SmallGovTimes.com

By: Libertarian Party | Published on 09/21/07    

Sen. Hillary Clinton's recent healthcare plan is a flawed strategy that "fails to meet the basic requirements of pragmatic reform" says the Libertarian Party after Clinton announced her second attempt at universal healthcare policy. "Clinton's healthcare plan is the wrong approach to healthcare reform both on a logistical and moral level," says Executive Director of the Libertarian Party, Shane Cory. "Clinton's plan is simply a new prescription for 'Hillary Care' that she prescribed more than a decade ago. It wasn't good then, and it isn't good now."

"Neither Democrats nor Republicans are approaching healthcare from the direction that offers a real solution to its current problems," says Cory. "Both parties wish to put a government-subsidized Band-Aid on the healthcare system, which the government injured in the first place. Instead of calling for universal healthcare or implementing tax credits in the health industry, such as both parties have called for, government simply needs to butt-out and let the market correct itself."

"As far as the logistics," says Libertarian Party Media Coordinator Andrew Davis, "there are obvious reasons why healthcare costs have soared in recent years. On one side, you have demand for healthcare at an all-time high because few people actually pay out of pocket for doctor visits; a problem that government-subsidized healthcare programs exacerbate. Because people pay only a fraction of every dollar spent on healthcare out of pocket, demand for health services has soared and the market price has adjusted. Additionally, artificial price limits set by the government on the maximum amount Medicaid/Medicare will pay for medical services naturally causes the cost of these services to rise to meet the maximum. These are clear examples of how more government regulation has been a direct catalyst of skyrocketing healthcare costs."

"This push for more government intervention is coming from both sides of the aisle," says Cory. "Governor Mitt Romney is just as guilty as Clinton for increasing government regulation despite the traditional ideological positions of their parties. Clinton wants to force the wealthy to pay for services they won't be receiving, and holds a gun to the heads of businesses while telling them they have to cover their employees regardless of the expense. Clinton calls this a 'moral' solution to healthcare?"

Clinton's plan will force small businesses to insure their workers, or either force these businesses to pay a tax. The plan would also increase government programs that subsidize coverage for low-income adults and children. Overall, Clinton's plan is projected to cost $110 billion annually, partially paid by rolling-back the Bush administration's tax cuts for families making $250,000 and more.

Returning to the issue of Clinton's plan, Cory says the issue is not about "choice" like Sen. Clinton is trying to frame the debate around. "Choice is not a relevant issue in healthcare reform," says Cory. "The real issue is about the role of government in healthcare, and how this role has directly increased the cost of healthcare. The only solution to healthcare woes will be getting government out of something where it doesn't belong. This is the only solution that will effectively fix a system the government broke, and it will be a solution that does not use force against individuals and businesses. Clinton's plan fails to meet the basic requirements of pragmatic reform."

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