The simplistic view of public policy is that passing a good law is all that is required. But there's a lot more involved, of course--something a recent conversation made clear to me.

I'm writing this from Portland, Maine, where I am attending the 15th annual meeting of the State Policy Network. One of the key topics is health care policy--access, affordability, quality, and the all-important question of how to ensure these things.

Readers of this blog know that there's an argument out there for making health care more like a normal industry--that is, directed by consumers, with consumers (not HR departments, not government officials, not private sector bureaucrats) determining how the money is spent.

But how to get there?

Laws are important, of course, and we've seen some progress on that front. Legislation enabling HSAs is a good step, for example. But because the consumer-driven model is so unlike the third-party-driven model, it's hard for people to understand what it is and how much of an improvement it can be. Fortunately, there are some individuals who have taken the time to figure out the HSA marketplace.

During the first night of the conference I spoke with Beverly Gossage, owner of HSA Benefits Consulting, a company that "specializes in helping businesses and individuals find affordable health insurance, especially HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) - a tax-free account you can use to cover your health care expenses if you have a qualified high deductible health plan."

You might say that Gossage is in sales. But I would say that she's also--and more importantly--in education. Not K-12 education, but personal, save-your-money and have-more-control consumer education. If you need a brush-up on the HSA-enabled model, read her FAQs and articles for both employers and individuals.