a change with the people. They have to get off their a**es and learn how to take care of themselves, how to be responsible with their insurance coverage and how to be involved with it. Without an educated majority, the minority of people will run the show and put us on a path of government controlled health care.
