Enzi Bill Needs to be Stopped

[ed murrow]

I wanted to post an update to the original sentiments shared by Cali girl.

This Enzi bill that strips state mandates, a critical consumer protection for anyone who purchases healthcare in America, has been voted out of committee.

This bill could hit the Senate floor at anytime and if it passes would be huge step in the wrong direction.

The removal of state protections, without anything else meaningful being put in place is simply not acceptable

More importantly, this legislation would allow health insurers to NOT COVER a whole host of medical treatments including almost all mental health treatments, diabetes, and anything else these AHPs decide not to cover in order to maximize profits.

This legislation will make it a race to the bottom.

Cali girl wrote last week

"Dear DU friends,

Some of you know I have a child with juvenile diabetes(type 1) The republicans are threatening the lives of diabetics by passing the following legislation. It got through the HELP committee and is now going to the floor. Please make a call to stop this. don't let this go even if no one in your family has diabetes. Many children with type 1 have no family history of this. Information as follows:

This Is It.

S. 1955 will be devastating for millions of people with diabetes across the country.

With your help, we have passed laws requiring insurers to cover diabetes education, equipment, and supplies in small business health policies in 46 states. To date, you have helped protect those 46 state laws from being rolled back by opposing misguided bills in your state legislature or by opposing AHP legislation in Congress.

Without question, these 46 state laws face their gravest threat yet from a bill in the US Senate.

S. 1955, also known as the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, would not only allow the creation of AHPs that can skirt the 46 state laws for small business health plans, it would also allow all state-regulated health insurance policies to bypass those laws. This means that in addition to small business health plans, all state-regulated health insurance -- like individual policies, for example -- would also lose their guarantee of required coverage of lifesaving diabetes items.

Supporters of this bill believe they are helping more Americans get health insurance coverage. However, coverage under these policies either covers diabetes needs inadequately or prices them out of reach of many Americans if it covers those needs at all. In short, S. 1955 will be devastating for millions of people with diabetes across the country.

Despite a strong effort by Advocates from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee members' states, S. 1955 passed in that Committee by a vote of 11-9 on Tuesday. Now this bill will go to the Senate floor for a vote. If there was ever a time for you to take action -- emailing your Senators, calling them, or visiting them -- this is it.

We strongly urge you to send an email and fax to your Senators at minimum (below). If you understand the seriousness of this situation and want to put up our best fight to preserve insurance coverage for people with diabetes, here's how you can help further:

Call your Senators: http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_...

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TellAFriend?msgId=53302.0..."

[WhiteTara]

1. kick this one up!

:kick:

[ed murrow]

2. Updated Senator's Contact Link

I noticed Cali Girl's link did not work

Here is a link that provides the info necessary to get in touch with your Senator

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

please contact your Senator...My Senators in Arkansas have both come out against it but we need the moderate Repubicans in order to defeat this legislation.

[TransitJohn]

3. That's our senator for ya.

While touting "affordable healthcare for all" he's really in action ensuring profits. Thanks for nothing Mike.

[blondeatlast]

4. Amazingly, the pharmaceutical companies' opposition to this bill

hasn't stopped it.

This affects someone you know, guaranteed. K&R.

Let's keep this at the top--I've been insulin dependent most of my life and this bill terrifies me!

[OzarkDem]

13. Insurance companies trump big pharma

Insurance companies, banks and Wall Street, along with energy companies are the top dogs in controlling the GOP.

Insurance companies are unhappy with the high prices they have to pay for prescriptions and hospital costs related to inpatient drugs and treatments. Big pharma got their handout with Medicare Part D, and it looks like they won't get their way this time around.

[Left Turn]

5. There are very few bills

Up for consideration in the Senate this year that would be as devastating as this one. The Republicans are trying to reverse years and years and years of consumer protections put in place in states all over America. Getting us cheaper health insurance with tons of treatments that are no longer covered isn't helping health care in America, it's hurting it. Democratic Senators except for Nelson seem to be against this, but if we put some pressure on them, we should be able to persuade some Republicans not to back this terrible legislation.

Call your Republican Senator and play the states rights argument...why should the Federal Government usurp the authority of the states?

[blondeatlast]

6. I hadn't thought of the State's Rights issue--good thinking for those of u

stuck with only R senators, as I am.

Sending an e-mail now--thanks for a great bit of advice!

[blondeatlast]

7. This needs to get on the home page; please recommend!

Time is of the essence.

[blondeatlast]

8. The "Mississippi outlaws sex toys" thread keeps floating to the top.

As much as I despise that legislation, it pales in comparison.

:kick:

[necso]

9. K&R

[LaurenG]

10. Kicked and Nominated nt

[blondeatlast]

11. Kick again. (sigh). Not as fun as a sex toy, granted, but someone you know

will be harmed by this, I guarantee it.

[OzarkDem]

12. THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT

If this bill passes, it will cause great harm to many Americans covered by employer paid private health insurance policies. Please call your senators now, whether they're R's or D's. Tell them to vote NO on this dangerous legislation to protect everyone's basic rights for health insurance.

If this goes, HIPAA and COBRA protections will be next...

[caligirl]

14. Wow I just saw this thread, thanks for picking up the ball here.

I was thinking about reposting and thought I would wait a little while. Thank you. :kick: :kick: :kick:

[ed murrow]

34. Cali Girl Thank You

I wish DU would feature this issue because the mainstream media seems to ignore it completely.

The Democrats are going to come out against it but nobody is actively out there screaming it from the mountaintops.

This issue is extremely important and the timing could not be more crucial if this legislation passes it will be another blow to the already dire health care situation in America.

I just don't understand why the Congress looks to go backwards when we have so much room and need to for improvement.

[caligirl]

15. Groups campaigning (lobbying our senators) FOR S1955. article

http://www.healthdecisions.org/HealthPlans/News/default.aspx?doc_id=55120

When Enzi unveiled his compromise bill last week, Kennedy was quick to condemn it.

"For millions of Americans, this plan would do more harm than good. For far too many of our citizens, it will result in higher health costs and fewer benefits," Kennedy said.

The senator noted that the bill would exempt the plans from some state insurance rules, though it would retain states' regulatory authority over health insurance, unlike the House-passed bill.

"We're going to need some Democrats to come on over," Austin acknowledged.

A few Democrats have backed AHP legislation in the past, such as Sen. Robert Byrd (W.Va.). Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) is a co-sponsor of Enzi's bill, and his staff participated in the lobbyist meetings. The House-passed bill garnered 36 Democratic votes.

In the last Congress, then-Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.) and Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) were outspoken critics of AHP legislation. Nickles is now a lobbyist, and Enzi is optimistic that he will get Gregg's vote during the markup today.

Enzi also has to satisfy GOP senators who have pushed for AHP legislation for years but were not included in his recent efforts.

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has been the leading proponent of bills that parallel the House-passed measures and has held numerous hearings as chairwoman of the Small Business Committee. In addition, Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) was a leader on the issue while in the House.

Enzi's staff made sure that Snowe's office was up to speed on where he was taking his bill, her spokesman said. Snowe is waiting to see the final product that emerges from the HELP Committee markup but is hopeful the Senate will take up some form of legislation this year, he said.

The lobbyists who helped craft Enzi's bill hope so, too, and plan to continue their push.

The Realtors are directing a grassroots campaign targeting HELP Committee members this week, to go along with a Washington-area print and radio advertising campaign. Last week, Realtors from across the country staged a "fly-in" to Capitol Hill to lobby senators.

The NFIB also plans to employ its individual members to press senators to support Enzi's bill. "I would expect that we would have a strong pull from all of NFIB's members in every state," Austin said.

If the Senate gets as far as passing the bill, significant compromises would have to be made by Enzi's House counterparts to get legislation into conference committee. HELP Committee staff members have conferred with aides to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas), who is waiting for the Senate to act first. The bill also would fall under the jurisdiction of the new House Education and the Workforce Committee chairman, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.).

The White House, at this stage, is said to be monitoring the Senate legislation.

