MANCHESTER, NH - Democratic presidential hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) said his healthcare reform plan would not increase bureaucracy, but would mandate healthcare coverage for all Americans.
At a presidential candidate forum hosted earlier this month by the Kaiser Family Foundation Richardson said his estimated $104 to $110 billion plan will emphasize shared responsibility between citizens, private market and government and will build on existing systems.
"I don't have to tell you we are not getting what we pay for today," Richardson said. "There is too much negativity in Washington. We have a federal government that hasn't made a serious effort on healthcare reform in over a decade."
To pay for his proposal, Richardson would tighten administrative costs, which account for nearly a third of the $2.2 trillion spent on U.S. healthcare.
Richardson would also reallocate Iraq War spending and limit congressional earmarking. He would eliminate President Bush's 2-percent tax cuts for the wealthiest and use federal negotiation to lower costs for prescription drugs, he said.
His American Choices Plan would allow a sliding tax credit for small businesses and individuals who can't afford care and incentives to create insurance pools for small businesses.
Richardson said focus should be on the uninsured, the underinsured and those with pre-existing conditions. His plan would offer a Medicare buy-in to Americans age 55 to 64 and allows a caregiver tax credit estimated to save $13 billion to $16 billion annually by reducing emergency care.
Richardson's proposal would not allow private companies to deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions and includes expansion of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. He would offer coverage to veterans that would allow them to get care anywhere.
When asked how he plans to accomplish all this, he said, "You know, you have got to have experience to be able to change this country. I will be engaged in passing [healthcare reform]. I am going to bring all Americans into the process, talk about it in the State of the Union, [and] yes, it is going to take Republicans," Richardson said. "This health plan needs to be about the average human being, not the average special interest."