Posted by
drpete on Thursday, July 30, 2009 9:21:23 AM
House of Representatives Republicans --
via the "Republican Study Committee -- are scheduled tomorrow to make public their own healthcare reform plan. If the plan is worthy, I applaud them and yell "yahooooo". If, as I expect, it is not worthy, I'll clap with one hand and yell "boooooooooo". The elements I'd like are as follows:
- Sunset Medicare. As to Parts A and B: For those age 60-or-older continue Medicare under existing rules. For those younger than 60, eliminate Medicare coverage. As to Part D: The existing rules will apply for exactly one year, then be gone.
- Sunset Medicaid.. The existing rules will apply for exactly one year, then be gone.
- Sunset Social Security. For those age 60-or-older continue Social Security under existing rules and rates until they die. For those 50-and-older, but less than 60, continue Social Security less 5% for each year or part-year less than 60. For those younger than 50 nothing. Social Security benefits will be paid from the general fund.
- Sunset SCHIP. Same formula as for Medicaid.
- Eliminate/repeal an and all mandates on health insurance companies vis-a-vis what they must cover and where they may sell.
- Amend tort law so that the loser pays legal and court costs for the winner.
- Eliminate government licensing of practitioners.
- Repeal all proscriptions on the sale of human organs, tissues and bodies in the free marketplace, ala ebay.
- Disallow any future mandates on employers requiring the provision of medical benefits.
- Either equalize the tax treatment of employers and individuals vis-a-vis medical insurance and medical care, or pass the FairTax.
In short, fairly restore the free marketplace.