Three of the Nation’s Governors presented their Bipartisan Plan for Improving the Nation’s Health Care System.
Governors John Kasich of Ohio (R), John Hickenlooper of Colorado (D) and Bill Walker of Alaska (I).
There Goals include moving away from a Fee-for-Service system and providing Market-Based Incentives for Providers.
They also answered questions from reporters on Decreasing Pharmaceutical Drug Costs and Work Requirements for those receiving Medicaid Assistance.
7 Principles Of Health Reform
1. Health Care Reform should Emphasize Health: Health and well-being are determined by more than Health Services used. Employment, Education, and Personal Choices influence the Health of each American. Unfortunately, the Health Care Law undermines Employment and Limits Personal Choice. Meaningful Reform should emphasize Health by Expanding Economic Opportunity and aligning Incentives for Americans to make Healthier Personal Choices that can drive Improvements throughout the Health Care System.
2. Responsibility is best fostered through Individual Incentives and not an Oppressive Federal Mandate that Violates the Economic Freedoms of Americans: Americans should be in Control of their Health and the Decisions regarding their Care. Individuals and Families, not Governments, are best able to decide the Right Course of Action, which is why Price and Quality Transparency are essential to meaningful Reform.
3. Health Care Reform should enable Medicaid to Restore and Maintain the Economic Independence as well as Health Status of the Neediest Americans: Medicaid should be a Bridge, not a Barrier, to Independence. Public Assistance Programs should be Designed to offer Support for Disabled Americans and Help Individuals Return to or Maintain Economic Independence as well as Health Status.
4. Health Care Reform should Increase Design Flexibility in Medicaid and the Private Insurance Market to Improve Coverage Choices: Increasing Design Flexibility in Medicaid and the Private Insurance Market will Strengthen Access to Care for Patients, Reduce the Regulatory Burden that Increases the Cost of Care and Lead to Innovative Programs.
5. Health Care Reform should Align Delivery System Incentives to Improve the Value of Patient Care: Delivery Incentives should be Aligned to Focus on Quality, Value-based and Patient-centered Programs that Improve Health, Driving Value over Volume and Quality over Quantity while Containing Costs.
6. Health Care Reform should foster State Innovation to Improve Health Care Systems: States are best able to make Decisions about the Design of their Health Care Systems based on the Needs, Culture, and Values of their Citizens. Reform should Reduce the Federal Disruption in State and Local Health Care Markets while Increasing Accountability.
7. Health Care Reform should Address Unsustainable Spending at the Family, State and Federal Levels to ease the Debt Burden that Threatens our Future: Families, States, and the Federal Government face a Dangerous Budgetary Outlook made worse by this Health Care Law. The Budget problem is Spending; Correcting it means Empowering Individuals and Fixing the Tax Code to Remove Hidden Costs from the Health Care System.
They concluded with:
These Principles are not Partisan. Nor should they be considered Controversial. They are, however, Essential. Too often, Washington Policymakers Lose Sight of what their Goals should be by Focusing on Process and the Political Implications of their Decision making.
Republican Governors look forward to Replacing ”Obamacare” with Legislation that will follow these Guiding Principles to Improve Health Outcomes and contain Costs.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
