“Senate Republicans are moving forward in our efforts to create and implement market-based health care solutions that put the consumer in charge of their own medical care. The Senate Select Committee on Health Care Reform was formed for use as a vehicle to identify new and innovative ways to lower the over cost of health care.
The Legislature has repeatedly passed tax incentives to expand Health Savings Accounts. Despite the Governor’s vetoes, we know HSAs work for small businesses and consumers. In fact, 31% percent of HSAs enrollees were previously uninsured.
Likewise, prudent choices on health care require full information. Wisconsin is one of the first states in the nation to require transparency in health care costs through the Health Care Transparency Act, otherwise known as HCTA. Now law, a state repository is an invaluable tool for consumers to compare costs and drive down prices.
We have created Health Care Cooperatives in order to increase consumer’s market power in negotiating with health plan providers for coverage, through use of health benefit purchasing cooperatives. By approving new Medical Malpractice Caps on non-economic damages, we have ensured a stable legal environment and keep our medical professionals practicing in rural Wisconsin.
By any measure, it’s perfectly clear that Senate Republicans have already passed meaningful health care reform legislation, and we remain committed to continue working to make sure Wisconsin has the best health care system in the nation.”
