Newt needs to give us an in-depth explanation his vision of healthcare in America. In isolation I can’t evaluate the “must purchase” idea.
I’ve thought for a long time that universal healthcare ought to be done by expanding medicare. The machinery’s all in place. The issue of cost is always present no matter what scheme is used.
The problem with expanding medicare probably is that it’s too simple.
I assumed it was a think tank set up for the purpose of bringing together people with big ideas on, well, "transformation" of the health care industry. Sort of like a mini Heritage Foundation devoted to health care reform.
Turns out Newt's Center for Health Transformation is, first, a FOR-PROFIT organization (unlike true think tanks). Big health care insurance and pharmaceutical companies, for example, pay large membership fees (to Gingrich) and in return they get to, essentially, lobby Gingrich, as well as "marketing and research support."
I didn't know this until recently. AstraZeneca and Blue Shield, for example, pays as much as $200,000 in membership fees. HERE.