There’s been a lot of talk about the “Republican/conservative alternative” to Obamacare.  Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Congressmen Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced H.R. 2520, the “Patients Choice Act” last week.  While the bill contains several free market ideas (an individual health tax credit, expanded HSAs, a type of Medicaid voucher, dialing back on Medicare, etc.), it also has some fatal flaws (a Massachusetts-light connector, a warmed over version of an individual mandate to purchase insurance, etc.).  These fatal flaws have been supported by the Heritage Foundation and others, and many Republican Congressmen and Senators have bought into them, to their own detriment.

To repeat an analogy I’ve used several times this week to health care conservative leaders in Washington, it’s like starting every drive in a football game at the 50 yard line—the entire game will be played on one half of the field.  The Patients Choice Act is a classic case of negotiating with oneself.  In giving in halfway to Obamacare, it consigns the debate to the socialist side of the field.

To be clear, Americans for Tax Reform (where I serve as Tax Policy Director) has accepted the claims of the sponsors that this bill cuts taxes at least as much as it raises them.  Pending a score or other good evidence that this is not true, there are no Taxpayer Protection Pledge issues to worry about.  The Patients’ Choice Act is clearly better than what President Obama and Congressional Democrats have been proposing.

But is this the best we have?  Is a half-good bill that probably doesn’t raise net taxes the best we can do?  If so, we’re doomed to a future of Dr. Obama and Nurse Sebelius.

Fortunately, there is a better way.  There is a conservative/libertarian/free market plan to fix the nation’s broken health care system, and to do it in a way that maximizes freedom, personal choice, and the doctor-patient relationship.  No one’s experience of health insurance has to change unless they want it to.  Do you want to be uninsured?  Fine.  Do you want first-dollar coverage?  That’s ok, too.  Do you (wisely, I think) prefer low premiums and a health savings account?  That works, too.

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