Posted on 02/24/2005 4:59:24 PM PST by Nachum
At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23, on the South Steps of the California State Capitol, State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-23) announced her introduction of SB 840 the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA) to the California Legislature. Senate Pro Tempore Don Perata has joined as a co-author as have Senator Deborah Ortiz, chair of the Senate Health Committee and Assemblymember Wilma Chan, chair of the Assembly Health Committee who are both principle co-authors. The bill will cover every Californian with comprehensive health insurance and guarantee their right to choose their own physician, while containing healthcare cost inflation. By slashing the administrative costs of health insurance and utilizing Californias purchasing power to buy prescription drugs and medical equipment in bulk, CHIRA will save an estimated $25 billion, in the first year alone, in statewide healthcare spending. Senator Kuehl was joined by principle co-authors, Senator Deborah Ortiz, Chair of the Senate Health Committee and Assemblymember Wilma Chan, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee.
CHIRA is based on a model put forward, in a study released this January, by the Lewin Group, an independent firm with 18 years of experience in healthcare cost analysis. Senator Kuehl, along with State Senate President Pro Tempore, Don Perata, helped to present the report, on January 19, at which time Senator Kuehl pledged to bring legislation based on its findings.
According to the Lewin model, it is possible to insure all state residents with full coverage that includes medical, dental, vision, hospitalization and prescription drug benefits, and that is based on a high standard for quality, by streamlining the process of reimbursement. Means-based premiums, assessed according to income and payroll, would replace all premiums, deductibles, co-pays and out of pocket expenses. The vast majority of individuals, families and businesses that pay for insurance would save money while receiving better coverage. Everybody knows that healthcare costs are out of control. The system is broken and tinkering wont fix it, said Senator Kuehl. Were beyond the point of cosmetic surgery. What we need is a cure.
Half of the personal bankruptcies in this country are related to medical expenses, the Senator continued, and most of the people bankrupted have insurance when they get sick. Californians just cant rely on their insurance when they get sick or injured. There are too many holes and deductibles in the plans they buy, and if they lose their job, they lose their benefits.
A new report from Boston University concluded that about 50% of health care spending is wasted on unnecessary clinical and administrative costs, insurance company profits, and excessive pharmaceutical prices in the U.S. Spending on health care now consumes about 15.5% of our nations projected economic growth (GDP), yet Americans are not receiving superior health care. We dont need to spend more, stated Senator Kuehl, we need to be much more efficient with the statewide healthcare budget we already have and now we have the evidence to show that we can do it.
With more than 6 million uninsured Californians and health insurance premiums growing at double-digit rates, we must find a way to provide all Californians with affordable and safe health care coverage, said Senate Health Committee Chair Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento. I believe Sen. Kuehls single-payer legislation provides a sound plan for crafting comprehensive healthcare coverage, especially for the uninsured and those who cannot afford spiraling medical and prescription drug costs.
Said Assemblymember Chan, Health care premiums continue to rise; the number of working Californians without health insurance continues to grow. We need a health plan that covers all Californians, promotes quality, preserves choice, and costs less. The California Health Insurance Reliability Act does all that.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
California already is, and the country learned nothing.
I'm SURE they've thought about the effect of lost revenues to the insurance industry. Job losses, etc........ Besides the obvious reasons not to do this, what about the lost tax revenue from the insurance companies to the state? These idiots are probably selling short on insurance stocks as we speak.
As liberal as Arnold is on social issues, this is one bill he won't support.
Since the state is BILLIONS of dollars in debt - how is this idiot proposing to PAY FOR THIS FREEBY ..??
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Like, totally not kuele, dude.
Hillary did wonders for health care costs didn't she ? Ever since the witch fooled around with health care we have had double digit increases in medical costs every year. Maybe that's the way she planned it. This country is not setup like Europe, socialized health care will destroy us, especially with all the big companies leaving the US. The unemployment rate will skyrocket above 20%, we will implode.
I hope so. I'm one of them. TeeHee.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
lol!
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Well, at least the experiment is on the state level, not federal. When Cali goes down the $hitter over this, perhaps folks in the rest of the U.S. will take notice.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Well .. she has to be on fantasy island because there is no reality connected with her plan.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
I also think it is appalling that ordinary citizens are saddled with the burden of Automobile Insurance. If California can afford to insure everybody's body, surely they attach a rider that includes their cars.
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