With the Scott Brown victory and the corresponding loss of his Democratic Senate supermajority, Obama is apparently willing to listen to a less intrusive health care plan. The Republicans should take up the challenge and propose Consumer Driven Health Care, CDHC. Put medical decisions in the hands of the consumer. It would have the following elements:
- A break down of state barriers to insurance company competition. Qualification in one state equals qualification in all states.
- The taxability of benefit compensation as compensation, including health benefits.
- The deductibility of privately purchased medical insurance policies.
- An expansion of Health Savings Accounts, increased deductibility for contributions, and a relaxation of the high-deductible or catastrophic medical policy qualification rules.
- Serious tort reform including a significant cap on non-economic damages.
This combination would reduce costs by virtue of increased competition and reduction of defensive medicine. It would not add one dime to the federal deficit or debt. And it would put the consumer in charges of his medical services.
Admittedly this would take political courage on the part of the Democrats as it would offend their fat-cat bosses, the trial lawyers and the unions. Sometimes you need to do what is best of the country and neglect the special interests.
Tom Motherway