EXCHANGE: More logic, less emotion

In response to the comments opposing a state Health Exchange which were cited in your Sunday front page article, I would like to point out a few facts.

We will have a Health Exchange in any case. What the governor and a majority of legislators recognize is that we are preserving Idaho’s autonomy by running it on our own. There are substantial financial benefits to a state exchange, including keeping more insurance dollars here in our state, and preserving Idaho’s current lower cost of medical care. There are significant health benefits, such as maintaining accountability to our own state insurance department where Idahoans aren’t the tiny minority we would be in the federal department. The “for profit” national companies often bring in programs that are superficially attractive and economical but that don’t provide the coverage our sick patients need. Physicians have access to the Idaho companies when their policies need to be modified to protect our patients, where the national companies don’t listen to us.

Idaho doctors are as conservative a group of professionals as you will find, but the Idaho Medical Association voted solidly to support a state based exchange after examining these issues. To characterize an Idaho Health Exchange as “tyranny” is a gross exaggeration, and poorly informed.

In my opinion, we are fortunate to be represented by legislators like Luke Malek and John Goedde who vote for the good of their constituents rather than taking advantage of an oversimplified emotional appeal.

ROBERT McFARLAND, M.D.

Coeur d’Alene