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GUEST OPINION
Congress: Heal Health Care First and Do No Harm
BY ROB CORNILLES
January 14, 2010
Like the irritating visitor who points out your home's
shortcomings, attentive Americans do not need more reminders that
our fiscal house is in disarray. Oregon is witnessing almost 12
percent unemployment while thousands more are underemployed.
Yet the national debate has curiously been steered away from what
Oregonians need most today - sustainable jobs and a reliable
economy - to a polarizing national health care scheme that follows
a record year of deficits, footed by taxpayers young, old and
unborn. And amidst all the chatter, it's increasingly hard to
remember if this is about care, coverage or costs.
The central health care priority must be to reduce the amount of
money taken out of Americans' pockets for the purpose of health
coverage. Yet the recent legislation, passed by both the House and
Senate, has implications that go well beyond reducing costs.
None of the current reform bills reduce the cost of health care.
Quite the contrary. These bills will raise taxes and reduce health
care benefits to pay for more government control.
Under the current health care measures, Medicare benefits would be
reduced by $500 billion for the sole purpose of hiding the true
costs of the health care bills. In the face of historically high
deficits projected over the next 10 years, the current health care
bill creates a new entitlement program that will cost an
additional $1.3 trillion over the next decade, while raising taxes
and slashing Medicare.
Due to our current conditions, reasonable lawmakers should
recognize that incremental fixes are more prudent than a drastic
overhaul. We shouldn't adopt a new system that is more susceptible
to delays, inefficiencies, rationing and poorer quality care than
today's less-than-perfect but still best-in-the-world system.
Moreover, health care reform must not cause further economic
erosion. Fixing something today for expediency's sake while
creating a whole new set of problems for upcoming generations is a
legacy courageous lawmakers should reject.
After asking "How?" reformists must be prepared to answer, "Then
what?" While unintended consequences of experimental drugs may be
forgiven, voters should not accept experiments from Chicken Little
congressmen playing politics with our future.
In lieu of revamping our entire health care system, here are
practical improvements that will reduce costs without a government
takeover.
- More choice - Allow small businesses and organizations to pool
their collective influence to purchase insurance at a reduced
cost, giving them the same buying power that corporations - and
the government - enjoy. Employees of large entities should not be
cheaper to insure than people in smaller organizations.
- Motivate health care practitioners - While we've been assured we
can keep our doctor, will new laws allow them to keep us? Will
quotas, mandates and state-run care overburden their practices? A
bloated system can ill afford an avalanche of expected physician
retirements, as predicted by a recent Investors Business Daily
survey (Sept. 15, 2009). Similarly, we must encourage, not
discourage, young Americans to get into the medical field when
they are needed most.
- Curtail frivolous and expensive lawsuits - As long as doctors
fear excessive malpractice suits, they will practice defensive
medicine - requiring more forms, visits, tests and procedures than
needed, ballooning the cost of health care. In the end, don't
Oregonians trust doctors over litigators?
- You can take it with you - Patients should be treated as
customers, allowing them to shop for health insurance across state
lines and keep their insurance if they leave their job. This will
spur competition among private insurers and lead to lower prices.
- Insure pre-existing conditions - Through tax incentives,
companies can find it profitable to insure the disadvantaged so
that no one gets left out.
- Reward healthy lifestyles - Incentivize Americans to take
responsibility for their health. Providers, insurers, and
pharmaceutical companies should also be incentivized to honor
those who make smart choices and live a healthy lifestyle.
- Expand tax-free health savings accounts - HSAs are proven to
reduce costs for both employers and consumers. Plus HSAs give
consumers more choices and control over their health care.
- Cut waste and fraud - Reward whistle-blowers who uncover
Medicare and Medicaid fraud. If medical care becomes free for
some, then going to the ER could be like taking a number at the
DMV. Anything free is something abused.
- Protect Oregon - Our congressional delegation must defend
Oregon's interests by opposing any federal mandates requiring new
state programs funded by more taxes. Remember, economic recovery -
and jobs - are our first priority.
Amidst all the health care bill clutter (over 4,000 pages),
Congress has a fiduciary responsibility to "do no harm." If they
overreach beyond these practical solutions, representatives will
be guilty of legislative malpractice.
(Soapboxes are guest opinions from our readers, and anyone is
welcome to write one. Rob Cornilles, of Tualatin, is a Republican
candidate for Oregon's 1st Congressional District. He is active in
community volunteer events and has been a local business owner
since 1995. For more information,
www.cornillesforcongress.com.)
Beaverton Valley Times --
http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=126343452470529800
The Times Tigard/Tualatin --
http://www.tigardtimes.com/opinion/story_2nd.php?story_id=126343452470529800
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Paid for by Cornilles for Congress
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