Maine’s government must stop being the obstacle to affordable health insurance and start working to ensure the continued access to quality, local health care. We need affordable health insurance options; access to local providers; and, to be more engaged regarding the health issues that impact our lives. As governor, I intend to work diligently to improve Maine’s health care system by empowering the patient and the provider.

From Medicaid to regulations on private health care, we must recognize that health care is extremely personal and individualized. Too often politicians talk in broad statistics and with one-size-fits-all proposals that ignore the unique healthcare needs of each Maine individual and family. Augusta does not know best.

We must fix health insurance regulations that prohibit a variety of health insurance plans tailored to the unique needs of various populations. Maine people are smart, thrifty and varied. It is time government recognized that in how it regulates our health care system.

I have listened as a steady stream of rhetoric has flowed from the State House that demonizes our local hospitals and health care providers. Maine has some of the highest quality hospitals and physicians in America. We have access to quality local health care in almost all regions of the state. That is a good thing. That helps people.

But health care providers spend too much time dealing with well-intentioned but burdensome regulations.

The average health care employee spends a half-hour on paperwork for each hour of patient time. Meanwhile, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services is not paying its bills. By next year Maine government will owe hospitals more than $300 million in unpaid Medicaid bills. That debt threatens the very existence of our local hospitals, particularly in rural areas.

As governor, I will enact meaningful, effective health care reform to:

1. Make Maine’s health insurance market more competitive. Maine’s health insurance market continues to be less affordable and competitive not more. Many small rural states have lower cost insurance than Maine. We need to learn from them. Next door in New Hampshire many pay hundreds less per year for individual health insurance. Forty-seven states have a higher rate of lower-income adults purchasing private health insurance. Augusta has overregulated health insurance to be a costly premium out of reach for too many businesses and individuals. That’s wrong and must change.

2. Stop taxing health insurance in a quest to make it more affordable. Funding expanded government programs by taxing health insurance is wrong. You don’t tax something to make it more affordable. We shouldn’t punish businesses and individuals who purchase private health insurance.

3. Promote wellness and support people making smart lifestyle choices. If a physician-certified personal health plan results in a healthier individual, that person should receive a significant insurance premium discount. As governor, I intend to promote programs such as “ScoreHealth” developed by Dr. Burgess Record of Farmington that has resulted in significantly improved personal health for thousands of Maine citizens.

4. Enact real Medicaid reform. Medicaid spending has exploded in recent years. It outpaces tax revenue growth, is unsustainable and threatens other spending priorities. The state has responded by cutting provider rates – shifting costs to those with private insurance and risking access to needed medical care for those on Medicaid. Medicaid must protect the neediest and the disabled while remaining adaptable and sustainable now and in the future. We must also give lower income people affordable private insurance options.

5. Pay our past due Medicaid bills to Maine hospitals. By next year, Maine government will owe its hospitals more than $300 million in past due Medicaid bills. We would not allow a private insurance company to not pay claims and we must not tolerate Medicaid doing the same. As governor, I will ensure Medicaid pays its bills and fix this problem once and for all.

6. Emphasize public health issues. Many of our current health concerns need attention. Diabetes, as an example, is an ever-increasing threat for many Mainers. Educating our population about the impact and prevention of diabetes is one of our most critical public health issues. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diet all play an important role in diabetes prevention.

Affordable health insurance and quality, local health care are critical to Maine’s future. Health care is personal and individualized. One-size-fits-all health care reform from Augusta hurts everyone.

As governor, I will ensure that Maine’s health care system empowers both patient and provider.

Sen. Chandler Woodcock, R-Farmington, is a candidate for governor.