[caligirl]

16. NFIB says it will come up for vote in May, guess they have the insidetrack

NFIB campigning for this bill, says it will be voted on in May

http://capwiz.com/nfib/issues/alert/?alertid=8167701


Home • Elected Officials • Issues • Election • Media
Legislative Alerts and Updates • Current Legislation • NFIB Key Votes • Capitol Hill Basics
Read about this bill
Action Alert Enter Your Zip Code:
Take Action Your Help Needed: Small-Business Health Plans headed for full Senate vote!
The full Senate is expected to vote on Small-Business Health Plan legislation for the very first time in early May. Contact your Senators TODAY and tell them small businesses MUST HAVE Small-Business Health Plans to be able to provide affordable health insurance to their employees.
Small-Business Health Plans would level the playing field for small businesses by allowing them to band together across state lines, through their membership in an association, to purchase more affordable health insurance. Unions and large corporations already have this ability; small businesses should too! The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Small-Business Health Plan legislation numerous times. Contact your Senators TODAY and tell them to support Small-Business Health Plans.

[caligirl]

17. original thread, LA Times assessment at bottom of this thread, must read

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2519183

[caligirl]

18. Association Health Plans, how so many loose coverage made easy:

While the Enzi bill expands the market for small-business owners, it is not mandate-free. If approved, the bill would federalize any specific health-care treatments required by at least 45 states. State coverage requirements, however, are widely divergent, and very few treatments would fall into the federal category.

The National Governors Association, which has opposed past attempts to pass AHP legislation, issued a report that lists the commonalities in each state’s treatment requirements. According to the report, there are only four treatments that must be covered by insurance providers in at least 45 states -- mammography, alcohol-abuse treatment, chiropractic care, and optometry.

Because of the Enzi bill’s wide scope, Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a national health-care consumer group, said it is actually much more damaging than the Snow-Talent proposal. Enzi’s bill, he said, would eliminate important state regulations protecting the insured.

The bill “creates an arbitrarily stringent requirement that, for a state rule to survive, it’s got have been adopted by at least 44 other states,” Pollack said. “The overwhelming majority of people who have those protections will lose them overnight.”

http://www.inc.com/criticalnews/articles/200603/ahp.html

[caligirl]

19. Junk Health Plans offered in disguise, undermines Patients Bill of Rights

According to FTCR President Jamie Court, in creating a single standard, the measure "threatens the gains of the HMO patients' rights movement, which established standards such as requiring HMOs to provide patients access to second opinions, give women direct access to OBGYNs without having to go through HMO gatekeepers, and ensure patients have access to medically necessary care."

The New Standard:

U.S. Senate May Gut State Healthcare Rights Acts
by Brendan Coyne

FTCR contends that Enzi’s bill would undermine "Patients’ Bill of Rights" laws enacted by 41 states. The laws carry varying provisions but generally include patient access to review boards, limits on out-of-pocket payments, state oversight of complaints against insurers, and medical-record protections, FTCR said.

Attempts to move legislation on the issue at the federal level have foundered so far, though Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) introduced a bill to do so last year. His bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.

In addition, FTCR noted that the legislation would give association health plans near-equal status to more tradition insurance, despite the fact that most such plans carry no out-of-pocket caps and oftentimes cover only a small percentage of medical costs. Patient and consumer advocates refer to the plans as "junk health plans" because of the false promises.

On Tuesday, the American Diabetes Association warned that the Enzi bill could roll back "critical health coverage guarantees for millions of people with diabetes." The association noted that the legislation would usurp decisions made by 46 states and the District of Columbia to mandate that insurers cover diabetes treatments.

In a statement Tuesday, Enzi said Senators had filed dozens of amendments to his proposed legislation. Information on the amendments has not been made public.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held hearings on the Enzi bill Wednesday. According to the committee’s website, a second mark-up session is scheduled for next Wednesday. Enzi introduced the bill in November.
http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2915

[caligirl]

20. Fact Sheet, bullet by bullet list of how Enzi will deconstruct health car

http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/enzi-bill/Enzi-bill_national_1.pdf

The last point is interesting in that it talks about a commission that would rewrite state laws and it would be staffed by insurers and industry insiders, no consumer organications would be allowed. No oversight for consumers, no vote for consumers. 6 of the 14 voting members would come directly from the insurance industry, not one from a consumer rights organization would be on the board.

[caligirl]

21. ALOA l will be going to Byrd and other dems for a vote on S1955 by May

http://www.aloa.org/legislation/UrgentNotice.php

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS ACT!

