THE LESSON OF THE CONTRACT AND W'S TWO WINS WAS...:

GOP'S BEST MEDICINE: REPUBLICANS ALREADY HAVE A BETTER SOLUTION TO HEALTH CARE THAN OBAMA (RANDALL HOVEN, 8/16/09, NY Post)

In the 1990s, Republicans tried to change Medicare into a defined-contribution model, more along the lines of the plan that federal employees enjoy. The Republican-controlled Congress passed such legislation in 1995, but President Clinton vetoed it. Seeing that Medicare costs were out of control, Clinton set up a bipartisan Medicare Commission headed by John Breaux (D-La.). The Breaux Commission came up with a similar plan in 1999. Democrats killed that too.

When Republicans controlled Congress and the White House, from 2003-06, they provided Health Savings Accounts and prescription coverage under Medicare for the first time. With the Democrats regularly using Senate filibusters, those were significant achievements.

Republican introduced precursors to the Patients' Choice Act in the House in July 2007, May 2008 and September 2008. All died in the Democrat-controlled House. There is also the Health Care Freedom, introduced in the Senate this June by Sen. Jim DeMint.

The Patients' Choice Act addresses the concerns most of us have about health care. It will reduce costs. It will expand coverage. It will increase patient choice, moving decision-making away from government and corporations and toward individuals.

...that the GOP can win by running on alternative ideas, not just on "no". The PCA, however, affords too much choice. It should direct people into HSA's with opt-out provisions, not just hope they choose wisely.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 16, 2009 7:21 AM