There is perhaps no more misunderstood issue that is debated in American politics today than that of healthcare. Some say it's a right for all citizens. Others say our healthcare quality is inferior to other countries. Still others say that hospitals, clinics, and health insurance companies exploit patients, trading off money for care. None of these are entirely true...but they (and many other related issues) are not completely void of fact either. In each case the answer is subject to individual interpretation of past experiences, present conditions, and future projections...but in all cases, there is one constant--healthcare has become extremely expensive.

Health care reform in this country is necessary, but a government-run solution is the wrong solution. The most efficient, low-cost, long-term solution requires three fundamental components:

1. Tort and/or malpractice reform,
2. Allowing individuals to shop for insurance coverage that fits their needs, across state lines if necessary, and
3. Allowing insurance companies to specialize in specific risk pools to effectively address pre-existing conditions.

I support a free-market solution with these three basic fundamentals as the cornerstones of comprehensive health care reform. Beyond this, a private sector solution that forces efficiency and market equilibrium based on economies of scale and comparative advantage will not only lower the cost of healthcare throughout the nation, but it will improve quality and make it significantly more accessible to everyone who needs it.