The Big Ideas Project

In the rural areas of the United States there are so many hospitals closing. With such a need for affordable health care..why not turn them into government subsidized nonprofit healthcare clinics and hospitals.

Submitted by caprice in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 8:51 p.m.

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#866

192 votes

Forbid any government body from making laws preventing of accessing medical services (approved by the appropriate medical body and doctor). Nor can a government body stop the availability of services medically approved, being available in any city, county, state, or the country as a whole. Thus, for example, no city, county, state or the federal government could make a law saying it is illegal to elect to have an abortion, or any other medically approved procedure.

Submitted by Hope in Health Dec. 11, 2014, 1 a.m.

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#871

191 votes

Change the law so Birth Control Pills can be sold over the counter and lower its price.

Submitted by Don B. from CA in Health Dec. 20, 2014, 5:02 a.m.

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#906

181 votes

Let's get insurence for the poor through Medicaid. The poorest of the poor can not afford private insurence and don't qua for Medicare. It's time we help those less fortunate like the homeless and the people just above the cut off on Medicare.

Submitted by Hensonbrandi in Health Jan. 3, 2015, 7:57 p.m.

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#922

177 votes

If we cannot have a single payer system, at least create a single billing system for health care to eliminate the confusing multiple-source system that now makes it nearly impossible to track charges and payments from doctors, hospitals etc. and likely results in multiple billings and overpayment. One set of codes, one billing source, tracked under one identifier (SSN?), filtered through your policy's eligibility algorithms.

Submitted by Robert E. Sojka in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 5:10 p.m.

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#927

176 votes

School nurse-counselor in every school.

Submitted by Marcie l in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 6:19 p.m.

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#937

174 votes

Lorren Koran, MD of Stanford University has produced a protocol document, or field manual, which he recommended be used to rule out PHYSICAL ailments before treating someone for apparent psychiatric "disorders" or diagnoses. This protcol should be mandatory. I am sure Big Pharma has done all it could to suppress this and other non-pharmaceutical treatment of mental unrest.

Submitted by lynn91208 in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 2:18 p.m.

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#952

172 votes

Healthcare freedom, justice and equality for all under a not-for-profit public plan. Everyone's medical care should be equal according to the best medical science available, not discriminately based on who we are (what kind of coverage we have or don't) ...from the president on down.

Submitted by rebecca sawyer-spoon in Health Dec. 11, 2014, 10:06 a.m.

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#978

165 votes

HealthCare & Drug Company command exorbitant salary compensation packages (avg.$20 million & Free Health Benefits. Do not forget their Board Of Directors. Their salaries and benefits have been earned Before Obamacare. They are the primary reason why HEALTH CARE IS UNAFFORDABLE. This fact should be in the Hational Spotlight (media, television. Meet The Press;etc HealthCare & Drug Company have seen increases during this tough economic period; while their subscribers have seen higher premiums .

Submitted by JB in Health Dec. 19, 2014, 8:31 a.m.

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#980

164 votes

Make free health care a right to every citizen

Submitted by Jessica S. from OR in Health Dec. 22, 2014, 3:19 p.m.

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#988

162 votes

Manufacturers of assault rifles and guns should pay the price of gun related deaths by contributing to the fund for policing services and equipment to control the unlawful use of such. r.Arms dealers should be required by law to sell insurance , as is required when you drive a vehicle. Yearly registration ad license for owning a firearm; graded by type, as an automobile.

Submitted by Christna C. from CA in Health Dec. 21, 2014, 9:54 p.m.

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#999

160 votes

Provide FREE fruits and vegetables to ALL Americans. Our citizens should not go hungry when our farms grow enough to feed everyone. Utilize a portion of the funds from the food stamp program to make this happen. The produce should come from local/regional farms and the US military/postal system could transport the produce to accessible locations for all.

Submitted by D. Hernandez in Health Jan. 10, 2015, 4:03 p.m.

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#1016

156 votes

Require meaningful independent testing of gmo foods and animal feed, and of the herbicides and pesticides which are used in high doses in genetically modified farming practices.

Submitted by Susan E. from NY in Health Dec. 19, 2014, 9:17 a.m.

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#1019

155 votes

STOP PENALTY FOR SENIORS on Medicare part D if they opt out. Now penalty is 1% per month every month Part D is not paid for. Many drugs such as pain meds or breathing meds are NOT on insurance company formularies . Companies exist to MAKE MONEY not help patients.

Submitted by no in Health Dec. 11, 2014, 8:53 a.m.

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#1036

152 votes

Medicare should cover the costs of prescribed acupuncture for those who cannot be treated with other pain therapies.

Submitted by Karen L. Lew in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 8:28 p.m.

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#1050

149 votes

Cannabis/hemp is a natural herb which has been proven to be of medical benefit, the same as ginkgo, ginseng, and so on. They used to be classified as such, then they were placed in a schedule I classification. Everyone should be allowed to plant, grow, and cultivate their own cannabis plants for personal use as well sales. We plant basil, peppermints, catnip, etc. and sell it at farmer's markets. Let's get back to practicalities here.

Submitted by linda in Health Dec. 10, 2014, 3:12 p.m.

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#1050

149 votes

Regulate fees that can be charged for medical services Doctors perform. Doctors of the past did not "categorize and specialize in order to maximize" income. They just worked harder for their communities.

Submitted by the answertothegap in Health Dec. 29, 2014, 11:13 a.m.

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#1050

149 votes

The Mental Health Inpatient provision of Medicare that restricts "...Inpatient MH Hospitalization to 190 LIFETIME DAYS...." needs to be updated. The Mental Health provision should be as any other "Disease" related issue, UNLIMITED MH INPATIENT DAYS! MEDICARE should also CEASE the "...rental provisions of certain 'medically necessary home use devices' such as CPAP & NEBULIZER Equipment." The outright purchase of this equipment is far less costly than Rental! Rent is 3x's higher!

Submitted by Trams in Health Dec. 18, 2014, 8:46 p.m.

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#1069

146 votes

Compose reasonable gun management laws to protect those innocent citizens threatened by gun violence. Have a waiting period for all potential gun owners of 72 hours so a background check can be made into criminal activity and possible emotional issues. Ban all assault weapons using a clear and workable definition of what is an assault weapon, Do not allow citizens more than 12 bullets in a clip of any semi-automatic gun. Require all who purchase a gun to have education as to how to use a gun..

Submitted by Peace and Justice is Progressive in Health Dec. 19, 2014, 7:07 a.m.

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#1102

140 votes

Stop allowing hospitals to sue and garnish wages of low income patients like Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. According to NPR, this looks like a growing and horrifying trend.

Submitted by Life Coach in Health Dec. 19, 2014, 10:14 a.m.

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#1114

137 votes

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