Health care reform solutions
Principles:
Any health care reform should first “do no harm”?
- Every American needs access to affordable health insurance
- We need to abolish the unfair tax that favors employer-sponsored insurance over self-purchased insurance.
- We need a more vibrant private market with greater competition and choice.
- We need to make prices more transparent and give consumers more freedom to peruse health-care value.
- Incentives need to be aligned and integrated to encourage desired behaviors.
- There needs to be appropriate accountability, including economic consequences, if people do not behave properly.
Specific proposals
1. John Mackay, CEO of Whole Foods
a. Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs).
b. Equalize the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance laws have the same tax benefits.
c. Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines.
d. Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover.
e. Enact tort reform to end the ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
f. Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments costs.
g. Enact Medicare reform.
h. Revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to help the millions of people who have no insurance and aren’t covered by Medicare; Medicaid; or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970204251404574342170072865070.html
2. SAFEWAY’s Health Care System
a. Safeway’s per-capital health care expenses have remained flat, compared to the nearly 40% increase experienced by the rest of corporate America over the past four years.
b. The company deposits $1000 each year into a “health reimbursement account” which workers can use to pay for medical expenses. The next $1,000 is the employee’s responsibility. After that, employees pay 20% of costs up to a $4,000 maximum.
c. The second part of the program is Safeway’s “Healthy Measures” program which is voluntary. Employees are tested for smoking, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Every area they “pass” results in a reduction of their premium, as much as $1560 for a family, a year. Those who fail but prove progress can get refunds. Safeway compliments this program with an intense culture of health: wealth-loss tips, fitness competitions and smoking cessation programs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124536722522229323.html
3. Sen Jim DeMint- “Health Care Freedom Plan
a. Those without employer-based health insurance would receive vouchers of $2k/individual or $5k/family to purchase health insurance
b. Individuals with HSAs could use those funds to pay for insurance premiums
c. Individuals could purchase health insurance in any state
d. Block grants to states to develop innovative models that ensure affordable health insurance coverage for individuals with preexisting health conditions.
e. Tort reform
4. Christian health sharing communities
a. An estimated 100,000 Christians participate in a private, voluntary program, which are called health sharing communities.
b. Members are assessed “shares” based on family size, which are paid monthly, in addition to annual dues.
c. Those who need care submit their claims to a central office, which sends members monthly bulletins informing them whose care their monthly payment will be covering.
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/46290
5. Qliance Medical Management, Inc (Seattle). Consumers pay a set monthly fee of between $39 and $79 a month, depending upon age, for unlimited preventive and primary care –for common things such as checkups, vaccinations, ordinary illnesses and minor fractures as well as ongoing care for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension. It offers office visits as long as 60 minutes, same-day appointments and phone and email communications with its doctors, as well as on-site X-rays, lab tests, and first-fill prescriptions. Consumers buy high-deductible health insurance to protect them from the cost of severe illness or accidents.
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/08/17/story2.html
6. Health care clinics in stores (ie Walmart/Target/Walgrens
a. Independent health care clinics are not operating in some Walmart; Target; and Walgren stores.
b. These clinics provide one-stop convenience for many basic healthcare needs at affordable prices.
c. No appointment is necessary to visit the clinics
d. Clinics are opened seven days a week.
e. Patient data is electronic
f. All prices are clearly posted
g. An average get well visit cost $65 or less.
h. Each clinic is owned and operated by an independent company that is not affiliated with the store.
