Columbus, OH – The Buckeye Institute has released a new policy report titled “How to Make Ohio Healthcare More Affordable: A Public Policy Guide.” The report suggests various reforms aimed at making healthcare more affordable for state residents.
Rea S. Hederman Jr., the author of the report and executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, commented on the challenges faced by employers nationwide. “Employers across the country face the challenge of finding affordable healthcare plans that meet the needs of their employees,” he said. He further noted that “transparency, choice, and competition offer better paths forward for reducing costs and improving quality in healthcare.”
The report outlines nine specific reforms that states can implement to make healthcare and insurance plans more affordable:
1. Reform medical licensing laws to expand the pool of medical providers.
2. Utilize advanced-practice registered nurses (APRNs) to fill gaps in healthcare.
3. Reduce facility fees charged by hospitals and healthcare systems.
4. Promote transparent pricing by requiring hospitals to post consumer prices.
5. Improve use of artificial intelligence to reduce administrative costs.
6. Prevent Medicaid abuse, which has cost Ohio over $1 billion.
7. Repeal health insurance benefit mandates for greater flexibility in insurance offerings.
8. Avoid “any willing provider” requirements and government price-setting to boost competition.
9. Deter anti-competitive healthcare practices through regulatory oversight.
These recommendations aim to enhance market competition, lower costs, and improve access to quality care.
