Congressional hopeful Bill Hall outlined his proposal Thursday for improving the nation’s health care system, though the Democrat stopped short of endorsing universal benefits.

The Upper Mount Bethel Township resident also levied criticism against his potential Democratic opponent in the April 22 primary, Siobhan “Sam” Bennett of Allentown, and against incumbent U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Lehigh Valley.

Hall, speaking to reporters inside the Lehigh County Government Center, called for leaving the federal Medicare and Pennsylvania’s Medicaid systems intact.

The areas that need improvement, he said, are the elimination of roadblocks to buying health insurance across state lines and to allowing individuals and small businesses to band together for buying discounted insurance. Hall said legislation is needed in both areas.

He also called for legalizing drug imports from Canada, passing laws to keep rates down for those with pre-existing health problems and creating tax breaks for families who use visiting nurses to care for the aged rather than putting them in institutions. This last point would halve the per diem cost of care, he said.

Hall, a former small business owner in Florida who moved about 11 years ago to the 15th Congressional District he seeks to represent, called Dent beholden to special interests. Hall said he would be more independent and criticized what he claims are $3.7 million in donations to Dent over 18 years from pharmaceutical, insurance, chemical and other industries.

Hall ran in 2007 for Northampton County Council, for Lt. Governor in 2006 and U.S. President in 2004. In each run for office, he was defeated in the Democratic primary.
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