“How should we expand the availability of health insurance to the poor and uninsured? States are debating that issue in many ways. In Wisconsin, there are a variety of plans — ranging from single-payer Canadian-style health plans to more modest efforts to use free-market ideas like health savings accounts and more information about cost and quality of healthcare. What’s the answer? That’s unclear, but with the variety of healthcare proposals throughout the country, it would make sense to use states as a laboratory for health policy ideas. Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., want to do just that. They are sponsoring legislation that would allow pilot programs in several states to get uninsured people covered. Under the proposal, states would not be required to adopt specific programs, and they would be given flexibility to experiment with different solutions.” [editor’s note: Stop focusing on paying for their”insurance”! Aim at caring for their real ailments, promoting wellness and prevention practices, but call it the “charitable effort” it truly is! - SAT] (04/29/07)