KC, I absolutely do not think this particular reform would have been budget neutral or save $ down the road. Those predictions were made on very very rosy assumptions that were impossible to predict. The CBO even released a 2nd statement saying their initial estimate was based on some savings #s which were provided to them and later they found to be double counted. This plan was NOT budget neutral.
They need to pass a simplified version of healthcare reform. Pick 5-10 items for change that does not cost so much.
Here's a start:
1. Tear apart medicare, medicaid & eliminate the real wastes now
2. Address total malpractice reform (including tort reform), goal to decrease total costs, total # of lawsuits, settlements, outrageous judgements, legal expenses, # of people named in suits, judicial pre-screenings, decrease the need for defensive medicine practices.
3. Pass a law prohibiting pre-existing condition exclusions
4. Allow small business pools to decrease cost of insurance
5. Pass portability of healthcare laws (people to carry their insurance even if they lose their job)
6. Standardize reimbursements for the same medical service by all providers
7. Remove anti-trust protections for insurance companies and allow competition across state lines
8. Consider a mandate that everyone must carry a high deductible insurance plan
9. Create high risk pools
10. Re-evaluate the reforms at 12 and 24 months.
