Access to Health Care

HB 1273 Creates the Colorado health care authority as a body corporate and political subdivision of the state. Establishes the mission of the authority, which is to create a health care system in Colorado that is the administrator and payer for health care services. Requires the authority to create a system to recommend to the general assembly that provides comprehensive medical benefits to Coloradans. Requires the appointment of a board of directors to create and develop the health care system. To Third Reading 4/6/2009.

HB 1252 Expands the "Local Access to Health Care Pilot Program Act" to allow the creation of a pilot program in the San Luis valley. Authorizes the San Luis Valley county commissioners association to create a pilot program to provide access to health care services to individuals employed by San Luis Valley employers and to contract with a nonprofit corporation for purposes of operating the pilot program. Allows the contractor to prioritize selection of vendors that are capable existing local entities. To Governor 5/14/2009.

SB 5  Provides improved health care coverage to families with special needs children through utilization of unspent state children's health insurance plan funds. Failed 3/19/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 347 That section 17b-261 of the general statutes be amended to require the Commissioner of Social Services to exercise existing federal options that permit the use of a less restrictive methodology in determining the income limit when making Medicaid eligibility determinations for persons who are aged, blind or disabled so as to allow persons with income that does not exceed one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty level to be eligible for the program. Failed 3/19/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 528 That section 17b-261 of the general statutes be amended to require the Commissioner of Social Services to increase allowable income limits in determining Medicaid eligibility. Failed 3/19/2009.

SB 18  Removes the provision that participants in the Delaware Healthy Children Program pay a premium to participate, while allowing the Department of Health and Social Services to consider instituting minimal co-payments for health services in order to recover a portion of the revenue that would be lost due to the absence of premium payments. To Senate Committee on Finance 1/27/2009.

HB 139 Extends Delaware's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to include reduced-cost health insurance coverage for children of families with personal incomes above 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Requires some cost-sharing programs to be implemented under CHIP whereby payments, as determined by DHSS, must be paid on behalf of the child for such care. To House Committee on Health and Human Development 4/30/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 348 and HB 529 Provides for Medicaid eligibility to certain persons with disabilities under a buy-in program subject to federal authorization. Failed 5/2/2009.

HB 185  Expands the Healthy Kids Corporation board of directors membership. Relates to provider arrangement contract prohibitions or restrictions. Prohibits prepaid limited health service organization from specifying contract continuation or renewal conditions; voids certain contracts; provides for application of health maintenance organizations to contract continuation and renewal conditions; revises time requirements for health care practitioner's waiver of license renewal fees and continuing education. Enacted, filed as Chapter No. 41 5/21/2009.

SB 918 and HB 1329 Clarifies the application of the Florida Kidcare program to include all eligible uninsured, low-income children. Removes a restriction on participation in the Florida Healthy Kids program; authorizes certain enrollees to opt out of the Children's Medical Services network; deletes provisions that place a limit on enrollment in Medikids and the Florida Healthy Kids full-pay program. Shortens the amount of time families have to wait after loosing private health coverage before they can apply for the state's KidCare Program. House Version: Failed 5/2/2009. Senate Version: Signed by the Governor 6/2/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 1391 Relates to optional Medicaid payments for the medically needy. Removes limitations on provision of services to certain persons age 65 or older, families, persons who are blind or disabled, pregnant women, and children younger than age 21. Failed 5/2/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 1393 Amends current legislation(ss. 409.912 and 409.91211, F.S) relating to the Medicaid managed care pilot program. It deletes provisions relating to the Medicaid managed care pilot program; conforming provisions; providing an effective date. The bill limits federal funding to Medicaid managed care pilot programs. Failed 5/2/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 92 Converts Medicaid and the PeachCare for Kids Program funds to premium assistance. Allows low-income families to participate in private sector health insurance plans; provides for definitions; provides for an amended state plan for Medicaid and PeachCare. Designates qualified health benefit plans; provides for enrollment in a qualified health benefit plan. From Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor 3/3/2009.

SB 416 Establishes the Hawaii health corps program to address physician shortages in rural areas of the State; establishes a loan repayment program and an incentive plan for the recruitment of health care professionals to serve shortage areas. To Senate Committee on Health 1/28/2009.

HB 1504 Creates the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a comprehensive plan to provide universal health care in Hawaii. To Governor 5/11/2009.

SB 48  This bill expands eligibility and coverage of state health insurance programs to small businesses and non-profit employees. It also increases funding to Medicaid and SCHIP (HawkI) to cover all eligible children in the state by December 31, 2009. The bill also introduces measures to decrease health costs through private sector and child health insurance. In Senate 3/10/2009.

