The peril of government control

As Congress prepares for the inevitability of a new administration, many questions remain unanswered about the legislative priorities we will see from the next president. One issue, however, is sure to be at the forefront of the agenda, regardless of the White House occupant: a long-overdue debate over the future of healthcare in our nation.

As a physician, I can attest that our healthcare system is failing American patients. Millions are uninsured and those who have coverage are increasingly squeezed by skyrocketing costs. It is these huge costs that are perhaps the most prohibitive barrier to quality care for millions of Americans.

Both parties maintain a shared goal of access to care for all. This cannot be achieved without making healthcare more affordable. Our solution, however, must lower costs in a manner that allows patients to be in control of their personal medical decisions.

Some in Congress are determined to shepherd more Americans into a government-controlled system based on the mirage of “free care.” Dangerously, they suggest that simply shifting control of all healthcare decisions to Washington would create a utopian system of cost-free services. In reality, any shift of costs would be repaid many times over, not just through higher taxes, but more importantly in decreased quality of care.

In fact, growing federal intervention into healthcare, primarily through Medicare, has led to higher medical costs and distorted any illusion of a true healthcare market. A lack of competition among insurers, onerous regulations, and the promotion of one-size-fits-all plans have left costs uncontainable. Arguments that free-market policies have created the current medical prices are simply false.

Lowering healthcare costs in a patient-centered manner can be achieved through a broad range of reforms. Yet we must be willing to actively reinvent and improve our current tattered system.

Drawing on decades of experience caring for patients and navigating our federal system, I have introduced legislation, the Comprehensive HealthCARE Act (H.R. 2626), to fundamentally reform our nation’s healthcare structure and, among other changes, appropriately control the cost of healthcare.

Responsiveness to patients should be a primary concern. My plan allows patients to purchase healthcare coverage wherever the best plans exist and reins in the burdensome cost of defensive medicine. It also provides the proper financial incentives to reach total access to care.

One of the most significant causes of high medical costs is our encouragement of one-size-fits-all health plans. For most Americans, it is the government or an employer that chooses their health coverage, leaving patients with plans that are not tailored to their needs. Patients are often forced to pay for services they do not need or want.

It is time to transform our system so that patients truly own and control their health insurance coverage. When insurers must respond to patient concerns rather than large companies or government, by definition, the system then meets patient individual needs and offers competitively lower rates. This lowers cost with the added benefit of portability, responsiveness and accountability.

Second, we must allow the purchase of health insurance through larger pooling mechanisms and across state lines. The current prohibition on these practices is counterproductive and serves only to discourage competition and raise costs. Patients should be able to purchase the coverage that best meets their needs with the purchasing power of millions, regardless of geography.

In addition, we must end the lottery mentality of the medical malpractice trial bar. The defensive medicine costs added to medical bills are in the hundreds of billions. Frivolous lawsuits drive prices up and qualified physicians out. Specialized healthcare courts would return common sense and lower costs for American patients.

These reforms are essential to lowering the costs of healthcare coverage. Yet, if we desire to attain a system that provides access for all, we must provide proper financial incentives so that will be covered.

To promote full coverage for all, H.R. 2626 offers refundable and advanceable tax credits for the purchase of insurance for those in need. Further, it provides standard deductions for individuals to purchase care with pre-tax dollars. With these and various other focused reforms of our tax code, proper incentives will ensure that all will be insured.

We face a monumental challenge in the year ahead to provide a responsive, accessible and affordable healthcare system. Thankfully, there is a way we can lower medical costs without threatening the quality of healthcare. By empowering patients and providing proper incentives, every American will have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Regardless of the outcome in November, it is my hope that our approach to health reform has the proper focus — the patient!

Prior to being elected to Congress, Price practiced orthopaedic surgery for more than 20 years.