A Change Now 4 Health Community Member Outlines Comprehensive Health Reform Proposal

By Fard Johnmar

Over the past few months, ChangeNow4Health community members have submitted a wealth of ideas for fixing our nation’s broken health care system.  Some have focused on reducing administrative costs.  Others opted to look for ways to prevent sickness and reduce medical costs.  However, a few have looked at our current system and decided that we need a complete reboot.

For example, in May, “Carol” a University of Louisville nursing student developed a proposal for a three-tiered health system that aims to reduce costs, promote individual empowerment and ensure broad access to care.  The philosophy driving her plan is this: we should make "shared sacrifice[s] in order to improve everyone’s lot.” 

Now, depending on their ideology, some readers may react negatively to her proposal.  However, it should be said that we are decidedly non-partisan here at ChangeNow4Health, so we look at ideas to determine whether all (or part of them) are feasible rather than ideologically or politically acceptable. 

The key elements of Carol’s plan include:

1.    Pooling sick and well individuals to spread risk across the US population and ask insurance companies to submit bids to have the right to insure them.

2.    Private insurance companies could increase their profitability by keeping patients well.

3.    Everyone would be required to have insurance coverage.

4.    People would have the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for medical care not covered by the standard plan.

5.    Individuals would be required to have primary care physicians and learn how to maximize the patient-provider relationship.

All of these are interesting ideas.  I am not sure whether implementing the plan in full would be feasible in the current political environment.   That being said, there are a few areas of her plan that are being discussed widely such as:

-    Determining cost-effective treatments based on evidence-based medicine

-    Educating individuals on the importance of physical activity

-    Favoring effective rather than high-tech care

-    Reducing administrative costs by cutting red tape

Carol has a lot more to say about her plan, which I invite you to read by clicking here.  Also feel free to comment on the benefits and drawbacks of her plan using the tools provided on this Website.

On a related note, my fellow CN4H moderators and I are in the process of reviewing more than 100 health reform ideas submitted over the past few months by community members.  We appreciate the fact that so many have taken the time to provide their ideas on health reform.  We anticipate making an announcement about which ideas will be included in our ebook and potentially supported by Humana later this fall.