Nixon outlines health care plan

Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate for governor, has unveiled a plan which he says will "fix Missouri's health care crisis."

According to a Nixon news release:

We've got to move Missouri's health care system forward. Here's how my plan would do it:

* We'd begin by restoring coverage and benefits to the 400,000 Missourians who had it slashed in 2005. By doing so, we would draw down hundreds of millions of dollars a year in federal matching funds.

* I'll expand access to more Missouri kids by restoring coverage to kids who had it slashed in 2005; by reaching out to families currently eligible for state-sponsored insurance but not enrolled; and by allowing families over 300 percent of the federal poverty level to purchase affordable coverage for their kids through the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).

* We'll use technology and market forces to drive down the cost of health care. For instance, we'll create an online one-stop-shop for Missourians to compare prices of health care plans, benefits and billing methods.

* I'll make our health care system more efficient and effective by conducting strict performance reviews of every department and agency involved.

* And we'll focus on prevention and individual responsibility. This means ensuring access to pre-natal care, improving immunization rates for kids, promoting tobacco prevention and increasing access to dental and vision services.