A Sensible Health Care Reform Proposal from CEO of Whole Foods

The CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey, wrote in the Wall Street Journal, Wednesday August 12, 2009, Section A, page 15, an eight point proposal for health care reform which is a sensible alternative to ObamaCare. There is no "public option", government option", "states cooperatives", "single payer system" or rationing. His proposal cleans up a lot of the mess that exists in the current health care system due to federal and state government regulations, laws and tax policies.Here is a summary of the eight point proposal by Mackey. His ideas don't require 11000 pages to hide and confuse what is being proposed:
1. Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts.
2. Equalize the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and individual owned health insurance both have the same tax benefits.
3. Repeal all state laws which prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines.
4. Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover.
5. Enact tort reform to end ruinous lawsuits that force doctors to pay insurance costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
6. Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what healthcare treatment costs.
7. Enact Medicare reform... that create greater patient empowerment, choice and responsibility.
8. Revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make voluntary, tax-deductible donations to the millions who have no insurance and aren't covered by Medicare, Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
This proposal does not cost the taxpayer anything, fixes most of the big problems and keeps health care out of the control of the government. For future generations, it might even replace Medicare. For this generation, the government can do two useful things in addition to Mackey's proposal: (1) vigorously uncover and prosecute Medicare and Medicaid fraud and (2) fund the development of medical care records system, but leave the implementation to the private sector on a voluntary basis.