Gingrich outlines proposal to address health care costs

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Wednesday in Omaha, Neb., outlined a proposal to help reduce health care costs that includes a health insurance mandate for U.S. residents with annual incomes more than $75,000, the AP/Lincoln Journal Star reports.

During a visit to Alegent Health to discuss health care information technology, Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation, criticized higher-income residents who do not purchase health insurance and seek care in emergency departments. He said that higher-income residents who do not purchase health insurance should have to post bonds to cover the cost of care they might require in the future.

In addition, Gingrich said that he supports federal tax credits to help low-income residents purchase private health insurance. Gingrich also cited the need to encourage residents to seek preventive care to help reduce health care costs. According to Gingrich, adoption of health care IT also can help reduce costs and improve quality of care (Bratton, AP/Lincoln Journal Star, 6/11).