That’s the point being brought up by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in a recent op-ed, as brought to us by my radio partner in crime, the Lady Logician. For reasons which we’ll explore below, T-Paw seems to be picking an ideal time to dip a toe into this particular pool, and will be pointing to the health care program which was set up in his home state as a way for the rest of the nation to proceed.
In Minnesota, our state employee health-care plan has demonstrated incredible results by linking outcomes to value. State employees in Minnesota can choose any clinic available to them in the health-care network they’ve selected. However, individuals who use more costly and less-efficient clinics are required to pay more out-of-pocket.
Not surprisingly, informed health-care consumers vote wisely with their feet and their wallets. Employees overwhelmingly selected providers who deliver higher quality and lower costs as a result of getting things right the first time. The payoff is straightforward: For two of the past five years, we’ve had zero percent premium increases in the state employee insurance plan.
Sounds alarmingly like common sense, and this is doubtless, as LL puts it, an opening salvo in the 2012 presidential primary. Previous interviews with sources close to the Governor seemed to indicate that T-Paw was playing coy and keeping his cards close to the vest until we could get a feel for how strong Obama would be in 2012. This move in the op-ed wars may be an indicator that Pawlenty is sensing blood in the water as Obama’s approval numbers continue descend along with the nation’s fiscal fortunes. Another clue may be taken from the fact that he spends a little ink taking a barely veiled swipe at the default GOP front runner, Mitt Romney.
Massachusetts’s experience should caution Congress against focusing primarily on access. While the Massachusetts plan has reduced the number of uninsured people, costs have been dramatically higher than expected. The result? Increased taxes and fees. The Boston Globe has reported on a current short-term funding gap and the need to obtain a new federal bailout.
Imagine the scope of tax increases, or additional deficit spending, if that approach is utilized for the entire country.
Notice how he gets in not only a swipe at Romney, but reminds people that the Democrats have gone back to their old tax and spend ways without remorse. T-Paw doesn’t have many fans among the hard core, Christian conservative base, but he’s a charismatic, moderate figure who may break out of the pack some time in late 2010 or early 2011.