States are debating that issue in many ways. In Wisconsin, there are a variety of plans — ranging from single-payer Canadian-style health plans to more modest efforts to use free-market ideas like health savings accounts and more information about cost and quality of health care.
What’s the answer? That’s unclear, but with the variety of health care proposals throughout the country, it would make sense to use states as a laboratory for health policy ideas.
Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., want to do just that. They are sponsoring legislation that would allow pilot programs in several states to get uninsured people covered.
Under the proposal, states would not be required to adopt specific programs, and they would be given flexibility to experiment with different solutions.
The pilot program would last five years, and states would work with a federal Health Care Coverage Task Force, which would evaluate plans and select projects for congressional approval. At the end of the five-year period, the task force would make recommendations to Congress, based on what was learned in the pilot programs. A multi-state pilot program effort is estimated to cost up to $40 billion over 10 years. That would allow for follow-up after the state pilot programs end.
States often are referred to as “laboratories for democracy,” because they often have pioneered programs that went on to be successful nationwide.
Here’s what Sen. Graham had to say about this proposal: “The problem of the uninsured is growing in the United States. It’s time for the federal government to unleash a competition of ideas over how to solve the problem. I believe the private-sector model may offer the best approach in the long run. Sen. Feingold and others may have different ideas. Under our legislation they will compete head-to-head ... and we will be able to measure the results to see what works and what doesn’t.”
Feingold said, “With an American-style approach to reform that gives flexibility to the states and fuels innovation, real health care reform is within reach. I support guaranteed health care coverage for all Americans and this bill moves us toward that goal.”
It’s obvious that, while Feingold and Graham agree on the need to encourage innovation and reform, they differ greatly on what type of reform to support.
But that’s OK, because with a series of pilot programs in the states, we could find out which is the best approach. This is a good idea.


kamikazefaase wrote on May 3, 2007 12:54 AM: