The current debate over U.S. health care needs to have some basic cost-effective principles such as the following:

1. All American citizens would be required to have basic health care at a cost such as Walmart has for its employees. No employer should be forced to participate or pay.

2. Persons not wanting to buy health insurance would have to post a $100 bond per person to cover health cost. (Some such as Amish reject health insurance.)

3. Cost for basic coverage for all American citizens should not exceed current spending and may even reduce public government health care cost. Cost reduction would be a goal of basic coverage. Base would be basic within a basic budget amount for all.

4. Any so-called “public plan” would be a free-standing co-op getting the same premium as other insurance and all insurance would be able to get the lowest costs for their basic coverage as others do. (No political deals or favoritism.)

5. People would be free to buy above basic coverage for dentist, long-term care, etc., based on what they want and can afford.

6. Medical providers — hospital, clinics, etc., would be encouraged to cut costs for basic care and be competitive. What and how much can their customers afford?

7. All persons would have free choice in basic care that is cost-effective, and all would pay co-pays and premiums geared to keeping basic care low-cost and effective.

8. Non-citizens would pay full costs in the private market to have required U.S. medical coverage.

9. Required basic medical should keep American freedom and cut costs of medical care. Medical care is not a basic U.S. right. How can people (M.D.) etc. be forced to work (as in slavery) to provide something to others.? Medical care is a service item. Service providers can choose how and if they want to participate.

10 A simple non-tort (court), strictly limited plan of medical liability run by medical commissions not courts would be allowed under basic coverage, to deal with problems or errors, in medical operations.

11. Nurses and other medical staff should be allowed more freedom to handle basic items independently in 24-hour, seven-day clinics as an alternative to emergency room for less critical care at less cost.

12. No new tax. More plans for personal responsibility.

13. Decrease fraud, waste and duplication in all medical plans and operations.

14. Government regulation, red tape and paperwork in all areas need reduction.

15. Current medical assistance plans will seek to reduce cost and eligibility as more will be in basic care.

16. The new basic care will be phased in gradually on priority as each step will be evaluated as to cost-effective status.

17. The current Medicare program will be evaluated as to how it fits with any new plans for all U.S. citizens.

18. High-level U.S. private firm’s medical research and innovation should be encouraged in a cost-effective way.

Schleck is a member of the Freeborn County Republican Party.