It is time to dump the Policy Wonks and Democratic Party wise guys.
Everyone said and now everyone knows that the SIMPLER THE BETTER. The more complicated, the more to make people worried about the details. And, that worry becomes grist for the Republican media machines.
So the first step for health reform is to Dump the Congressional Bills......both of them feed into the Republican machine for 2010 elections. Mass. showed that.
We must propose what we know people want and already like.
1. Maintain and expand the Veterans Medical and Hospitals Systems;
2 Expand the Federally Qualified Community Health Centers;
3. Drop the Medicare age to 55 to 64 ---- Republicans will not mess with that;
4. Elevate Medicaid to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level;
5. Open the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for non federal employees to join;
6 Eliminate Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusions
By doing these actions; you are dealing with winners and known programs. Each of these programs is supported by those in them.
By dumping the Health Exchanges you eliminate the number one grist for the Republican mills, i.e., forcing people to buy insurance. And, to win working people back, voters they are; Dump the taxing of benefits.
These should be done immediately....no waiting time.
Then in a year or two we do another step.
These can and will lead to larger reforms such as a federally administered Single Payer system; and, toward our ultimate goal of a National Health Service in our country.
