Medical care and insurance are issues that demand our attention. One way to reduce the costs of medical care is tort reform.

No one wants to strip patients totally of their rights in the event of malpractice, but the excessive lawsuits and malpractice insurance fees must have common sense restored to them.

We must reward individuals who are healthy and have good history with lower insurance rates and incentives. We must also allow the insurance industry to raise the rates on individuals who pursue unhealthy lifestyles that could result in high-risk diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and many others. This will encourage healthy living and preventive care over reactionary care for unhealthy living.

We must streamline the process for getting needed prescription drugs to the market. Regulations are needed to protect patients, but excessive regulation is adding millions of dollars to the cost of making the drugs that allow our precious seniors to live longer and happier lives.

We must have research and development of stem cells that could unlock the keys to cures for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. We do not have to use embryonic stem cells at all. Cord blood and testicular stem cells have proved more promising.

We must also invest in information technology to reduce health care costs and ensure efficiency and accuracy. We can do all this without increasing government inefficiency and waste.

By reforming, streamlining and innovating through the private sector we can ensure a better health-care solution for the elderly, the young and everyone in between. We can do it, America!

Joe Garrison

West End