SB 389 Amended version changed to set-up set up a nine-member panel of lawmakers and representatives of insurers, businesses and consumers. The panel would make recommendations to the 2010 Legislature about how to insure more Iowa residents.  Enacted, signed by Governor 5/19/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 472 Provides that, beginning January 1, 2010, an individual who is receiving monthly assistance payments for the aged, blind, or disabled under the federal Supplemental Security Income program or an individual who has a family income that does not exceed 200% of the federal income poverty level is eligible for Medicaid. Failed, session adjourned 5/13/2009.
SB 537 Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning to apply to the federal government to increase income eligibility in the children's health insurance program to 300% of the federal poverty level. Failed, session adjourned 5/13/2009.

The Michigan Affordability and Access Task Force introduced a package of bills to achieve overall health reform. Proposed legislation for 2009 includes the following:
SB 579 Creates the MI-Health Act, which promotes the availability and affordability of health coverage in the state and facilitates purchase of that coverage. MI-Health is created within the department of community health. MI-Health provides subsidies to assist eligible individuals in purchasing health plans and must offer a variety of helath plans. An enrollee with a household income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level are only responsible for a copayment towrds the purchase of  To Senate Committee on Health Policy 5/14/2009.

SB 580 Regulates individual health benefits. To Senate Committee on Health Policy 5/14/2009.

SB 581 Amends Blue CrossBlue Shield Act to comply with requirements of MI-Health Act. Imposes fees to capitalize the MI-Health Fund. Relates to rate classifications for Medicare supplement coverage and group conversions. To Senate Committee on Health Policy 5/14/2009.

SB 582 Increases the quality assurance fee collected from hospitals, this fee provides a subsidy for MI-Health program created in SB 579. To Senate Committee on Health Policy 5/14/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 105 "Mississippi Medicaid Law"  The revenue derived from an increases excise tax on cigarettes shall be deposited into a Medicaid special fund. Failed in Committee 4/1/2009.

SB 2008 Enacts the Health Care Reform Act of 2009; establishes a health improvement grant program and health care homes and reporting requirements within the State Medicaid Program, the S.C.H.I.P. Program, the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan, and public cafeteria plans; relates to a workforce shortage study, interoperable health records, an electronic prescription drug program, an essential benefit set for health benefits, health care payment restructuring and a Health Care Reform Review Council. Failed in Committee 2/3/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 1418 Expands Medicaid eligibility to children under the age of 19. Abolishes Children's Health Insurance Program to expand Medicaid eligibility for children to 200% of poverty level. Failed in Committee 2/3/2009.

 HB 1553 Creates a small business health insurance pool. Provides employer premium incentive payments, employee premium assistance payments and tax credits to be administered by the commissioner of insurance for eligible small employers who provide certain group health plan coverage for their eligible employees. This bill also provides that certain eligible small employers may receive assistance for paying premiums for health insurance purchased through the small business health insurance pool. Creates the small business health insurance pool board of directors, the board is to determine eligibility and tax incentives. Failed in Committee 2/3/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 1587 Requires the Division of Medicaid to have eligibility workers that assist at various sites where there are limited resources to accept applications for Medicaid and SCHIP. The workers will also assist applicants with completing eligibility applications.  Failed in Committee 2/3/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 119  Creates a Medicaid buy-in option for working individuals with disabilities. Requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services to administer a program that allows individuals with disabilities to participate in the medicaid program if they obtain employment that increases their incomes above eligibility limits; requires participants to pay a portion of the costs for participation in certain cases; supports employment for individuals with disabilities by providing medicaid coverage to individuals who would otherwise become ineligible. Enacted, signed by the Governor, chapter no. 452 5/5/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 135 Revises Insure Montana Program; exempt the small business health insurance purchasing pool from registering and reporting as required for voluntary purchasing pools; clarifies terms for premium incentive payment schedules. Signed by the Governor, Chapter No. 87 3/25/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 111 Clarifies roles of local advisory groups and Medicaid rates in mental health system; provides for an advisory council to plan and evaluate public mental health care; provides an interagency system for tracking children in need of mental health services; establishing membership of local advisory councils; establishes separate advisory councils for youth and adult mental health systems; providing rulemaking authority; clarifying that service area authorities are intended for adult mental health services. Failed 4/28/2009.

HB 1402 Establishes Cover NC, a health care access program for uninsured individuals and their dependents. Eligibility for Cover NC includes individuals who are between 19 and 64 years of age and are not covered by a private insurance policy and are not eligible for coverage through a public health insurance program such as Medicare, Medicaid, NC Health Choice, or NC Kids' Care unless eligibility for the public health insurance program lapses due to no longer meeting income or categorical requirements of the public health insurance program. Eligible individuals must also have not been covered by any health insurance program at any time during the six months previous to application for enrollment in Cover NC. Also establishes the health insurance market choices program to expand opportunities for North Carolinians to purchase affordable health insurance and health services. To House Committee on Health 4/13/2009.

