Let health coverage cross state lines
A main component of the health care reform plan that President Obama revealed is insurance rate control. The federal Health and Human Services Department along with state authorities would have the power to deny premium increases and also to specify the exact amount allowed for any premium increase. Consumer rebates could be demanded.
Also, left out of the president's summary but included in his bill is a "quality of care value index" that empowers the federal government to dictate reimbursement rates for individual providers. These regulations institute the opposite of transparency and allow political favoritism to determine payments to both insurance companies and health care providers.
The president claims his bill will cost less than $1 trillion over the next 10 years. However, the Congressional Budget Office finds the president's proposal too vague to enable cost estimates. Others say the bill will cost over $2 trillion.
Why not simply allow insurance to be sold across state lines? If this were done, competition would be established and consumers could seek the best value. There would be a significant downward pressure on both insurance premiums and provider reimbursement. Estimates are that at least 17 million more would be insured just through this simple change. And the cost to taxpayers is absolutely nothing.
When government spending is ruining our nation's future, why not at least try this cost-free, market-based approach before imposing expensive and inefficient regulation?
Dr. David McNeil
Barrington