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today approved S. 1955, Senator Enzi's health reform legislation, on a straight party line vote of 11-9, with all committee Republicans supporting and all Democrats opposing. The bill is now reported to the full Senate, where it will be up to Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) to schedule it for floor debate and a full Senate vote. Senate sources indicate that a likely time-frame for Senate floor consideration of S. 1955 is early May.

Today's mark-up was not much different in general from what occurred in the HELP Committee last week. There were 16 amendments offered by Democrats, most of which attempted to ensure that various state mandated benefit laws would not be preempted by the Enzi bill. All amendments were defeated, some on a straight party line vote of 9-11, others on a vote of 10-10 (an amendment receiving a tie vote fails), with Republican Senator DeWine (R-OH) voting with the Democrats. As such, the bill was approved without any changes from the revised version of the bill offered by Enzi last week.

This is the first time ever that a Senate committee has approved any legislation that contains Association Health Plan components! Thus, it is a major step forward towards the goal of enacting legislation to provide small and mid-sized businesses with new health benefit options through association-sponsored health plans! Please take this opportunity to thank all the HELP Committee Republicans with whom you have have had contact for their strong support of this legislation.

In the coming weeks we will be preparing for Senate floor debate and approval. Most significantly, it will be necessary to get greater Democratic support for the bill to be approved by the Senate. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) has cosponsored Enzi's bill, and Senator Robert Byrd cosponsored the original AHP bill (S. 406), so we will need to build on this and obtain more Democratic support to get the bill through the Senate.


This is from Associated Locksmiths of America http://www.aloa.org/legislation/


Their congressional locator map and phone numbers
http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm

[caligirl]

22. The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors support Enzi

http://www.ahpsnow.com/object/IO_25346.html
Enzi Small-Business Health Plan A Plus for Process Wholesalers Say
11/ 03/ 2005


Washington, D.C. - The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) gave a qualified “thumbs-up” to the “Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005,” legislation introduced yesterday by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Among other things, the bill authorizes the formation and multi-state operation of association-sponsored fully-insured small business health plans (SBHPs).

SBHPs under the Enzi bill are akin to the fully-insured association health plans (AHPs) envisioned by S. 406, the “Small Business Health Fairness Act,” legislation NAW supports. The “Small Business Health Fairness Act” is sponsored by the chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and cosponsored by Missouri Sen. Jim Talent (R), Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and others. S. 406 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 525, passed by the House on July 26 by a vote of 263 to 165. Thirty-six (36) Democrats joined 227 Republicans to approve the measure, the enactment of which NAW identifies among its highest legislative priorities.

NFDA Supports Senate Small-Business Health Bill
BROOKFIELD, WIS. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) expressed support for legislation introduced November 1 by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, that will help small businesses provide affordable health insurance benefits to their employees. The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 (S. 1955) will allow associations like NFDA provide health insurance coverage to their members and member employees on a nationwide basis.
http://www.ahpsnow.com/object/IO_25435.html

Mason contractors
MCAA supports an amendment to ERIS to facilitate the establishment of association health plans by easing the rules which currently obstruct the ability of national associations to offer their members affordable health care. Our members could save as much as 15 to 30 percent through AHPs compared to the coverage offered directly from an insurance company. Legislation has already passed the House of Representatives (H.R. 660). MCAA members should take an active role in enacting legislation now pending in the Senate, S. 545, so we can send a bill to the President for his signature.
http://www.masoncontractors.org/legislativeadvocacy/legislativeissues/index.php

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/03/16/news/wyoming/30-enzi.txt
"Women's groups said the bill would pre-empt state laws that mandate coverage for maternity care, cervical cancer screening and contraception and that allow a woman to choose her obstetrician as her primary-care physician.

Enzi said the bill could not require such mandates because it would allow associations to cross state lines to pool together and negotiate.

Enzi noted that as a state legislator, he helped pass some health care mandates in Wyoming.

"I would like for everybody to be able to get all 1,800 mandates that there are out there," he said. "But we already know that when we do that, we're placing a number of people in unaffordable health insurance position."

Enzi said that both a basic package and a more comprehensive plan would be offered and argued that the proposed plans would expand coverage to many uninsured.

"If they can't afford anything, something is better than nothing," he said.

