SPECIAL REPORT: Clayton M. Koerner, president, Human Resources Outsourcing Inc.
| Thursday, May 28 2009 06:17 PM
Last Updated Thursday, May 28 2009 06:17 PM
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Clay Koerner
Our health-care system and the consumers who depend on it are facing an unprecedented crisis of rising costs and an increase in the number of uninsured Americans. This unsustainable trend demands that policymakers find real solutions that help Americans have access to affordable health care.
I believe there is no one magic answer to the problem of the uninsured and rising health care costs. Health care reforms need to build on the best aspects of the American health-care system and unleash the creative power of a competitively driven marketplace. Some of the public policy components that I feel would help ensure lower health-care costs, improve quality, create greater efficiency and provide better access to care include:
Medical cost transparency. This is a critical part of the solution because medical care is perhaps the only service American consumers regularly purchase without having any up-front knowledge of the actual price. Consumers need to become educated about how to shop for good medical care on the basis of price and quality of service.
Expansion of consumer-directed health care like Health Savings Accounts. This will help curb the problems and costs associated with over-utilization of health-care services.
Promoting wellness initiatives. Achieving a healthier America is one way that we can reduce health-insurance claims and overall health-care costs.
Medical liability reforms. Passing such legislation would ensure that medical malpractice liability laws provide adequate compensation for those who are truly injured while reducing frivolous lawsuits and extraordinary damage awards so more Americans have access to affordable health care.
It is important to elevate the issue of the uninsured every day. We will continue to work with members of Congress and state legislators to find sensible solutions to this national crisis because insuring America is in everyone’s best interest.
