The Republican Party has released their health care plan - see the whole thing here:

My thoughts on specific parts of the Patients' Choice Act:

"Prioritizing the needs of patients and doctors must be fundamental."

Isn't that everybody's goal; Democrats and Republicans?  What's new here?

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"Creating a market that plays by the rules is the most powerful force to increase quality and make health care more affordable."

A market that plays by the RULES; I thought the Republican Party was against REGULATIONS and that's one big reason we are currently in this economic mess.

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"And increasing the association between patient responsibility for payment and quality of outcomes would vastly improve accountability."

No mention of how those patients that can't afford it will accomplish paying for any insurance.  Exactly what is meant by, "increasing the association" between payments and quality of care?  Are they saying that if you don't pay you can't have input on the quality of the care you receive?

"Universal access to affordable health care for all Americans should be guaranteed.   Congress should enact a comprehensive solution that will make our healthcare system work for every American every time."

How many patients do you know that don't already have universal access to health care? 

"The Patients' Choice Act would give every American the opportunity to choose the health care plan that best meets their individual needs"

How many patients do you know that don't already have a choice of which health care plan they need?

"It will utilize state - driven exchanges to facilitate real competition between private plans and give Americans--for the first time--a choice of health care plans."

"In solving our health care crisis, Americans already know that government will not work."

How is allowing the STATE government the ability to make exchanges with insurance companies different then giving the FEDERAL government that ability?  Exactly what kind of "exchanges" could they possibly have to create competition?

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So folks - where is the BEEF?  What will Republicans do to lower costs and get every American access to health insurance?

The Patients' Choice Act of 2009 effectively ends to tax breaks for employers who provide health coverage to their workers, choosing instead to give a $5,710 tax cut to families and a $2,290 cut to individuals to help them pay for health insurance coverage. Critics insist that this system would end up costing both business and consumers more over the long term. And some objective analysts have agreed. After all, families are currently paying approximately $12,300 a year for health care today.

This ACT appears to be more of the same --- Help businesses and employers save money.  By removing the tax incentive, employers will end up dropping health insurance benefits for their employees claiming they are losing money thereby forcing workers to find a new policy out in the market.