Get your Fastlane to medical records

Small companies – arguably one of the most important engines of our economy and creator of new jobs—are a major source of health care coverage in the United States. But according to a survey by SurePayroll, a Chicago-based online service provider, 11 percent of small business owners who currently offer health benefits to their works are considering dropping coverage next year. In fact, the percentage of Americans covered by employment-based health insurance has dropped steadily over the past two decades.

The major reason both large and small businesses are struggling to continue offering and subsidizing: the high and growing cost of health care and health insurance. Congress had a chance to do something about the problem this year. The U.S. Senate tried to pass a bill that would have allowed small businesses to band together and buy insurance just like larger companies now do. But, surprise surprise, Senate Democrats filibustered and wouldn’t even allow the bill to come to the Senate floor for a vote. While small businesses and their workers could clearly use some help with health coverage costs, I actually don’t feel all that bad that the Senate small businesses health plan bill didn’t become law. You see, if it would have, it would have bound health benefits even closer to employment when what we really need to do is to find ways to empower individual Americans to make health coverage choices—not businesses. Real reform would mean finding the courage to reform the way we tax health benefits in this country.

The current tax exclusion for employer-sponsored insurance contributes to health care inflation by subsidizing gold plated health plans and helps those with higher incomes at the expense of lower wage workers. It also discriminates against those who do not have the option to get coverage through work—or would prefer to buy an insurance policy on their own. There is no comparable tax exclusion for individually purchased insurance. Look, I agree that employment is a somewhat helpful way to group people together for purchasing insurance. But there are other ways. And we best start exploring them. If not, we will end up with backward looking policies that try to shore up and subsidize a broken employment based health insurance system—instead of empowering and arming individuals with the help they need.

The federal government pays for nearly 40% of all health care through Medicare, Medicaid and other programs. President Bush signed an Executive Order requiring federal health programs, such as Medicare, to share publicly their information about quality and price. Should the government be sharing this information? Will it be helpful and encourage people to become more involved in asking questions about care they typically don't pay for?

Should the government do more and require doctors, hospitals and insurance companies to do the same?Does the Govt. need to regulate online drug companies? Pensioners are reaping the benefits from having access to generic and cheaper foreign drugs available online.Drugs such as Carisoprodol commonly known as Soma can be bought for about 25% of the local product .

Crystal Meth - easily manufactured, highly addictive and extremely destructive - is a drug that is ravaging towns and communities across the country. It is, without question, America’s #1 drug problem. Often, addicted mothers and fathers will abuse their children – or each other – during highs and withdrawals. In my home state of Tennessee, over 1,000 children have been removed from homes over the past two years due to meth-related investigations.

This legislation marks yet another meaningful step forward in the fight against this devastating drug and the widespread havoc it has wreaked on families across America.