Editorial: Health Care Reform - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Health Care Reform

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  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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More than half a million Alabamians don't have health insurance - a little more than one out of every ten of us.

We have more than a dozen health care providers in our state, although Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama insures nearly eight of every 10 of us who have insurance.

Giving a public option to the uninsured should not be created.

Universal coverage can be achieved through the private sector.

A public option will translate to government-run health care competing with and undermining the private sector.

Give us an option instead to shop for health insurance nationwide, not just within our state.

This competition will help drive down costs.

So will eliminating the need for doctors to run extra tests, practicing defensive medicine just to make sure they are lawsuit proof.

Simplifying billing and standardizing insurance reimbursement will eliminate bureaucratic expense.

Reforming what ails health care makes sense.

Adding a public health insurance option will only add to the ills.