HB 529 Requires the department of health and human services to expand Medicaid eligibility under the healthy kids program to eliminate the potential for a gap in insurance coverage as children transfer from healthy kids gold to healthy kids silver. From Senate Committee on Finance 5/28/2009.  

HCR 2 Endorses the National Health Insurance Act and urges the U.S. Congress to enact the National Health Insurance Act. Failed 5/29/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 24 Requires the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to include in the Medicaid State Plan presumptive eligibility for certain applicants under the Supplemental Security Income Program. Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means 5/28/2009.

SB 15 Directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to establish certain pilot program; directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to select a pilot county for a comprehensive health system for the uninsured; provides requirements for certain health care providers; requires certain health care providers to provide certain medical services; specifies collection and payment of certain health care costs. To Senate Committee on Appropriations 2/3/2009.   

(Premium Assistance Program) SB 59 Relates to the premium assistance program; clarifies language; authorizes the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek a waiver to include veterans in the premium assistance program; provides for eligibility; provides an effective date. To House Committee on Appropriations and Budget 3/11/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 271 Directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to eliminate certain income cap; directs the Authority promulgate rules to set specific minimum standard.   To Senate Committee on Appropriations 2/3/2009. 

(Medicaid) SB 284 Directs the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to reinstate a certain eligibility category; authorizing the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek certain waivers or amendments. To Senate Committee on Appropriations 2/3/2009. 

SB 846 Allows certain state employees to participate in the premium assistance program; specifies when the required participation will become effective; provides an effective date; declares an emergency.  To Senate Committee on Appropriations 2/5/2009. 

HB 2026 Creates the Health Care for Oklahomans Act; directs the establishment of certain board; specifies duties; provides for certain fee; provides for certain point-of-service enrollment; provides certain coverage of uncompensated care in certain circumstance; directs the establishment of a program to develop the health care workforce; specifies scholarships and grants; requires certain condition; defines terms. Enacted, signed by the Governor 5/6/2009.

SB 1050 Allows  the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services any waivers or amendments to existing waivers necessary to accomplish an expansion of the premium assistance program. The bill clarifies language and provides an effective date relating to the premium assistance program. To Senate Committee on Rules 2/9/09.  

(Medicaid) HB 5112 Implements the Rhode Island Global Consumer Choice Compact Demonstration. Requires the Governor to get legislative approval on anything pertaining to beneficiary eligibility, benefits, overall healthcare delivery systems, payment methodologies or cost sharing. To House Committee on Finance 3/19/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 53  would limit the actions the Department of Human Services could take with respect to the Medicaid program without explicit approval from the General Assembly. To House Committee on Finance 2/12/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 3119 Imposes an additional tax per cigarette; establishes the smoking cessation and health care fund for reimbursement of an individual's personal expenses related to smoking cessation and  smoking related health care devices, equipment, and programs; provides that the remaining revenue generated by this tax must be credited to the general fund to address health needs, including using such funds for Medicaid matching funds. To House Committee on Ways and Means 1/13/2009.

(Premium Assistance Program)  HB 3204 Enacts the Healthy Communities Capacity Act; establishes the Small Business Health Insurance Premium Assistance Program within the Department; provides that this program must be funded from a portion of an additional cigarette license tax; directs the Department of Health to apply for a Medicaid waiver; provides the department shall provide for the coverage to children. To House Committee on Ways and Means 1/13/2009.

SB 201 Enacts the State HealthNet Program; relates to health insurance coverage for employees, abusive rating practices and disclosure of rating practices, renewal of coverage, preexisting conditions exclusions, fair access to health plans, overall fairness and efficiency of the group health insurance market, fair marketing standards and termination and non-renewal of coverage. To Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance 1/13/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 67 Relates to a medical assistance buy-in program for children with certain developmental disabilities. In House Tabled 5/1/2009.

(Medicaid) HB 166 (SB 37) Provides eligibility requirements for receiving home- and community-based support services under the Medicaid waiver program for persons who are deaf-blind with multiple disabilities. In House Tabled 5/14/2009.  

(Premium Assistance Program) SB 107 Relating to the creation of the Texas Health Benefit Plan Security Program to provide comprehensive, affordable health care coverage to eligible individuals and employees of small employers, and the dependents of eligible individuals and employees, on a voluntary basis; provides for a high risk pool; provides for premiums; provides for savings offset payments to fund subsidies for enrollees and eligible individuals. To Senate Committee on State Affairs 2/10/2009.  

