Just over the transom from the office of Republican State Senator Bob Dutton (SD 31)is a press release showcasing the efforts of the State Capitol's GOP minority's approach and priorities on health care reform. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for a special session of the State legislature to focus on health care issues.

The California State Senate Republican Caucus has responded with a package of twenty-four bills that may be considered by Capitol policy makers.

Here is Senator Dutton's media release:

Access, Affordability and Choice are keys to Health Care Legislation Introduced by Senator Dutton and Republicans

Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) was one of several Senate Republicans to introduce legislation yesterday that will expand the availability and affordability of health care to all Californians.

Senator Dutton and the other Republican Senators introduced the 24-bill package yesterday during a press conference in front of an urgent care facility in Sacramento.

The health care bill package introduced by Senate Republicans was done as part of the Special Session of the California Legislature called by Governor Schwarzenegger to address the issue of health care.

The backdrop of the facility for the press conference was key to illustrate the need to move patients who require “normal” medical services from emergency rooms to community care facilities where the cost of the same service is substantially less. For example, the cost to treat strep throat in an emergency room averages more than $300. The cost to treat strep throat at a community or urgent care facility would cost just over $100 on average.

Senator Dutton’s legislation focuses on offering incentives to businesses that offer health care to their employees. Those incentives would include allowing employers to offer flexible work hours should that business provide health care.

“These types of incentives are long overdue,” Senator Dutton said during the news conference. “Offering incentives to businesses to provide health care not only expands health coverage to more residents, but it will also help keep costs down as more individuals and families will be covered by insurance.”

Under the 24-bill proposal introduced by Senate Republicans, demand for overburdened and expensive emergency room services will be reduced by the expansion of clinics with an emphasis on preventive and primary care medicine.

Unlike other proposals, the Senate Republican plan does not mandate that all Californians buy health care coverage, forcing costs upon taxpayers without providing any additional benefits above and beyond providing insurance to those who are uninsured.

Instead, Senator Dutton’s proposal uses tax incentives for individuals, doctors and businesses that will lessen the financial obstacles often associated with health care expenditures.

“Our plan not only increases access, but helps make health care more affordable and gives Californians more choices and better quality,” said Senator Dutton. “Our plan does this without destroying the current system that many believe is the best in the world, and it doesn’t raise taxes.”