Healthcare Reform

The North Dakota Chamber supports common sense reform which will lower the cost of health care for North Dakota's businesses and citizens, while preserving the access our citizens currently have to quality care. One reform we can not support is the creation of a "public option" for health insurance. Above all else we believe it is critical that we take the time to develop the RIGHT plan for reform rather than enact the WRONG plan now. Several key components of health care reform must be present to receive support from the ND Chamber:

• It must not punish employers who cannot afford to provide medical coverage for their employees;
• It must not punish individuals by taxing the health insurance benefits they receive from their employer;
• Focus on improving our current health care system by making it more cost effective rather than eliminating the current structure and replacing it with a government bureaucracy;
• Public policy changes which advance access to quality medical services in a cost effective and efficient manner;
• Identify those items which contribute greatly to the increased cost of medical services and take steps to limit their impact;
• Reduce the cost of medical liability insurance by limiting the availability of punitive damages in instances of medical malpractice;
• Create a more vibrant private health insurance market for individuals and businesses;
• Retain and encourage viable employer-sponsored health care (ERISA);
• Allow individuals to deduct the full cost of health insurance;
• Allow businesses to earn more competitive health insurance rates by pooling purchasing power; and
• Reform the Medicare/Medicaid systems:
  • Payments must cover the cost of the services provided rather than shift the costs to the private sector;
  • Restructure reimbursement to pay for quality of care rather than quantity of care.