[caligirl]

23. Daily Kos thread on Enzi Bill March 10 by Devtob

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/10/19402/3531

Fundamental consumer protections that will be wiped out include: rules that limit premium discrimination based on health status, age and gender; prohibitions of huge premium increases when people get sick; and prohibitions of misleading insurance company marketing practices.

Sen. Enzi claims his bill is a compromise that ameliorates the controversial defects of past proposals to create Association Health Plans (AHPs). The Enzi bill, however, is much worse: It not only eliminates essential rights for people in AHPs, it also eliminates these rights for all people with health insurance through state-regulated individual, small group, and large group plans -- thereby harming 85 million people.

Pollack is being polite here -- in my view, any bill that makes it easier for health insurers to deny claims for life-saving treatment or early warning of serious illnesses will lead to the corporate murder of many more people than were murdered on Sept. 11.

Let's be clear about this -- Republicans favor "premium discrimination based on health status, age and gender; huge premium increases when people get sick; and misleading insurance company marketing practices."

Pollack told Franken that this bill was voted out of Enzi's committee this week, and seems likely to pass the Senate soon. If you think state consumer protections are important to prevent insurance companies from murdering untold thousands, contact your senators ASAP and ask them to oppose, and filibuster if necessary, S.1955.

Who knows, if the word gets out, this could be a Dubai Ports moment for Republican whores in the House and Senate.

[caligirl]

24. AHP a tax boon to the rich, AARP to sit on sidelines!

Bloomberg/Winston-Salem Journal on Friday examined how a proposal from President Bush to expand health savings accounts might "prove a tax-free boon for the nation's rich." Both supporters and opponents of the proposal have said that the "enhanced HSAs offer unprecedented tax advantages and may become more attractive than 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts as a way for the richest and healthiest Americans to build savings," according to Bloomberg/Journal. The proposal would increase the maximum contribution to HSAs and offer a tax credit for account holders to offset payroll taxes, as well as allow tax-free earnings growth and tax-free withdrawals for out-of-pocket medical expenses. According to Bloomberg/Journal, opponents maintain that the proposal "favors the wealthy because they are more likely to have the disposable income to contribute the maximum amount" and "favors the healthy because they have fewer out-of-pocket medical expenses that would deplete the account." Steven Bankler, a certified public accountant, said, "The wealthier, healthier people think it's very advantageous. To them, it's a savings account. But for a client with diabetes, his out-of-pocket medical costs are going to be the maximum. There is really no savings." However, according to supporters, the proposal would ensure that individuals who purchase their own health insurance and those who receive coverage through their employers are taxed equally. John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, said, "This isn't just a savings account. It's self-insurance for health care" (Bloomberg/Winston-Salem Journal, 3/3).

AARP To Remain on 'Sidelines'
In related news, The Hill on Wednesday examined how AARP likely will "stay on the sidelines during the upcoming debate" on the Bush proposal to expand HSAs. AARP opposes the proposal, but the group will not launch a campaign against the plan, according to David Certner, director of federal affairs for AARP. According to The Hill, AARP does not consider the proposal a "direct threat" to Medicare because the plan would not use Medicare funds or implement HSAs in the program (Young, The Hill, 3/1).


http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=35780


And Blue Cross Blue Shield is not supporting nor fighting this bill, they think their concerns were listened too and that keeps them in the green$$.

[caligirl]

25. Had an AHP and still $450,000 in debt fighting cancer, junk plans,

In the letter, FTCR told the story of Dana Christensen who "owed more than $450,000 when her husband died of bone cancer even though they had an association health plan and had purchased a special rider for chemotherapy. Your bill encourages HMOs and insurers to sell the same kind of empty benefits policy to patients across the country."

Under S. 1955, new federal rules that replace State law will be offer far weaker patient protections. When replacing state law with federal rules, the federal board need only "consider ... similar standards followed by a plurality of States."

According to FTCR, states like California and Massachusetts have some of the nation's strongest patient protections and will see patient rights rolled back if S. 1955 becomes law.

Though similar legislation has been proposed in past sessions and passed by the House of Representatives, the bill has never moved in the Senate.

The Christensens' story can be found in an online resource published by FTCR outlining the association health plans' skeletal benefits: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/BushCare/.

