Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's current health care reform / policy stance takes some careful explaining.
I don't think its fair to call him a flip-flopper, he's been relatively consistent on his contention that the reform he put in place in Massachusetts is not perfect and should not be copied "in its entirety" by other states. These points are very clear.
Romney Basics
Romney would allow states to expand health-care access to low-income citizens through block grants for Medicaid and the uninsured. Romney believes health savings accounts should be used to pay for health-insurance premiums.
Romney says, "If I were president, on Day One I would issue an executive order paving the way for Obamacare waivers to all 50 states. The executive order (more on that later) would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and all relevant federal officials to return the maximum possible authority to the states to innovate and design health-care solutions that work best for them...Of course, the ultimate goal is to repeal Obamacare and replace it with free-market reforms that promote competition and lower health-care costs. But since an outright repeal would take time, an executive order is the first step in returning power to the states.
Romney continues, "As I have stated time and again, a one-size-fits-all national plan that raises taxes is simply not the answer. Under our federalist system, the states are “laboratories of democracy.” They should be free to experiment. By the way, what works in one state may not be the answer for another."
What Other States Should do
In a revealing interview with the Washington Examiner’s Byron York, Mitt Romney said that he would not recommend that any other states adopt the health reform plan he passed as Governor of Massachusetts — his signature accomplishment as a public official — in its entirety.
When asked what states might benefit from it if they adopt his plan he answered. "In its entirety, not very many," Romney answered. "Because it’s not even perfect for Massachusetts. At the time we created it, I vetoed several measures and said these, I think, are mistakes, and you in Massachusetts will find you have to correct them over time. But that’s the nature of a piece of legislation of this nature. You’ll see what works, what doesn’t, and you’ll make the changes. But they have not made those changes, and in some cases they made things worse. So I wouldn’t encourage any state to adopt it in toto."
Liberals are labeling this a “flip flop,” but its not. Romney has consistently argued that he thinks states should pass their own health reform plans in keeping with their specific situations.
It’s true that Romney did claim on "Meet the Press" in 2007 that he thought the individual mandate in his plan should serve as a model for "most" states, and said he hoped for “a nation that’s taken a mandate approach.” But those quotes were about the mandate, and not about whether other states should adopt the Massachusetts plan in its entirety.
Conservatives have long held individual state rights as a key party platform item. And yet, many conservatives don’t acknowledge the legitimacy of the distinction Romney is drawing here. They don’t care that Romney said that only states, and not the Federal government, should have the power to compel people to buy health insurance. They object to this policy tool as a tyrannical act of government, either on the Federal or state level.
Romney's Reform
Romney believes that Obamacare must be repealed. On his first day in office, he will issue an executive order paving the way for waivers from Obamacare for all 50 states. Subsequently, he will call on Congress to fully repeal Obamacare, and advocate reforms that return power to the states, improve access by slowing health care cost increases, and make health insurance portable and flexible for today’s economy. The problem with thst strategy is that waivers need to be submitted by each state independently and reviewed and approved by HHS. Its unlikely that each state (especially those with Democratic Governors) will submit a waiver request just because Romney is elected. Those waiver requests could take years. In addition its unlikely he'll have the votes needed for repeal in Congress.
Romney will strengthen health savings accounts (HSAs), which help consumers save for health expenses and choose cost-effective insurance. For example, he believes that we should permit HSA funds to be used to pay for health insurance premiums. The market reforms he proposes he sayswill drive down costs, better inform consumers, and improve health care quality.