(Medicaid) SB 187 Relates to a Medicaid buy-in program for certain children with disabilities. Enacted, filed with the Secretary of State Chapter No. 34 5/20/2009.

(Medicaid) SB 302 Relates to the implementation of an in-home caregiver demonstration project under the Medicaid program. To Senate Committee on Health and Human Services 2/11/2009. 

HB 178 Amends the Insurance Code and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Extends the COBRA premium assistance provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to state mini-COBRA benefits for Utah workers at companies with up to 19 workers who were laid off between Sep. 1, 2008 and Feb. 17, 2009. Makes technical amendments to the health benefit plan broker disclosure requirement. Clarifies that the Children's Health Insurance Program should have access to at least two different provider networks. Signed by the Governor 3/25/2009.

The Utah state legislature has introduced a series of bills intended to achieve overall health reform in the state's health care system. Proposed legislation for the 2009 includes the following: 
        HB 165 The legislation changes the way hospitals and health care providers send information and billing to patients and creates a health care delivery and payment pilot project. The measure also moves the state toward standardized swipe card technology for insurance cards that will allow patients and providers to access information about deductibles, co-payments and insurance status. Signed by the Governor 3/11/2009.

        HB 188 Creates a new health plan, called NetCare, that insurers will be able to offer at one-half to one-third the cost of the average large-group health insurance premium. The plan will be exempted from certain state coverage mandates and will include wellness incentives, higher deductibles and caps on preventive care. The measure also allows small employers to give workers the choice of enrolling in an employer-sponsored health plan or using an employer contribution to purchase coverage on their own. Insurance companies would be required to cover workers regardless of pre-existing health conditions, and the Utah Health Re-Insurance Pool would provide assistance to insurers who experience a spike in costly claims. In addition, the legislation allows employers to offer NetCare rather than COBRA as an option for state residents transitioning from group coverage to individual health plans. Signed by the Governor 3/11/2009.

       HB 331 Requires all general contractors who contract with certain state departments and public transit districts for construction projects worth $1.5 million or more, as well as subcontractors for projects worth $750,000 or more, to give employees a basic level of insurance. Signed by the Governor 3/11/2009.

       SB 79 Increases the level of evidence plaintiffs must show for emergency department-related medical malpractice claims. In addition, the bill strengthens Utah's licensing laws to increase oversight of out-of-state medical expert witnesses. Signed by the Governor 3/11/2009.

HB 2111 Amends code 1931, qualifying children of state employees, receiving income of $25,000.00 per year or less, for the West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program. To House Committee on Health and Human Resources 2/11/2009.

The West Virginia Interim Select Committee on Health has moved toward introducing categorical bills to achieve overall health reform. Proposed legislation for 2009 includes the following:
        (Medicaid) HB 2091 Requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources to examine and develop recommendations to be submitted to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance. Recommendations developed shall consider the following: Review of Medicaid services which are optional under federal Medicaid law and identification of services to be retained, reduced or eliminated. The elimination, reduction or phase-out of services which are not generally available to West Virginia citizens not covered under the state's Medicaid program. Services which are not generally covered under group policies of insurance made available to employees of employers within the state. The elimination or reduction of services, or reduction of provider reimbursement rates, for identified services of marginal utility. Higher reimbursement rates for primary and preventive care. Changes in fee structure, which may include a system of prospective payments, and may include establishment of global fees for identified services or diagnoses including maternity care. Identification of services which reduce the need for more costly options for necessary care and retention or expansion of those programs. Identification of services for which preauthorization is a requirement for Medicaid reimbursement. And finally, but not limited to a policy concerning the department's procedures for compliance, monitoring and inspection. To Senate Committee on Government Organization 3/27/2009.

        SB 18 Amends and reenacts current law relating to reducing the ratio of school nurses to school children and eliminating the provision allowing county boards to contract with county health departments for equivalent nursing services. To Senate Committee on Education 2/11/2009.

        SB 231 Amends current law relating to the certificate of need process. Eliminates certain services of certificate of need review, raises the expenditure minimum amount for a capital expenditure and major medical equipment threshold. Provides for legislative rule- making authority, sets forth standards for when certain ambulatory health care facilities are not subject to certificate of review. Provides that electronic health records are not subject to certificate of review. States that nonhealth-related projects are subject to certificate of review. Modifies the fee structure for certificate of review by setting forth a limited amount for certificate of need fees. To Senate Committee on Judiciary 3/4/2009. 

        HB 2478 Requires employers working on public improvement projects to show at least eighty percent of the employees working on the project are covered by a policy of health insurance project, or at least eighty percent of the hours worked on the project will be by employees who are covered by a policy of health insurance. To House Committee on Judiciary 2/26/2009.