Most people agree that Georgia has serious health care challenges.

Hundreds of thousands of Georgians lack health insurance. Many of the state’s hospitals are in financial crisis. Medical costs are high.

Kelly McCutchen has an idea for a solution.

In a new GHN Commentary, McCutchen, president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, proposes that we convert the funds we spend subsidizing the care of the uninsured (after the fact) into vouchers or refundable tax credits.

“Low-income individuals could use these funds to buy into an employer’s plan or purchase private insurance,’’ writes McCutchen, adding that unused funds “should follow the people to where they get their care: the safety net providers in each community.”

Here’s a link to his Commentary.

Georgia Health News welcomes Commentary submissions. If you would like to propose a Commentary piece for Georgia Health News, please email Andy Miller, editor of GHN, at amiller@georgiahealthnews.com