First of all, the American Center Party recognizes the need for a comprehensive overhaul of our health care system, which is obviously failing to provide the necessary care for far too many people and which has become far too expensive.

There is no excuse for this country, the wealthiest in the world, to be unable to provide healthcare for all its citizens, and for the cost of healthcare in the United States to be among the highest costs in the world. There is a remedy and its up to the insurance industry and those who provide healthcare to come up with a healthcare plan acceptable to all, which provides the kind of coverage we can all accept and for which we can all be proud.

The American Center Party believes the present Patient Protection And Affordable Health Care Act (publicly referred to as Obamacare) is poorly drafted legislation and too expensive as drafted to be the answer for America. However, since the United States Supreme Court has declared the Act constitutional we must either repeal this legislation or make appropriate amendments. However, the American Center Party believes a total repeal and a new law, with the same fundamental premises, is the best course of action. Some of the problems with Obamacare are as follows:

1. Philosophically, for government to require its citizens to purchase a product in the free market is the antithesis of everything America stands for and an example of why our forefathers didn’t trust so much power in the hands of so few in a concentrated area such as the federal government. It interferes with and obstructs the freedom granted us by our founding fathers and in so doing strikes at the very core of what this country is all about. The fact that the Act also provides for a penalty for those who fail to buy the insurance is another example of government run amuck, aside from the fact it may be of little incentive, since young people who seldom use health insurance will simply opt to pay the penalty, which is less than the premium.
2. In addition, as drafted it denies the insured the right to keep and select her/his own doctor and would make Medicaid available to middle income America, which was never intended.
3. A major reason for the economic cost problem is the waiver which was initially provided and which was accepted initially by the State of Nevada and numerous corporations and unions, thereby removing substantial numbers of participants from paying into the system.
4. Furthermore, to allow others to opt out of the coverage and pay a fine will find millions of young Americans doing just that since the fine is significantly less than the premiums for the insurance coverage. Without the participation of everyone this plan has no chance for financial success.
5. Additionally, the burden on the states to comply with this act conflicts with our principles of federalism and creates even more financial problems for the states, all of whom are struggling with their own budgets. This is not the time to add to the financial burdens of the states with the requirement to establish a large insurance exchange bureaucracy to manage and monitor the purchase of insurance by the citizenry, another example of government run amuck. Initial history of the Act shows how unsuccessful these exchanges have been, since approximately one half have shut down. Furthermore, at this writing, most states have chosen to close their exchanges due to cost. In addition, several insurance providers are now declaring their intent to leave the plan.
6. Finally, the Act still leaves 15-20 million people without health insurance, which is totally unacceptable. That is why Medicaid expansion is critical.
7. Having said all the above the one key question raised by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) for the first time in this country, is whether healthcare is a fundamental right for Americans? If the answer is yes, then, the next question is how do we best provide healthcare for all Americans at a reasonable cost that provides quality fundamental care.

SUGGESTED POLICIES AND PROGRAM

1. Leaders in the insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the hospital association and the medical profession should immediately come together and lay out the parameters for new legislation for those in need, which should include, but not be limited to, (a) portability, (b) coverage for pre-existing conditions and (c) coverage for children on their parent’s policy until the age of 26, although the latter provision is still open to debate, since they least need the insurance and hence, their premiums provide a financial viability for any plan. In addition, the plan should have a package for women and men. It makes no sense for a man to pay for a plan that includes maternity costs nor for a women to pay for prostate care costs. Likewise, elderly couples or individuals should not have a plan that includes care for minors, unless they have legal responsibility for said minors. Any new healthcare law would include the essential health benefits now part of The Affordable Care Act except as set out herein.
2. State line restrictions should be ended and all companies should be able to provide coverage across state lines anywhere in the United States. This should also require the companies to offer insurance in all counties of a state. This open and free market should greatly improve the quality and price of the product offered. In the wealthiest nation in the world, it is inexcusable that some 15-20 million people are still without coverage.
3. Marijuana is the younger generations social drug and it is time older Americans acknowledge and accept that fact. As a State Senator in Missouri I spoke regularly to the 8th grade and 11th grade classes about drugs and the law and legal ramifications of using or distributing. In every class to which I spoke, a student would raise his/her hand and ask “If alcohol is legal, why isn’t marijuana”. There is no legal or moral reason for continuing to deny this reality and to defend the difference is the height of hypocrisy. Alcohol is still the most abused drug in America and it is time to realize that fact. Annually, there are over 80,000 alcohol related deaths, including alcohol poisoning. As for tobacco, it is estimated there are over 450,00 deaths annually related to tobacco. While statistics are sparse, there is no known death due to marijuana overdose, of which I am aware. Accordingly, the American Center Party recommends that basic marijuana be legalized, regulated and taxed, similar to alcohol and tobacco. As a means of funding the new healthcare plan, all revenue generated by the tax on marijuana shall be applied to paying for healthcare for those who can’t afford to pay for their own healthcare. One study estimates a tax on marijuana could generate $132 billion annually. Additionally, one study suggested marijuana could possibly be used to ease patients off opioid addiction, which would constitute a major health care break through.
4. In addition, the American Center Party also recommends that the federal tax on all alcohol and tobacco products be increased and the revenue thereby generated be used to pay for the new healthcare plan which replaces The Affordable Care Act. Based on the annual sales of tobacco, beer, wine and spirits, several hundred billions or more could easily be raised for funding the new healthcare plan. This tax is justified because it only stands to reason those who bring the greatest cost to healthcare should help pay for it. Estimates are that in the United States over 450,000 deaths annually are related to tobacco use and over 80,000 deaths annually are related to alcohol. In addition, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are 2 of the major health problems of the day. Due to that latter fact, an additional tax should be applied to candy bars, soda and other products which use sugar as a component.and these funds should be used to help pay for the new healthcare plan.
5. The American Center Party recommends an evaluation of all current healthcare plans, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIPs, be undertaken, and any others to which the federal government and the states contribute. The prime purpose is not to change these plans but to determine the total cost of medical care in the United States to see if a more efficient cost sharing plan can be devised to make sound and comprehensive healthcare available to all.
6. In the final analysis, the thought of attempting to amend a 2700 page law is foolhardy. The likelihood of mistakes is monumental. Accordingly, the American Center Party believes that total repeal of the Affordable Care Act is essential. However, such repeal should not become effective until such time as an adequate replacement is available. That is why it is essential for the American Medical Association, The Insurance Institute, The Pharmaceutical Association and the American Hospital Association to get together to prepare a bill which provides all the essential coverage as described in this section, along with the corresponding estimated cost. Once that is accomplished it will then become the responsibility of all involved to determine how the law will be paid for. If paying for it is unreasonable as presently being paid for, then either elements of least importance shall be removed from the bill or additional sources of revenue shall be located to fund the entire bill. Part and parcel of this evaluation and plan should be an effort to find a way to reduce medical costs, which as previously noted are generally the highest in the world.If the entities mentioned fail to come up with  an adequate plan within 60 days, the United States Congress shall assume responsibility for devising an appropriate plan.
7. Our current policy in dealing with drugs in general and specifically heroin, cocaine and opioids must be reviewed and changed. What we’re doing obviously is not working. The deaths from these drugs and their overdose is a national tragedy. It must be stopped. Finally, if the study which suggests marijuana may help to ease addicts off opioids is confirmed as valid, such a plan and policy should be implemented immediately.