Health Care Reform? The Jindal Principles

Jindal is justifiably regarded as a policy wonk. So?

This outline is clear, concise, and realistic.

Leaders of both parties can then come together behind health-care reform that stresses these seven principles:

•Consumer choice guided by transparency. We need a system where individuals choose an integrated plan that adopts the best disease-management practices, as opposed to fragmented care. Pricing and outcomes data for all tests, treatments and procedures should be posted on the Internet

•Aligned consumer interests. Consumers should be financially invested in better health decisions through health-savings accounts, lower premiums and reduced cost sharing

•Medical lawsuit reform. The practice of defensive medicine costs an estimated $100 billion-plus each year

•Insurance reform. Congress should establish simple guidelines to make policies more portable, with more coverage for pre-existing conditions. Reinsurance, high-risk pools, and other mechanisms can reduce the dangers of adverse risk selection and the incentive to avoid covering the sick. Individuals should also be able to keep insurance as they change jobs or states

•Pooling for small businesses, the self-employed, and others. All consumers should have equal opportunity to buy the lowest-cost, highest-quality insurance available. Individuals should benefit from the economies of scale currently available to those working for large employers. They should be free to purchase their health coverage without tax penalty through their employer, church, union, etc.

•Pay for performance, not activity.

•Refundable tax credits. Low-income working Americans without health insurance should get help in buying private coverage through a refundable tax credit

We would hope that Congresscritters such as Obey, Kagen, Kind, Moore, and Baldwin would actually read Jindal's offering. But based on their "read-the-offering" score during this session of Congress, I wouldn't bet on it.