Lansing -- Reining in out-of-control health care costs is key to solving Michigan's chronic budget shortfalls, Sen. Tom George told The Detroit News editorial board on Monday.
George, a physician who hopes to capture the Republican nomination in August's gubernatorial primary, also advocates a constitutional convention to consider structural changes in government to save money.
Medicaid recipients and state employees should be goaded into healthier behaviors with punishments and rewards included in their health care benefits, George said. He would support having medical schools provide care to prisoners to reduce the burgeoning costs of Michigan's corrections system.
"You don't fix the health care problem shuffling the payers around when your average Michigander weighs 300 pounds and smokes a pack a day," said George of Kalamazoo.
"You're going to have to do certain things, and if you don't, you'll get 'Plan B.' Index the benefits to the behavior."
George has served 10 years in the Legislature, and is term-limited out of office.
George said he:
kbouffard@detnews.com">kbouffard@detnews.com (517) 371-3660
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