Senate candidates offer remedies for health care

This is the final issues question to the three U.S. Senate candidates in Georgia before Tuesday’s election.

Candidates were allowed 120 words to answer the question.

What is the most important thing the United States can do to improve its health care system?

Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Moultrie

A Washington-run, big government health care system is not the answer. We cannot allow the government to tell us which doctors we can see and when; that is not right.

We need a public-private partnership to provide affordable health care. Americans need greater access to health insurance, and families must be able to choose the plan best suited for them.

I co-sponsored the Universal Health Care Choice and Access Act to provide individuals and families with tax incentives so families can afford to purchase their own health insurance.

As the Senate debates this issue further, I will continue to work for choice, lower prices, competition, flexibility, tax advantages and a relationship with your doctor, not the federal government.

Democrat Jim Martin of Atlanta

Nearly 50 million Americans are without health insurance, causing an economic crisis as the cost of providing care for these people is passed along to others in the form of higher premiums and costs. This crisis must come to an end. We currently spend twice as much on heath care than any other industrialized nation.

The solution to this problem lies in more efficiently spending the money already in the system so that middle-class families bear less of the burden and insurance conglomerates and pharmaceutical companies don’t benefit at our expense.

I envision a public-private partnership to make quality, affordable health care accessible to all. As when I helped create the PeachCare system in Georgia, I will bring to Washington the creativity and leadership necessary to make this a reality.

Libertarian Allen Buckley of Smyrna

Market forces need to be unleashed by:

> Allowing individuals either a tax deduction or a 28 percent refundable credit for high-deductible health plan premiums and HSA contributions, with similar employer deduction limits.

> As a condition of receiving Medicare and Medicaid, requiring providers to pursue all patients for payment.

> Allowing providers that participate in a national electronic records system to utilize an easy debt collection system.

> As a condition of receiving Medicaid, requiring states to eliminate “certificate of need” laws that prohibit competition.

> Expanding wellness programs and requiring participation in wellness programs as a condition of receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

> Requiring any co-insurance (paid by patient) to equal or exceed 25 percent in order for insurance to be tax-deductible.