Solutions

Government-Controlled Health Care

The Democratic leadership in Washington wants to force states to participate in a government run, government funded health care program that would unleash a wave of burdens, high costs and confusion on the people of Alabama. As I have said in the past, if this dangerous, intrusive legislation passes Congress, I would opt our state out of the program, if faced with that choice as governor, because it will force more burdensome tax increases on the families and business of Alabama.

I could not, in good conscience, support Alabama’s participation in a government controlled system that would bankrupt our Medicaid system, raise insurance costs on Alabamians who don’t take part in it, run private insurers out of business, costing us jobs and leaving our families and senior citizens with fewer health care choices, and force even more taxes on Alabama families and businesses. In addition, I would strongly oppose any attempt to force Alabamians to help foot the bill for costs incurred by other states that choose to take part in such an ill-conceived and irresponsible plan.

Even though critical funding challenges already have our cash-strapped budgets facing multi-million dollar shortfalls in 2010, and even more overwhelming shortages in 2011 when federal stimulus funding runs out, Democrat leaders in the U.S. House and Senate say they are determined to pass a dangerous health care “reform” bill that will further cripple Alabama’s already struggling Medicaid program by unloading more than $450 million in new Medicaid costs on our state.

What the congressional democratic leaders are trying to shove down our throats is not health care reform.  Their plan is really just a shell game that claims federal cost cuts largely by pushing more expenses down to the states. If Congress passes this shameful bill, federal lawmakers will highjack state budgets, put essential state services at great risk, and open the door to a single-payer government-run health care system. Americans will be forced to live with an expensive new entitlement program that will mean higher taxes and additional burdens on far more people than it helps.

When I served as chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system, we faced serious budget challenges, but ultimately were able to come together to reduce expenses by $ 70 million without cutting essential services or raising tuition. As we did in that difficult situation, government leaders should come together to resolve our health care challenges by solving existing problems, not by creating new ones.

One certain remedy is to stop lawsuit abuse and curb the costs associated with defensive medicine. Just recently, the independent Congressional Budget Office confirmed that fact when it reported that meaningful legal reform would reduce premiums for medical malpractice insurance by at least 10 percent and cut the federal deficit by $54 billion in 10 years.

Lawsuit abuse is obviously part of the puzzle, but so far there’s been no attempt to fix it in the Democrat health care proposals.

Health Savings Accounts are another means for lowering health care costs, as they would encourage saving for future health care expenses and make patients more responsible for their own health care choices. 

Real health care reform will give us the opportunity to reduce costs, improve efficiency and strengthen the quality of care all at once. And the best way to do that is through market-driven health care reforms that will ultimately strengthen both our health care system and our economy.

A nationalized system that raises taxes, restricts choices, limits options and diminishes quality will mean disaster for Alabama and the nation.  Now is the time to say “Enough is Enough” and reject this scheme to expand federal government intrusion into Alabama and the lives of our citizens.

Byrne Says Government-Controlled Health Care Costs Would Hit Alabama Like a ‘Tsunami’

Byrne Says He Would Opt Out of Government-Controlled Health Care Plan