---

The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is California's leading nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization. For more information, visit them on the Web at http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060310/pl_usnw/ftcr__enzi__association_health_plan__bill_would_deregulate_health_insurance_and_gut_state_hmo_patients__rights_laws117_xml

[caligirl]

26. consumer watchdog press releases take Enzi bill apart

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/pr/

Mar 21, 2006

Privatized MediCare Drug Program Provides Worse Coverage than Public Programs
FTCR Calls on Feds to Allow MediCare to Take Over Drug Program
Mar 15, 2006

Widow With Over $450K In Medical Bills Speaks Out Against Enzi/Bush "Association" Junk Health Insurance;
Empty Benefit Plans Marketed as "Low-Cost" Option Cost More for Less Coverage
Mar 10, 2006

Enzi "Association Health Plan" Bill Would Deregulate Health Insurance and Gut State HMO Patients' Rights Laws
Mar 8, 2006

Unprecedented Assault on State HMO "Patients' Bill of Rights" Movement Unveiled in U.S. Senate Today Would Deregulate Health Insurance Nationally
Widow and Consumer Group Say Enzi Bill Would Overturn State Patient Rights Laws
Mar 7, 2006

Widow & Victim With Over $650K In Medical Bills Call For CA Ban On Junk Health Plans As Congress Moves to Expand Them
Feb 27, 2006

Consumer Advocates Say "Affordability Guarantees" Would Deflect Prop 71 Stem Cell Legal Challenge
Feb 22, 2006

"Health Savings Accounts" Require Patients to Pay More But Do Nothing To Slow Increasing Health Care Costs
Feb 21, 2006

Consumer Group and Widow with $450K in Medical Bills Call on State Legislature to Protect Patients from Junk Health Policies

National Conference of Insurance Legislators disagrees with Enzi Bill as well:http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:IZ7wBt_nYF0J:www.ncoil.org/news/2006_Newsletters/February2006.pdf+Enzi+bill&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=155&client=firefox-a

A related bill, the Health Care
Choice Act of 2005, would allow
multi-state insurer to bypass regula-
tory statutes in each state of opera-
tion and instead select the state in
which it wants to be regulated. The
insurer would abide by the rules of
one state while issuing policies wher-
ever it operates, raising concerns that
companies would flock to those juris-
dictions with the “loosest” regulations.
NCOIL has opposed bills that
would preempt state law and exempt
AHPs from state oversight, saying such
bills would permit “cherry picking” of
healthier groups/individuals and raise
rates for those still under state super-
vision. AHPs also would increase the
risk of insurance fraud while under-
mining state consumer protections.
In 2005 NCOIL renewed its
opposition to AHPs in one of several
letters sent to federal lawmakers

[caligirl]

27. Enzi's supporters listed here.Portsmouth Herald

To try to defuse the opposition Enzi, in fashioning the bill, preserved a role for state regulators. And in a potentially sweeping change designed to assuage the insurers, he eased some state requirements for them, not just for the small-business associations.

Under his bill, both insurers and small-business associations would be allowed to sell lower-cost policies that don’t include state-mandated benefits, as long as they offer comprehensive coverage. The result: For now, at least, insurers are holding their fire. Some common state mandates include requirements that mammograms and some substance-abuse treatment be covered.

Enzi’s efforts succeeded in winning over Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, who had been critical of AHP legislation, and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a former state-insurance commissioner.

Enzi’s legislation would create a uniform federal standard on how much insurers, in setting premiums, can consider workers’ health status. The standard would give insurers who sell policies to small businesses and individuals more leeway to charge higher premiums for sick people than is permitted under some states’ rules. Supporters say that would bring down premiums for healthier people and make coverage more affordable; critics say it would make coverage costlier for sicker people. Insurers would be allowed to follow the federal standard or stick with the state law.


Enzi’s legislation has a long list of supporters, from the National Association of Realtors to the American Disc Jockey Association. Some supporters would benefit by getting access to cheaper health insurance, while others could earn money by selling coverage to members. The NFIB is intensifying its advertising and lobbying push as the committee prepares to vote. The group is focusing its efforts on senators in tight re-election races, including Ohio Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, a member of the health committee. Wednesday, the group will distribute stickers backing small-business health plans, as it did last week, saying "Pass SBHPs now."

