Republican Governors Offer Practical, State-Based Healthcare Solutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Chairman of the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC), and Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Chairman of RGPPC’s Healthcare Task Force, today sent a letter to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator John Barrasso offering practical, state-based healthcare solutions for the challenges brought about by the federal government’s broken system.

Responding to a request from the Senators for Republican governors’ input on the impact ObamaCare is having on the states, Governor Haslam and Governor Herbert signed the letter proposing a framework for meaningful health care reform guided by market-based principles and made more effective through a revitalization of the state-federal partnership.

A copy of the letter can be found  linked HERE.

“The ideas contained in this letter provide solutions to challenges that the ACA has created or has failed to address. Through policy priorities that encourage market-based principles and an improved federal-state partnership in healthcare programs, governors will be able to decrease healthcare costs while addressing the unique healthcare needs of their states. The need for true healthcare reform remains, and Republican governors are bringing solutions to the table.

Republican governors are ready to act. The federal government must embrace this leadership and work with us to improve our health systems. It is time for a genuine partnership that will empower chief executives who know how to make things work in their states.

Without state-led reform, the growing cost of Medicaid, which is already the largest portion of total state expenditures, threatens to crowd out other essential government services such as education, transportation, and public safety. We believe the following reforms will curb this unsustainable trajectory and lead to better health outcomes. 

Any improvements to existing law should be guided by market-based principles instead of a top-down, federally prescriptive approach. Government at all levels should be enabling health industry participants to thrive, not burdening the system with overregulation. A market-focused approach will help to manage the growing price of healthcare in every state.

In practice, these reforms will help create a more sustainable healthcare system, spearheaded by states, which serves the most vulnerable, while preserving a vibrant and competitive marketplace for the private sector. We look forward to working with you to evaluate these commonsense measures that empower states to improve health outcomes and rein in healthcare spending.”