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But, again, the state has recognized the problem and is attempting to reduce the heavy burden our hospitals have been carrying. Rio Grande State Center (RGSC) in Harlingen has an outpatient clinic that has been serving the indigent population and the working poor of a four county region for the past decade. Nobody is ever denied services. Currently RGSC is in the process of having a new $10 million outpatient facility built which will be open this winter and will provide modernized and enhanced care.

RGSC serves the public to the tune of 50,000 outpatient visits a year. All are accepted and are charged fees based upon their ability to pay. Services are sometimes covered by insurance, but most often are pro bono. If the state outpatient clinic system were to become the operational model for healthcare reform across the United States, everyone in need could be served.

The third way to reduce costs and improve services would be to get third party payers (insurance companies) out of the billing process. If patients paid their medical expenses out of their own funds and then sought reimbursement from their insurers, they would make sure every dollar expended purchased a dollar's worth of value.

So, that would be my KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) formula.

Reduce the size of the bill, have it researched by medical experts and simplify the language.

2. Require meaningful national tort reform.

3. Establish statewide outpatient clinics for the poor and underserved.

Have all payments made by patients to their doctors, and reimbursement sought after payment is made.

This may sound way too simple, but then, most solutions are never that complex.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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