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:bIQ_HjNsqskJ:www.seacoastonline.com/news/03142006/biz_nati/92536.htm+Enzi+bill&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=101&client=firefox-a

[caligirl]

28. With all my posts for information on this bill please don't ban me from

the DU. If you have a better way of getting this info out I would be happy to do that.

This is a letter from professional and advocacy groups fighting this bill. Didn't help much.http://www.nationalpartnership.org/portals/p3/library/HealthCareQualityPatientsRights/GroupletterS1955.pdf

http://www.health-access.org/2006_03_01_Sac_archives.htm#114255301631976499

[blondeatlast]

29. Stopping this bill is worth getting tombstoned, and I'll kick this

thread every chance I get.

Please, DU--this bill is devastating to so many of us.

Caligirl has presented excellent evidence as to the harm this bill will do.

Please, please, please, DU, call your SenatorsI've done all I can do short of spreading the word here.

Thanks for your time.

[caligirl]

30. Diabetic Bball player Gonzaga depends on testing supplies to play ball.

So if you love basketball, help him by calling your congressman.














<-- -->

Diabetic at the top of the game / Science gives Gonzaga's Morrison the tools to take his talent to the NCAA Tournament
Gonzaga's Adam Morrison signs autographs after a practice preparing for a game with UCLA today. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/23/MNGSDHSPK51.DTL

[caligirl]

31. Two diabetics among American Idol's 12 hopefuls

http://www.thediabetesblog.com/2006/03/14/two-diabetics-among-american-idols-12-hopefuls/

f you've jumped onto the American Idol bandwagon (or in my case, on it, off it, then on again), you know that it's a show full of surprises. So, since I started blogging here, I was surprised to learn that two AI'ers deal with Type 1 diabetes: "regular guy" yet talented Elliott Yamin, 27, of Virginia and the slight-framed, sort of Harry Potter-ish Kevin Covais, 16, of Pennsylvania. Though the two singing hopefuls couldn't be more different, they agree their biggest shared obstacle has been learning to manage diabetes. We don't know much about how Kevin deals with it but the insulin pump-wearing Elliott is more vocal. He says it's a personal goal to educate people about music and diabetes. As a musician myself, I'd personally like to know how diabetes impacts their hectic rehearsal and performance schedules, or how they deal with nerves or stress before they sing. Since they both made the Top-12 cut, maybe continued press coverage will highlight this aspect of their lives. It would be great to see them emerge as teen advocates. While Simon told Covais that "he was guaranteed the grandma vote," chances for success seem more likely for Yamin, who Simon says could be the best male vocalist the competition has ever seen. I wish them both luck. They've already got practice rising to a pretty major challenge. What's one more? (Pictured top: Elliott Yamin; Shown below: Kevin Covais)

[caligirl]

32. kicking for American's health insurance

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Earth_First]

33. Done and Done!

Thank you!

[williesgirl]

35. Just sent following email to my 2 Senators (not that it will do any

good):

re: SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS ACT! (S. 1955)

Here we go again. What is it about the Republicans that everything must be in favor of big business and against everyday Americans?

I can't believe this committee voted to send this proposed legislation to the floor of the Senate. Every Republican on this committee voted yes and every Democrat voted no. This would rob the states of their ability to regulate health care in any fashion and enable insurance companies to deny payment of mental health claims, those for diabetes etc.

What is wrong with you people? I voted for many Republicans in my day because I believe in small government and states rights. Keep it up and you've lost me for good regardless of who's running for what - I'll vote anti-Republican.

I FULLY EXPECT YOU TO WORK YOUR HARDEST TO DEFEAT THIS LEGISLATION - STARTING NOW WITH YOUR VOICE AGAINST IT.

Thank you.

[blondeatlast]

36. The vote to send to the floor floored me, pardon the unintentional pun.

As I mention in another thread about this legislation, this is Big Insurance's wet dream.

If we can beat big bidness at anything, this is the bill to prove it can be done.

We MUST prevail and with people like you, we will. Thanks for your efforts.

[caligirl]

37. Nice letter, thanks for joining the effort. It is the repubs we must get

on our side as well as dems. The small business community is lobbying the dems for their votes.

[caligirl]

38. kick, because we can stop this from happening.

:kick: