House Republicans are asking their supporters for ideas on health care through an online survey -- after months of producing nothing in the way of a comprehensive plan for overhauling the health care system.
Are they that hard up for ideas? Aren't they sent here to study the issues and help make policy based on their expertise?
Instead of the Party of No, they appear to be aiming for the Party of Yes/No/Undecided.
I can't make this stuff up. So here's the questionnaire in its entirety (most of it is after the jump). Oh, and by the way, the folks at the National Republican Congressional Committee want you to contribute your money after you give them your thoughts.
Access Issues
Would you favor a plan for the government to provide a tax credit to individuals who do not get health insurance through their employer to enable them to buy insurance directly from insurers?
Do you favor requiring insurers to offer coverage to ALL applicants regardless of their general health or any pre-existing medical condition?
Do you favor expanding Medicaid, the government program that pays medical bills of poor Americans, to cover virtually all adults with incomes up to 133% of the poverty level at a cost of $440 billion over the next decade?
Would you prefer the current system of choosing from a range of insurance plans, including different coverage and costs, rather than having the government mandate a set package of benefits at a specific price that all plans must provide?
Should every American be required by the government to have health insurance whether it is provided by the employer or purchased by individuals not so covered?
Do you favor reforming insurance regulation to allow individuals and small businesses located in different states to "pool" their purchasing power to obtain more coverage and better rates for their members?
Affordability Issues
Would you favor reforming our litigation system to make it more difficult for lawyers to bring lawsuits against health care providers as a way to reduce medical costs?
Do you favor the creation of a government-run insurance plan to compete directly with private insurers?
Would you favor moving away from the current "fee for service" system where insurers reimburse health care providers for each procedure performed, and toward an "outcome based" system where providers are given one payment to handle all care associated with a medical condition and a bonus for work done well?
Do you favor expansion of "health savings accounts" which allow individuals to save money tax-free to pay directly for their medical expenses without involvement of any insurance company?
Payment Issues
Do you favor raising taxes on small businesses to expand insurance coverage for individuals without health insurance as supported by President Obama?
Do you favor a "play or pay" tax on businesses who do not offer health insurance benefits to their workers?
Do you believe we should increase the federal deficit to pay for health care reform?
Do you support President Obama's plan to reduce spending on Medicare by $500 billion over the next 10 years as a way to pay for his health care reform plan?
Do you favor taxing some health insurance benefits provided by employers that are considered "high end" plans as a way to pay for President Obama's health care overhaul?
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