Gov. seeks sweeping health system reforms

LA Times via Drudge ^ | 1/9/07 | Jordan Rau, Times Staff Writer

[jjm2111]

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today proposed upending just about every portion of the healthcare industry in one of the country's most elaborate efforts at holding down medical costs and expanding insurance to those who don't have it.

Schwarzenegger's plan, which he publicly unveiled at noon, would require employers with 10 workers or more to buy insurance for their workers or pay a fee of 4% of their payroll into a program to help provide coverage for the uninsured.

Schwarzenegger would tax doctors 2% of their gross revenue and place a 4% tax on hospitals. He campaigned for reelection on an anti-tax platform, but his administration argues that so many more people would have insurance that medical providers would make more money.

The governor also wants to ban insurers from refusing to offer coverage to some individuals because of their prior medical conditions. Insurers would also have to spend at least 85% of their premium revenues on patient care, a move that would limit the amount companies spend on administrative costs and profits.

[jjm2111]

Paging Mr. Friedman.....paging Mr. Friedman. Apparently the Liberalator forgot everything he learned about economics. Well, we can all watch cali's economy go into the toilet.

[Brilliant]

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today proposed upending just about every portion of the healthcare industry in one of the country's most elaborate efforts at holding down medical costs and expanding insurance to those who don't have it."



Bad idea. It was government regulation that got us in this mess in the first place.

[bushfamfan]

And what exactly does Arnold do in showing that Reagan was someone he admired and influenced his politics? Too much exposure to fat Ted and the Kennedy crime clan.

[television is just wrong]

I agree, people should just pay when they go to the doctor.

and have catastrophic coverage only

[Charles Martel]

I don't like the sound of this. Is there some ulterior motive at work here... such as, is Arnold trying to put the health care burden for illegal workers back on the employers?

[Mark-in-Kentucky]

By what rights does Arnold call himself a Republican? Granted, most Republicans elected the past few years have done very little to live up to that branding themselves, but Schwarzenegger makes most RINOs look like anarcho-capitalists by comparison.

[T. Jefferson]

The cause of high insurance is junk lawsuits from trial lawyers. Every case they win they should be taxed, not doctors. Either that or cap their wins at 10 percet of settlements.

[goldstategop]

Arnold's "solution" is bound to to accelerate the flight of the middle class from California. If you think life is expensive there now, just wait til your health care is free.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Revel]

"And Schwarzenegger said his plan would require every Californian to have health insurance.

"If you can't afford it, the state will help you buy it," he said, "but you must be insured." "

Ah...So California gets to decide if you can afford it or not. If you don't think you can, but they think you can then you will have to buy it...or part of it.