Vision for Health Care: OCH White Paper Recommends Reform Plan

Springfield, MO – Every United States citizen can have basic benefit coverage without increased governmental control and with lower per capita costs, according to the 2009 Healthcare Reform white paper released today by Ozarks Community Hospital (OCH).

“The healthcare system will suffer more harm from half-way measures and shortcuts attempting reform than from doing nothing. The moment for a complete overhaul of the system is now,” writes author and OCH CEO Paul Taylor. “There is an ‘inconvenient truth’ about universal healthcare coverage in this country: we already have it; it just does not work very well. If a patient has an emergency medical condition and seeks treatment in a hospital, the patient will be treated regardless of ability to pay—everyone is covered by this policy benefit.” We should stop debating whether to create a universal healthcare system and focus instead on how to pay for it fairly and efficiently. If everyone paid their share of the cost of providing healthcare to all, the cost to each of us would drop significantly. We need a healthcare system based not on an individual entitlement to care but on the mutual obligation of all parties.

Recommended reforms include universal basic benefits, an emphasis on primary care, increased bundling of hospital services and specialty care, a single payer platform with claims processing by private intermediaries, a four-year transition period, governance by a national board, comprehensive malpractice reform and any willing provider rules. The reformed healthcare system would be financed through: traditional Medicare and Medicaid programs; mandatory premiums paid by employers, employees and the self-employed; unemployment benefits; and a tax assessed on those who fail to pay. There would be a universal 30% co-pay paid directly or covered through secondary insurances. The reformed healthcare system would eliminate the nonprofit tax exemption granted providers who do not provide all services free of charge, as well as the tax deduction for employer plans. There would be a separate premium to finance a long-term care benefit for the elderly and disabled.

Paul Taylor is the CEO and general counsel for Ozarks Community Hospital. Ozarks Community Hospital is a small health system headquartered in Springfield, MO. Copies of the paper can be downloaded at http://www.ochonline.com/. Discussion to follow on Paul Taylor’s blog: http://ochhealthcarereform.blogspot.com/